Matthew McConaughey has been inundated with support from fans after sharing a confronting snap of himself with his eye swollen shut due to a bee sting.

“Bee swell,” the star captioned the Instagram post for his nearly 10 million followers on Wednesday (US time).

“How hard did Woody H hit you, man?” one commenter asked, referencing McConaughey’s long-time buddy and fellow actor Woody Harrelson.

“Get well soon Mr McConaughey,” wrote another. “Hopefully, you have an ice pack on your eye. Benadryl and hydrocortisone cream will have you feeling better in (no) time. Get your coolest shades on and know that your fans love you.”

“Still better lookin’ than me,” wrote another.

 

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In among the 350,000 likes and more than 10,000 comments on McConaughey’s post was one from outdoorsman and Man vs. Wild host Bear Grylls.

“Oh yeah brother! I’ve been there,” he wrote, adding a laughing and winking emoji.

Soccer star David Beckham added a simple: “Ouch.”

The Gentlemen star’s level of swelling suggests he had an allergic reaction to his bee sting.

Better Health Victoria says bee stings can cause different reactions, from mild temporary pain and discomfort to significant swelling and a severe allergic reaction. In an extreme case, the person who has been stung might even experience anaphylaxis.

It advises treating the patient by removing the sting as soon as possible. Emergency help might be needed in more serious cases.

“If someone has been stung in the mouth or stung many times in a single incident (adults more than 10 times or children more than five times), they need to be taken to hospital,” Better Health Victoria says.

“Keep the person lying down and completely still (immobilised) until the ambulance arrives.”

For less intense reactions, cold compresses and over-the-counter pain-killers can help reduce pain and swelling.