5 Things to Know About Treating Beach Stings

Rinse jellyfish stings with seawater, not freshwater Freshwater can trigger more nematocysts to fire, making the sting worse. Use seawater to rinse the area first.

Pour vinegar on jellyfish stings to neutralize venom Vinegar deactivates remaining stinging cells. Pack a travel-size bottle for the beach.

Scrape off tentacles with a credit card or shell Use the edge of a card, shell, or sand-covered towel to remove tentacles. Never rub with bare hands.

For sea lice, rinse with seawater and change into dry clothes Sea lice are tiny jellyfish larvae. Rinse with seawater and put on dry clothing as soon as you leave the water.

Avoid freshwater, alcohol, urine, and sand rubbing These common remedies can worsen stings. Stick to seawater rinsing and mechanical removal only.