Peeing on jellyfish stings doesn't actually work

There's a widespread belief that urine is the best cure for a jellyfish sting. But new research reveals it's a myth!

It's just one of a whole host of home remedies that are believed to help, which include shaving cream, baking soda, and alcohol.

Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa reviewed the solutions people commonly believe to work and found that only one was really a good idea - vinegar.

MailOnline have outlined the widespread remedies currently used and why they should really be ditched.

• Vinegar prevents nematocysts - which launch the little stingers that latch on to the skin and release a stream of venom - from firing off so you don't get injected with anymore venom.

• Urea, which is present in urine, does have beneficial effects, as it helps with tentacle removal. But the level of urea in your pee is too diluted for it to have any beneficial effect, the study authors say.

• Peeing on a sting can make matters worse, as the salt in urine might trigger more nematocysts to fire into the skin.

• Pouring alcohol on to the lesion will also have the same effect.

• Other DIY remedies such as shaving cream, baking soda, and sea water have no effect on the stingers.

The researchers say scraping away the tentacles is a bad idea as well, as pressure can trigger the nematocysts, prompting them to release more venom.

If you get stung by a jellyfish, pour concentrated vinegar on the affected area, then have someone in protective gear remove the stingers with tweezers.

And while it prevents further nematocyst discharge, vinegar doesn't provide any pain relief from already injected venom.

This article originally appeared on dailymail.co.uk and was republished here with permission.