The Hidden Danger of Lime Juice and Sun Exposure

By now, you’ve probably figured out that I have a naturally curious mind and like to test new things. From fad diets to natural concoctions for smooth skin, I love experimenting to see what works and what doesn’t.

I also like to pass my knowledge on to my audience whenever I can. That’s why I’ve decided to take a minute to tell you about the hidden dangers of a “new” skin care fad. If you’ve thought about putting lime juice on your skin, don’t do it until you’ve read about the hidden dangers of this practice!

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Touted Benefits of Lime Juice for Skin

Mother Nature makes a lot of cool ingredients that offer a lot of benefits. From egg white hair masks to coconut oil lotion, there are a lot of ways you can use natural products in your daily hair care and skincare routines.

Recently, lime juice has made its way into the limelight as a natural skin care product. Check out this list of benefits lime juice can potentially offer you:

  • Treats blemishes and acne due to its antibacterial properties

  • Controls excess skin oil thanks to its acidic nature

  • Has natural skin-lightening properties that can brighten dark spots on your skin

  • Helps slough off dead skin cells to reveal softer, newer skin

  • Acts as an astringent to tighten open pores and provide a smoother complexion

  • Helps neutralize free radicals and prevent premature aging

  • Makes your skin appear to glow

These are just a few of the top claims I found online about how lime juice can help your skin when applied regularly. While it probably does do all of these things, the benefits of using lime juice on your skin come at a substantial cost. If you’re not keen to live your life as a vampire and avoid sun exposure, here’s what you should know about the hidden danger of limes and sunshine.

How Lime Juice and the Sun Interact

Lime juice reacts with sunlight in a harmful way that can lead to chemical burns on your skin. This condition is referred to as phytophotodermatitis, and you only need to look up a few pictures online to see that this is something you absolutely don’t want to experience. It’s a type of skin rash that is very painful and can potentially cause second-degree burns.

As the rashes from lime juice and sunlight interactions begin to fade, they often leave behind itchy brown patches on the skin. The good news is that these patches will usually disappear without intervention, but it can take months for them to fade completely.

The tricky thing about phytophotodermatitis is that it often takes days for symptoms to develop. The delay makes it tricky to pinpoint the cause of the condition. Common symptoms include a burning sensation coupled with inflammation of the skin, fluid-filled bubbles on the skin, and irregularly shaped red patches on the skin.

Be Careful When Cooking With Limes Outdoors

While homemade skincare products with lime should be avoided if you plan to go outside in the summer, it’s also important to avoid cooking or grilling with limes outdoors. If you’re planning a barbeque, wear disposable vinyl gloves when squeezing lime juice onto your steaks or while preparing margaritas. The gloves provide a barrier between the lime juice and your skin.

If you don’t want to wear gloves, that’s OK. Just try not to get any lime juice on yourself while grilling (which is much easier said than done!) If you do get lime juice on your skin, be sure to immediately wash off any lime residue with soap and water before heading outdoors. A few preventative measures can mean the difference between enjoying your carefree summer and having your summer ruined by a painful bout of phytophotodermatitis.