That infamous home remedy for neutralizing a jellyfish sting? Don’t do it.
Using urine on the wound will only make that burning sting more intense, said certified family nurse practitioner Betsy Paul of Novant Health Urgent Care in Myrtle Beach.
Though jellyfish never approach people, it’s easy to get stung without ever seeing one. Jellyfish protect themselves by firing venomous barbs from their far-reaching tentacles, and brushing against or stepping on one can instantly trigger that painful sting.
A 1997 episode of “Friends” continues to perpetuate the misconception that urine is a cure-all for a jellyfish sting. But that’s false. Urine is not acidic enough to help and can actually intensify the burn. The best antidote? White vinegar. It’s practically the cheapest thing in any grocery store and contains the right amount of acidic content to treat the wound.
Care when you need it, seven days a week.
Paul’s urgent care team frequently treats beachgoers for allergic reactions to stings during summertime. Walk-in services are available seven days a week, and complement Novant Health’s three South Carolina hospitals and associated physician clinics.
Paul began pursuing patient care at age 19 as a medical assistant, and has also served as an emergency medicine registered nurse.
“I love taking care of people,” she said. “And it’s my goal to do everything I can to give them a better day.”
Here, Paul explains how to do that by sharing reliable ways to treat a sting. You can often avoid one by looking for jellyfish blooms and purple warning flags. But in the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt to toss a bottle of white vinegar into your beach bag.
How do jellyfish stings happen?
Jellyfish are transparent, which makes them hard to see in the water. They can come upon you in a wave before you even notice them. Never touch one that has washed ashore, because you don’t know if their tentacles are still activated.
What’s the best first-aid move for a jellyfish sting?
Stings burn, but you should never use ice. Instead, you can soak the area with hot water to deactivate the toxins and decrease the pain. But the best source is white vinegar, which lifeguards keep at their stations. The best way to remove any tentacle barbs is to use a piece of plastic, like a credit card, to gently scrape across the stung area.
Do patients often ask about the effectiveness of using urine on a jellyfish sting?
Everybody who comes into the clinic with a sting asks about it. We tell them that it’s in their best interest not to do that. Urine is actually water-based, so it doesn’t contain enough ammonia to deactivate the toxin. In other words, pee will not help the pain. It’s unsanitary and can make the pain worse, because pressure from the urination can cause the barbs to release more toxins.
What else are we getting wrong about jellyfish stings?
People often assume that applying suntan lotion will deactivate the sting. But this does not work and can make the pain feel excruciating. It’s important to also be aware of Portuguese man o' wars, which are not as common as jellyfish. Cool water is the best treatment for a man o' war sting, while warm or hot water is best for a jellyfish sting.
When is it necessary to see a doctor for a jellyfish sting?
There are different levels of reaction to a sting. If you or your child experience dizziness or trouble breathing, it’s time to visit urgent care. A mild reaction requires only hot water or white vinegar. But for an anaphylactic (severe allergic) reaction, we have the ability to provide epinephrine (a hormone treatment) to ensure that the reaction doesn’t become life-threatening.
