Margarita burn refers to a reaction between irritants found in limes and sunlight.
This mother issued a warning on social networks. Her baby boy was rushed to hospital with severe burns and blisters on his arms. Quickly, she made the connection with lemons that the child had squeezed a few days before with his cousins.
This reaction, known as “Margarita burn”, is linked to a reaction of lime juice with UV light. Called phytophotodermatosis, it is a reaction between irritants in limes and sunlight. Acidic fruits contain irritants which can make the skin more sensitive to UV rays as explained in the Daily Mail.
On the Instagram account of the Tiny Hearts Foundation, which educates parents about first aid courses, another mother shares a similar story: “My son Otis was playing with a whole lime from our lime tree. He had sunscreen on and was happily enjoying his afternoon in his little inflatable pool with water play activities. (…) It was only Saturday afternoon that we noticed a rash. What we thought was an allergic reaction to a juice he drank that morning was actually the start of a little known reaction called Margarita burn“.
Frequent burns
The mother-of-one shared a photo of her child on Facebook showing him sitting in a hospital chair with burns and blisters covering both his arms: “A night in the hospital and a trip to the burn unit later, and we now know it was a margarita burn.“, she wrote on the social network. In the comments, many Brazilians assured that this type of burns is common in the country.
Tiny Hearts Foundation recalled that not everyone suffers from this reaction and that some people are more at risk: “Your toddler may be at higher risk if you have a history of contact dermatitis with other substances, such as metals and cleaning agents“. To limit the risk as much as possible, it is recommended to wash children’s hands and all exposed areas. Another imperative, always protect yourself with sunscreen.
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