Sipping cocktails poolside may be a favorite way to spend a sunny summer day, but filling your glass with a margarita is particularly risky -- and we're not just talking about the potential hangover you might feel the next day.
Drinking a margarita in the sun can lead to an extremely painful skin condition called phytophotodermatitis, a form of extreme sunburn more commonly known as "margarita burn."
Phytophotodermatitis is a reaction caused by direct contact with phototoxic agents and sunlight exposure. The real danger lies within the limes. Citrus fruits, especially limes, contain high levels of a phototoxic agent known as furocoumarin. If lime juice drips on your skin in direct sunlight, you could be at risk.
"The interaction of UV light and the furocoumarins causes an exaggerated sunburn that creates a painful line of blisters where the juice was on the skin, followed by linear, brown, hyperpigmented patches that take weeks or months to resolve," according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The effects of a margarita burn might not kick in immediately.
"In 24 to 48 hours, your skin might start to feel tingly and tender and begin to redden. Within another day or two, painful blisters will develop in the affected areas," according to the Cleveland Clinic.
After the initial reaction subsides and the redness and inflammation start to go down, dark spots appear on the skin where blisters had been.
"Once the blisters heal, they typically leave behind brown hyperpigmentation in the affected areas of your skin. Though painless, those spots can take months to fade — and they're likely to darken if re-exposed to sunlight," per the Cleveland Clinic.
Yes, you read that right -- a "margarita burn" could take months to fully heal.
Mild cases of phytophotodermatitis may clear on their own without much discomfort or be treated like a sunburn with cool compresses and anti-inflammatory medications. But some reactions can be severe enough to land someone in the hospital.
"The degree of photosensitivity is based on the amount of juice and its concentration," Dr. Keira Barr, a dual board certified dermatologist, told Healthline. "People who were squeezing a lot of limes or had a drink spilled on them and then had a lot of sun exposure may have significant blistering, like a second- or third-degree thermal burn. They might have open sores and wounds that require medical attention."
"People with severe blistering or skin that's sloughing off will face a risk of secondary infection, so it needs to be treated like a burn," Barr added.
It is still very possible to enjoy a margarita outside this summer, if you take a couple precautions.
• First and foremost, health experts say you should always protect your skin by wearing sunscreen when outdoors.
• If you are preparing margaritas, do it in a location out of direct sunlight and wash your hands thoroughly.
• While enjoying a margarita, keep limes in your glass and if you do get lime juice on your skin, wash it off immediately.