Fun in the sun is what everyone is having! Barbeques! Hanging out around the pool! Hanging out on the beach! Just fun, fun, fun in the sun! But like all fun things, there is a cost. And that cost is “margarita burn.” Yes, it’s a thing!

According to the folks over at the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, “margarita burn,” which the folks in the science community refer to as phytophotodermatitis, occurs whenever a person has eaten either fruits or vegetables that have the organic chemicals furocoumarins and psoralens. A rash appears whenever the sunlight touches skin that has juices from fruits or vegetables that have furocoumarins and psoralens.

There you are eating your mojito dipped lime or your ranch dipped celery and then some of the juices from the lime or celery gets on your skin and before you can wipe it off the sun zings you. Next thing you know, you have “margarita burn.”

How ugly the rash is depends upon the amount of the fruit and or vegetable juice you get on your skin. If you get just a lil’ dab of fruit or vegetable juice on your skin, then the rash won’t be that ugly. In order to make sure the rash goes away, the first thing you need to do is use cold water to clean the rash. Then follow up the cleaning by rubbing a topical antibiotic ointment, like Neosporin or Hydrocortisone Cream, on the rash.

Don’t ever, ever, ever blister pop because that will worsen the condition. Finally, place a bandage over the rash and just wait for it to poof, go away. Now, if the rash is really, really ugly, then you need to see a doctor.



Ewww! Nasty business!

The science folks say that people with lighter skin tones are the ones who are most likely to get margarita burn. Having said that, margarita burn can happen to anybody. Whether you’re light skin, medium skin, or dark skin, you can get margarita burn. Nature doesn’t discriminate. And that reaction between those organic compounds, furocoumarins and psoralens, and the sun are a part of their chemical nature. Therefore, nature doesn’t care how light or dark you are, if you’re out in the sun with any of those organic chemicals on your skin then the chances are you are going to get “margarita burn.”

Some other folks who have a greater chance of getting “margarita burn” are folks like chefs or bartenders who commonly use limes, lemons, or other citrus fruits when making the mojitos, Long Island Ice Teas, or other fruity drinks.

Folks who work outside, like lawn workers, and folks who hike or bike also have a greater chance of getting “margarita burn” due to their exposure to plants that contain the organic compounds, furocoumarins and psoralens.

Folks, remember that the best thing you can do if you get margarita burn is to talk to your doctor.

Doc knows best!