Seabather’s Eruption

Home care

• Remove your swimwear to rinse off. Then put diluted vinegar or rubbing alcohol on the affected area. This will inactivate any undischarged stinging cells. However, this will not prevent the onset of rash.

• Stay away from anything that heats your skin (hot showers or baths, direct sunlight). This can make itching worse.

• For itching and pain, put an ice pack or a cold compress on the area. This should be done for 15 to 30 minutes, 3 times a day. To make a cold compress, dip a washcloth into a mixture of 1 pint of cold water with 1 packet of colloidal oatmeal (sold at pharmacies). Keep the solution refrigerated to use later. To make an ice pack, put ice cubes in a plastic bag that seals at the top. Wrap the bag in a clean, thin towel or cloth. Never put ice or an ice pack directly on your skin.

• If large areas of the skin are affected, take a lukewarm bath. Add 1 cup of cornstarch or colloidal oatmeal to the water. This can be very soothing for children. Pat dry, as rubbing with a towel makes the eruption worse.

• Apply 1% hydrocortisone lotion or cream (no prescription needed). Use this 2 to 3 times a day for 1 to 2 weeks, unless another cream was prescribed.

• Use over-the-counter oral antihistamines that have diphenhydramine. Unless a prescription antihistamine was given, these may be used to reduce itching if large areas of skin are affected. This medicine may make you sleepy. Some antihistamines, such as fexofenadine, may make you less sleepy. These may be a good choice for daytime use. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery while taking these medicines. If you have glaucoma or you're a man with trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate, don’t use antihistamines that contain diphenhydramine.

• Use over-the-counter medicine for inflammation and pain, unless another medicine was prescribed. Talk with your provider before using these medicines if you have long-term (chronic) liver or kidney disease. Also talk with your provider if you've ever had a stomach ulcer or digestive tract bleeding.

• Clip and smooth children’s fingernails to keep them from scratching the skin.

• Machine-wash swimsuits with detergent or wash them in hot water and machine-dry to remove any remaining stinging cells.

• Remember that the stinging cells can be trapped in clothing for a long time. They can still release toxins for weeks after you've washed and dried the clothing.

• If you had a severe reaction, throw away your swimwear. Then you won't be re-exposed to the stinging cells that may be trapped there.

Prevention

• Before swimming in saltwater, check local beach reports for warnings of seabather’s eruption. If you have a history of a severe reaction, don’t swim in the water.

• When swimming in possibly affected saltwater, women shouldn't wear one-piece swimsuits. These can trap more jellyfish. Wear a suit with a smooth, tight weave. Don't wear a T-shirt over your bathing suit. That can also trap more jellyfish. As soon as possible after swimming, take off your swimsuit.

• Most stings occur from contaminated swimwear. As soon as possible after leaving the water, change out of your swimsuit. Then shower. Don't shower with fresh water while wearing your swimsuit. This will trigger the stingers. Pat dry with a towel. Don’t rub your skin. Put on dry clothes.

• Bathing suits must be washed with detergent and then heat-dried as described above.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your health care provider as advised.

When to get medical care

Call your health care provider or seek medical care right away if:

• You see more redness or have more pain in the area of the rash.

• There is fluid drainage or crusting of the rash.

• You vomit more than once.

• You feel burning when you urinate.

• You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider.