By ANDREW HOUSMAN
Lime-Heavy Cocktail Drinkers Could Wind Up With Margarita Burn
If you love margaritas, mojitos, and other cocktails that include lime or psoralen-containing ingredients, you should start being vigilant when drinking in the sun.
TikTok has recently highlighted phytophotodermatitis, a condition causing the skin to become irritated due to sun exposure following contact with certain chemicals found in plants.
Also called “margarita burn” or “lime disease,” the issue can be caused by celery, wild parsley, carrots, and all citrus fruits. Limes and bergamot oranges are the biggest culprits.
The sunburns are painful and stinging, but the phenomenon often looks worse than it feels, as the burns typically aren't permanent or excruciating enough to cause serious issues.
To prevent margarita burns, avoid direct sunlight when handling anything involving lime. Wear gloves, seek shade, and use wipes or water to clean your mouth and hands post-contact.
If you get a margarita burn, your dermatologist can prescribe a topical steroid ointment that can help lessen the severity of the inflammation. In intense cases, blisters can form.
Don’t pop the blisters, and do what the doctor says in case of infection. Margarita burns don't last forever, but the darkened skin blotches they cause can take months to clear up.
You can keep the affected area covered from the sun with bandages or clothing to aid the healing. It’s safe to say that contracting margarita burn is not the end of the world.