What is the best treatment for jellyfish stings?
For box jellyfish stings, douse the area with vinegar to inactivate any stinging cells that are still on the skin. Do not use vinegar on Portuguese man-of-war stings. An Australian study reported that vinegar causes stinging cells to fire when poured on some Portuguese man-of-war tentacles. For these stings, pluck off the tentacles, then rinse the area with water, either salt or fresh. The jury is still out on how fresh water affects stings, but try it. Some sting victims feel better after taking a shower. So far in our study, some people report good pain relief from hot packs placed on the skin. Others say that cold packs work well. Still others have experienced no relief from either hot or cold packs on their stings. The best pain treatment for jellyfish stings is by no means a clear call. Does urinating on jellyfish stings help? No. At best, this common folk remedy does nothing. At worst, it can fire undischarged stinging cells and make the sting worse. When my doctor heard about ou
