Summer Citrus Drinks Could Leave You With Painful 'Margarita Burn'

Summer’s the season for soaking up rays and enjoying icy drinks, but before you start mixing those cocktails, there’s something you should know. Doctors are warning about a sneaky skin reaction called “margarita burn” that can turn a sunny afternoon into a painful experience.

While most people expect a hangover from one too many drinks, they don’t realize their favorite summer cocktails could leave them with red, blistered skin instead. The official name for margarita burn is phytophotodermatitis, and it’s more common than you might think.

According to Dr. David Kim, a board-certified dermatologist, this condition happens when chemicals in certain fruits and plants make your skin extra sensitive to sunlight. If you’ve ever squeezed a lime, gotten juice on your hands, and then sat out in the sun, you could be setting yourself up for an itchy, burning rash.

So what’s going on? Margarita burn happens when your skin comes into contact with furocoumarins, which are compounds found in foods like limes, lemons, celery, parsley, figs, and even carrots.

Once these chemicals are on your skin, exposure to sunlight triggers an extreme reaction similar to a severe sunburn. Dr. Kim explained,

“It’s more common than you think, and it can cause real damage if you’re not careful.”

Lime or lemon juice on skin plus sun can cause painful burns, especially for fair-skinned or outdoor workers.

Dr. Melissa Piliang of the Cleveland Clinic also sees cases of margarita burn pop up often in the summer.

“I commonly see phytophotodermatitis when somebody has been barbecuing on a sunny afternoon and having drinks with limes in them, like margaritas or beers with a lime squeezed in,” she said. “Anything where they’re cutting and squeezing limes and splashing the juice on themselves and then enjoying the sunshine.”

You don’t have to be a bartender or a cocktail aficionado to get margarita burn, but certain factors can raise your risk. Anyone who splashes lime or lemon juice on their skin and then sits in the sun could end up with this rash.

But if you have fair skin, you’re even more at risk because lighter skin tends to burn more easily. People who work outside with citrus fruits, like bartenders at beach bars or outdoor restaurants, should also be extra careful.

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Margarita burn causes itchy, red streaks or blisters within 1–2 days of sun exposure.

If you do get margarita burn, you’ll probably notice it within a day or two after you’ve been in the sun. The rash often shows up as streaks, splotches, or even odd patterns like handprints where the juice touched your skin.

It can look red and inflamed or even blister in more serious cases. The affected area is usually very itchy and uncomfortable. According to Cleveland Clinic experts, these symptoms typically develop 24 to 48 hours after sun exposure.

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So, what should you do if you realize you have margarita burn?

If the rash is mild, you might not need to do much beyond keeping your skin clean and protected from more sun. But if you’re uncomfortable, head to the pharmacy for an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to help with inflammation and itching.

Dr. Kim recommends using steroid creams to calm down the rash. He also suggests brightening serums with ingredients like kojic acid or arbutin to reduce the chances of long-lasting dark spots.

“If you get a rash, you can use steroid creams to calm down the inflammation, and you can use brightening serums with kojic acid and arbutin to prevent hyperpigmentation,”

However, if your rash doesn’t start to improve after a few days or if it looks severe, it’s best to see a doctor. They can prescribe stronger creams to help heal your skin faster.

One important thing to remember: don’t pop any blisters if they form. Popping them can lead to infections and make things worse. Also, keep the affected skin out of the sun until it’s completely healed.

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Understanding the Psychology Behind 'Margarita Burn'

From a psychological perspective, the 'margarita burn' phenomenon can be understood through the lens of risk perception and health behavior. People often underestimate the risks associated with their actions, especially when they engage in pleasurable activities like enjoying a cocktail on a sunny day. This is consistent with the Optimism Bias, a concept in behavioral psychology where individuals believe they are less likely to experience negative events compared to others (Sharot, 2011).

Further, the theory of Cognitive Dissonance can explain why some people continue to consume these drinks despite knowing the potential harm. This theory posits that people feel uncomfortable when their actions contradict their beliefs and will try to reduce this discomfort by changing their attitudes or beliefs (McLeod, 2018). Applying this to our context, some might downplay the risks of 'margarita burn' or convince themselves it won't happen to them.

Fortunately, avoiding margarita burn isn’t complicated. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling limes, lemons, or any other produce known to contain furocoumarins, especially if you plan to spend time outside.

If you’re playing bartender for friends, wearing gloves while cutting and squeezing citrus can go a long way in keeping your skin safe. And, of course, don’t forget sunscreen. Regularly applying a broad-spectrum suncream with at least SPF 30 can help protect you from both typical sunburn and margarita burn.

So while summer drinks and sunny afternoons go hand in hand, a little extra caution can keep your skin healthy and pain-free. Enjoy your margaritas, but don’t let them leave a mark you’ll regret.

What Research Shows About Risk Perception and Behavior

Research has shown that knowledge alone does not necessarily lead to changes in behavior. A study by Rimal (2003) found that perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of a risk can significantly influence health behaviors. This means that unless individuals perceive 'margarita burn' as a serious and likely consequence, they may not alter their cocktail-drinking behavior, despite being aware of the potential risks.

Analysis & Alternative Approaches

Understanding the psychological processes underlying risk perception and behavior can help in devising effective health communication strategies. It's not just about spreading information; it's about making people understand the relevance and severity of risks to their own lives. By addressing Optimism Bias and Cognitive Dissonance, we may be able to encourage safer summer behaviors and reduce instances of 'margarita burn' (Sharot, 2011; McLeod, 2018; Rimal, 2003).