Margarita burn might sound like a bad case of heartburn or something else 💩 but it is, in fact, a real condition that can seriously ruin the quality of any beach vacation or your return trip home. In the medical community it’s called phytophotodermatitis and it’s no joke. I personally have had it on my face & lips after enjoying some citrusy drinks on the beach and in the sea. (I mistakenly thought it was the worst outbreak of cold sores known to mankind)
If you’re out in the sun and lime juice (other items that cause it are listed below) gets on your skin, you could develop a reaction that gets worse especially when it’s on skin that’s wet or sweaty (salt water can intensify the reaction too).
Margarita burns typically start as a rash with burning blistering, oozing or irritated red skin and after some time it can evolve into hyperpigmentation or brown spots. Once a margarita burn has developed, it can take a few weeks or months to completely fade.
Of course, this leads to the next question... what foods and juices contain furocoumarins, that cause these painful rashes and burns? The most common food items are raw lime, lime juice and pulp, oranges, regular orange juice, (including fortified orange juice), grapefruit, grapefruit juice, raw carrots, cooked carrots, carrot juice, celery, and lemons/lemonade (this list isn't exhaustive but rather the typical culprits).
The most frequent places to have these burns are on the face (lips) and hands, but it can also spread to anyplace else you touch (or splash) your bare skin. Think about eating ceviche & pico on the beach and drinking a margarita or squeezing a lime in your beer, or that celery in your Bloody Mary; many are surprisingly common beach treats.
Not everyone is as susceptible as others, but I can assure you it is very uncomfortable if your skin is sensitive to margarita burn. "Although cases are rarely reported in the media, dermatologists warn that this condition is surprisingly common and can be highly dangerous. A few years ago, several girls even ended up in ICU after receiving incredibly painful second degree burns from phytophotodermatitis." Click this link for entire article: https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/unexpected-danger-drinking-margaritas-beach
Good news is, that you can still enjoy your favorite beach food and drinks with a few easy precautions. I’ve started traveling with my own steel (reusable) straw that I put into drinks to prevent it from getting on my lips, and I always bring handy wipes/hand sanitizer to remove any juicy remnants from my face & hands before getting into the sun & sea and I also like to use facial sunscreen that has zinc for added protection. I’m not sure that last one is scientifically proven, but it’s part of my regiment.
We also always travel with some topical steroidal creams like Cortisone 1% which is recommended for moderate blisters, inflammation, and itching (more severe cases might require oral corticosteroid, antihistamines, and a visit to the doctor). If you forget your cream, or don’t have it, it is widely available at all drug stores on Isla.
Here are some pictures that hopefully won’t be too difficult for you to see, but it’s good to know how Margarita burn can show up.
¡Salud! to your amazing, burn free, days on the sunny beaches of Isla Mujeres🍹🧉🍺
A quick video from Sandra Lee, MD - also addressing the 'burn'
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