A New York woman is going viral after getting second-degree burns in a rather unusual way. But she wasn’t hurt by a flicker, a flame, or anything smoky. She was burned by a margarita and some sunshine.
Haley Peacock (@princess__peacock), a designer, told her audience that she juiced “30 limes” with her bare hands because she didn’t have a juicer. Later, after spending time at the pool, she realized that her hands were burning up.
In her video, which has more than 1.5 million views, she shows off her bandages. “ Now both of my hands are covered in second-degree burns. And I have my grandpa’s funeral tomorrow, so I’m gonna be pulling up like this,” she says.
What Is A Margarita Burn?
Getting second-degree burns from a margarita may feel like a unique experience, but there’s actually a name for it.
A lime-skin burn is called “phytophotodermatitis,” and it occurs when citrus oils react with UV light. Peacock mentioned that after juicing limes for her margaritas, she went and sat by the pool, which may have exposed her to the elements and caused damage.
Samer Jaber, a New York dermatologist, told CBS News that a “red, itchy, blistering rash can develop wherever the lime juice touched your skin.”
He added that “It can look like an irregular shape or like a streak mark where the juice dripped onto the skin.”
Phytophotodermatitis isn’t exclusive to limes, either. Foods such as fennel, figs, celery, and carrots can also give individuals burns. But Cleveland Clinic notes that it is common in the summertime—and especially common with limes.
Dermatologist Melissa Piliang, who spoke with the Cleveland Clinic, said, “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 … Anything where they’re cutting and squeezing limes and splashing the juice on themselves and then enjoying the sunshine.”
@princess__peacock I don’t feel like myself without my rings😭
Other Horror Stories
In the comment section, viewers told Peacock about their own terrible encounters with various foods.
One commenter shared that they put lemon juice in their hair before a long outing, which resulted in a patchy burn on their back. They shared an image in the comment section of the burn.
Others, too, shared images of the burns they received from limes or citrus fruits, which varied from small welts to large blisters.
“I am also a margarita burn victim. I was squeezing a bunch of fresh limes and went in a tanning bed after having no idea,” one viewer said.
Then commenters focused their attention on other burn perpetrators: jalapeños, passion fruit, and even guacamole were all named and shamed.
For that reason, many viewers warned others against sitting out in the sun without properly washing food off one’s hands. Others, however, simply told Peacock they were sorry she had to find out via her own burn.
BroBible reached out to Peacock via email for more information.