Those who enjoy sipping a margarita in the sun would no doubt have been concerned by recent reports linking their favorite drink to a nasty rash.
Dr. Brandon Adler, assistant professor of dermatology at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, recently warned of increasing cases of a skin condition called photocontact dermatitis, or ‘margarita burn’.
The condition occurs when stems from citrus fruits, such as limes, get on your skin and react with the sun, causing an itchy, red rash that looks like severe sunburn or eczema.
This means that those who prepare citrus drinks in the sunshine are at particular risk.
In severe cases, it develops into blisters, said Dr. Adler.
But despite the focus on the lime-based drink, experts say there are many foods that can trigger this curious reaction.
Photocontact dermatitis can be triggered by a number of foods, including figs, celery and even carrots
Apart from limes, parsley, celery, fig trees, parsnips, carrots, beans and yarrow can all react with your skin and cause photo contact dermatitis.
They all contain an organic molecule called furanocoumarin.
It is thought that certain plants produce these molecules as a kind of evolutionary defense against animals that might eat them, according to research from University of Illinois.
There are other non-foods that can also cause photocontact dermatitis, including some medicated creams and even sunscreen.
People who react to these substances usually do so because they have developed an allergy to these substances that only flares up when exposed to the sun, Dr. Adler to DailyMail.com.
When people react to sunscreens, it usually has to do with an allergy to fragrances added to the product. Adler emphasized that you’re unlikely to flare up from your sunscreen.
“This in no way means that sunscreens are dangerous or that sunscreens should be avoided. On the contrary, as a dermatologist, I actually recommend daily sunscreen to prevent skin cancer,’ he said.
These reactions have affected approximately five to six percent of the general population, according to Dermatology Net.
But, Adler said, it could be much more common than doctors realize because many patients don’t seek professional help for the condition, assuming it’s a sunburn.
Dr. Brandon Adler, assistant professor of dermatology at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, warned of an increase in ‘margarita burn’ amid rising temperatures across the US.
An important way to know if you have been affected is by paying attention to the pattern of the burn. Adler said these burns usually look “streaky like sap running down the skin.” Or just as a very unusual dark spot on the areas of the body that have had contact.’
If you suspect you’ve come into contact with something that causes this to flare up, Adler said, the first crucial step is to wash yourself off whatever you may have come into contact with.
After you have cleansed your skin, you should be safe from the sun.
Then, in most cases, these rashes die within a few days or weeks. Most of the time, these reactions don’t even require any medication, but Adler recommends staying out of the sun.
Heading into the sunny season in the US, Adler expects there to be an increase, as there is every year. Make sure you are prepared.