With spring approaching, dermatologists are spreading consciousness of a lesser-known pores and skin situation related to solar publicity. Dealing with sure meals like limes after which going into the solar might trigger an itchy rash or sunburn on areas of the physique that the citrus juice touched. In extreme instances, individuals might develop blisters that require an emergency room go to.The situation, photocontact dermatitis, may be attributable to something that makes pores and skin extra delicate to the solar — together with sure skincare merchandise, medicine or crops. It is typically known as “margarita rash” as a result of individuals might get it after juicing limes for margaritas then sitting exterior.”The proper publicity to the correct citrus in the correct daylight will trigger this in anyone” — together with all pores and skin sorts, stated Dr. Brandon Adler, an assistant professor of dermatology at Keck College of Medication on the College of Southern California.“Lots of people falsely assume that it’s solely fairer-skinned people who develop solar sensitivity, and that’s patently false,” he stated. “There’s a very good physique of information that’s emerged displaying that folks with darker pores and skin tones are additionally inclined.”Adler is ready to debate the subject Sunday on the American Academy of Dermatology’s 2024 Annual Assembly.Dr. Melissa Piliang, a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic, stated she sees a few sufferers with photocontact dermatitis each summer season — mostly, individuals who dealt with citrus fruits, although the situation can also be related to dealing with celery, trimming fig bushes or touching crops like hogweed or St. John’s wort. Piliang stated these things include furocoumarins — chemical compounds discovered naturally in some crops and fruits which might be activated by the solar’s long-wave ultraviolet gentle, or UVA rays. Photocontact dermatitis may be distinguished from different pores and skin circumstances as a result of there’s typically a sample from the place a meals or plant touched the physique, Piliang stated.“If someone is at a barbecue, they’re making margaritas, they splash lime on their arm after which they’re exterior within the solar, they get sunburned within the sample of the lime splash,” she stated. “Or, they acquired lime on their hand they usually had a shirt off they usually put their hand on their stomach after which they’ve an enormous sunburn handprint.”Adlers stated the reactions typically present up hours to days after an publicity. A rash might disappear rapidly in some instances, however linger in others, he stated.Beneficial“Typically these may be very power circumstances the place the rash truly doesn’t at all times go away, even when someone is beginning to keep away from the solar. That may make it very laborious in some instances for even the affected person to appreciate that it is a sun-related situation,” Adler stated.Different types of photocontact dermatitis do not contain a burn or rash. For instance, some individuals develop darkish patches that are not painful or itchy, however can final years earlier than going away.The patches “typically look streaky from the juice operating down your pores and skin,” Adler stated. Different instances could also be allergy-relatedIn rarer instances, individuals might have an allergic type of photocontact dermatitis — an allergy to a sure product, like sunscreen, that solely happens once they’re uncovered to daylight. Whereas this model of photocontact dermatitis is much less frequent, Adler stated his analysis suggests it could be under-diagnosed. The one strategy to inform if somebody has it’s to do a photograph patch take a look at, which entails taping patches with small quantities of an allergen to the pores and skin and exposing these patches to UVA gentle.Allergic types of photocontact dermatitis are often itchy or scaly and appear like eczema, Adler stated. They sometimes clear up as soon as individuals swap to a distinct product that does not include the allergen.”This on no account implies anybody must keep away from sunscreens or that sunscreens are harmful,” Adler stated.Folks may get rashes or burns after taking sure medicines — corresponding to frequent blood strain medicines — and being out within the solar. In these instances, the rash would seem on elements of the physique that had been uncovered to the solar’s rays. Adler stated there’s probably a most important ingredient in these medicines that will get activated by ultraviolet gentle.”In all probability there’s a distinct mechanism for every drug, and it’s not so properly understood, however what we do know is: You cease the medicine, the solar sensitivity goes away,” he stated.How one can stop and deal with sun-related rashesThe easiest strategy to stop photocontact dermatitis is to scrub your palms totally, Piliang stated.”If you are going to squeeze limes or make guacamole or make margaritas, wash your palms afterwards with cleaning soap and water to get all that juice off — possibly your forearms and elbows down,” she stated.To deal with a rash or burn, apply a cool compress or a gentle topical steroid like 1% hydrocortisone. Folks may take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen, Piliang stated.”If in case you have blisters, particularly blisters over vast areas of the physique, then you must search assist. See a doctor, see a dermatologist,” she stated. However for most individuals, Adler stated, one of the best remedy is steering away from no matter meals, plant or product is triggering a pores and skin response.”It is not about, ‘Let’s prescribe prescribe one thing,'” he stated. “It is like, ‘Let’s work out the right way to keep away from what’s inflicting the issue.'”Aria Bendix is the breaking well being reporter for NBC Information Digital.