Paradise Problem #1
Phytophotodermatitis. What is it?
My good friend Lester calls things like Phytophotodermatitis a “Paradise Problem”. So let’s start a series called “Paradise Problems”! (Tongue-in-Cheek)
If you’re in the Caribbean, or somewhere super sunny like this, then beware of Phytophotodermatitis. Also known as Margarita Photodermatitis, it’s a skin reaction to the natural photosensitizing chemicals in limes and some other plants & fruits. The reaction can cause redness, blisters, and even 2nd-degree burns.
We first discovered this when visiting the Hog Islands/Cayos Cochinos back in 2009. Cayos Cochinos is an incredible archipelago of islands off the north coast of Honduras, protected since the mid-80’s. We visited Chachahuate, the lovely Garifuna island, had an incredible time experiencing the most breath-taking views of the ocean with the Garifuna hospitality, and had been putting “lime in dee coconuts” to make Coco Locos.
Coco Locos, or “crazy coconuts” are made by opening a fresh coconut, chopping off the bottom so it doesn’t roll away, opening the top and drinking a bit of the sweet coconut water. Then add a splash of lime & some rum, and you have a Coco Loco!
So after a day of Coco Locos, the next day, my brother-in-law awoke with huge blisters on his hands. After researching the net, he discovered this crazy thing called phytophotodermatitis! I realized then, that the same thing occurred with our 3-year-old. She had faint purple, burn-like marks on her arms, in the shape of what could be a hand-print. I knew the nanny would never hurt her, but I was puzzled about what it could have been. I realized that the nanny must have picked up our daughter, after cooking with lime juice, and it transferred onto her skin and slightly burnt her skin. It wasn’t painful at all, it just left her with a slight discoloration on her arm.
In the same manner that ceviche is made, a similar reaction occurs with one’s skin. To make ceviche, you take fresh fish and soak it in lime/lemon juice. The juice basically ‘cooks’ the fish without requiring any heat! Although super delicious, and my hubby makes one of the best you’ll ever have, you’ll not want the lime to cook your skin.
It’s been awhile since experiencing this problem, and I decided to make this post after my husband catered a wedding, and the helpers all had serious burns from the lime the next day?!
How do you deal with it? Just wash off the juice from any exposed areas before going out in the sun. Heat & moisture exacerbate the effects.
Please pass on this info, so it doesn’t happen to you or anyone else, and you can continue enjoying Caribbean life!