Brooklyn Designer Warns of Severe Sunburn From Lime Juice After Pool Party

Haley Peacock, a Brooklyn-based designer, shared a viral TikTok describing how she developed severe second-degree burns after hand-squeezing about 30 limes for a large batch of margaritas at a boyfriend’s birthday party upstate. After a brief rinse under running water, she spent the afternoon lounging by a pool, unaware that the lime juice on her skin was reacting with sunlight. The following day, her hands were red, swollen, and covered with blisters as large as golf balls, leading her to seek urgent-care treatment.

Dermatologist Melissa Piliang of the Cleveland Clinic identified the condition as phytophotodermatitis, an inflammatory response triggered by photosensitizing compounds in citrus and other plant juices when exposed to UV radiation. She noted that similar reactions can occur with foods like celery, figs, fennel, carrots, and parsley. Peacock’s video ends with a plea for viewers to wash their hands many times and avoid sun exposure after handling citrus.