#Black light burns skin#
“It all depends on how much of a dose of the fruit or plant you got on your skin and how long you were in sun,” Dr. Though painless, those spots can take months to fade - and they’re likely to darken if re-exposed to sunlight.Ī mild case of phytophotodermatitis might go largely unnoticed, while other people’s reactions are severe enough to send them to the doctor for help. Once the blisters heal, they typically leave behind brown hyperpigmentation in the affected areas of the skin. Within another day or two, painful blisters will develop in the affected areas. In 24 to 48 hours, your skin might start to feel tingly and tender and begin to redden. The signs of phytophotodermatitis might not kick in immediately after you’ve been in the sun.
#Black light burns how to#
How to identify itīecause phytophotodermatitis occurs where skin has come into contact with toxins from plants and fruit, it can be difficult to identify - and may show up in strange formations, like streaks, splotches, or even handprints. Hospitality industry, beware: Chefs, bartenders, and others who work with food may be more likely to be exposed to foods containing furocoumarins, especially when serving on patios, working at pool bars, and the like.Īnd because plenty of wild plants contain furocoumarins, hikers, bikers, and other outdoorsy types may also be more vulnerable to exposure.
Who it afflictsįair-skinned folks and those who are typically sensitive to the sun are at higher risk for phytophotodermatitis, while individuals with darker skin don’t usually see such reactivity. A subset is known as “berloque dermatitis,” a 1920s reference to the fact that it frequently affected people who wore perfumes and colognes containing bergamot oil, which is derived from furocoumarin-containing oranges. Phytophotodermatitis is sometimes called “margarita burn,” for obvious reasons. Turns out, she’d been making guacamole beforehand, and some of the lime had gotten onto her skin before she headed outdoors. Piliang says once, a patient had a poison ivy-like rash on the top of her forearms after mowing the lawn. “Anything where they’re cutting and squeezing limes and splashing the juice on themselves and then enjoying the sunshine.”ĭr. “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,” Dr. Pelea anisata (often used in Hawaiian leis).
Citrus fruits (especially limes and bergamot oranges).“Typically phytophotodermatitis is a topical reaction, where you’ve spilled something on yourself,” she says, “but it can also happen from eating celery soup, as celery contains furocoumarins.”įoods that can lead to phytophotodermatitis include:
Why it happensĭermatologist Melissa Piliang, MD explains that some plants and fruits - especially citrus fruits - contain furocoumarins, an organic chemical compound that can make skin more sensitive to the sun and worsen the effects of sunburn. Phytophotodermatitis, then, is the skin’s exaggerated response to the sun, resulting in light-to-severe blistering that may look like sun poisoning or a rash. What does this mouthful of a term mean? Here’s a breakdown: We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
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