The Perils of Lime in the Sun

Public Service Announcement:

Did you know that lime juice can give your skin 3rd degree burns in the sun?

Well, I didn't. And so it is five weeks later, and I still have scars on my hands and stomach to remind me of our first day in Mexico. Thankfully, the semi-circle on my upper lip has gone away (I have to credit the SPF 45 and the wide brim hat for blocking out most of the sun. The not-as-bad burns look like a speckling of age spots on my left hand.

Mr. Price's hand is still torn up; his was much worse than mine. In fact, we were at dinner last weekend and I noticed the waitress staring at his hand. Five weeks later! In case you were wondering, when I say 'third degree burns' I mean bright red, water-filled blisters. The only other time in my life I've had something similar is when I seared my hand on the iron.

I'll post pictures if I can remember to take some. Of the prolly 20 people who have asked, "What happened to your hand!?" 1 person knew that lime juice could do that and 1 other said they thought it was a myth…besides for that, all other people were surprised. (of course they could have just been faking it for me, and really thinking, "you moron, how did you not know lime juice + the sun = massive skin burns!!")

So anyway, my hope is that the next time you find yourself poolside or on the beach squeezing a lime into your drink, you can remember my sad, pitiful tale and learn from our misfortunes. Then you quickly rinse that lime juice off before you, too, have a permanent reminder.

Endorsed by the Coalition of Vacationers Against Lime Burns.