Matthew McConaughey Shares Gnarly Bee Sting Selfie

Bee stings are never fun to deal with, ranging from painful to deadly if you're unlucky. Stings aren't an uncommon experience for many people, including A-list actors like Matthew McConaughey. 

On July 10, the Texas-bred actor shared a scary-looking selfie on social media that seemingly showed the aftermath of a well-placed bee sting. In the photo, the right side of his face was completely swollen, with his eye socket growing so large it completely covered his eye. As for the message he wanted to send his fans, he had two simple words: "Bee swell." 

McConaughey seemingly took the sting in stride as he was all smiles in the photo. It remains unclear what he was doing when he sustained the injury. 

While oftentimes harmless (aside from a painful pinch), bee stings can cause a bevy of health problems depending on where you're stung, what kind of bee it was, and if you have any health predispositions like allergies. They can cause issues like severe inflammation, and if you're stung near the eye, you can develop other complications like keratitis, optic neuritis, and glaucoma. 

If you're worried after being stung by a bee, wasp, or hornet, be sure to follow the correct steps to avoid further injury. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, this means staying calm, removing the stinger, washing the stung area with soap and water, applying a cold pack to reduce swelling, and, if necessary, take some over-the-counter medication. And if the swelling moves to other parts of your body like your face or neck, go to the emergency room immediately as you could be having an allergic reaction to the sting. Difficulty breathing, nausea, hives, or dizziness are also signs of an allergic reaction.