Community Corner

The Weirdest Summer Rash Is...

Beware of those summer mixed drinks and tropical salsas.

There's a lot to love about summer — great weather, pool parties, barbecues, vacations — but one thing you might not even know comes with with heat is a very specific rash.

The unfortunate culprit of the dermal malady is an ingredient common in many summer recipes: limes. 

According to WTOP, the summer rash is so common doctors have given it several nicknames — The Other Lime Disease and Margarita Dermatitis. 

Luckily, it's not the consumer that often gets hit with the rash, but the chef. 

"The oil from the lime, when it comes in contact with sunlight, can cause a blistering reaction, similar to poison ivy," Dr. Howard Brooks, a dermatologist based in Georgetown told WTOP.

Bartenders, who squeeze limes for a living, are among the most common victims of Margarita Dermatitis. 

So while you're entertaining this summer, making drinks and tropical snacks for friends, follow Dr. Brooks' method of preventing the rash: "Wash off the juice and apply sunscreen immediately."

Should you fail to wash off the oils before the rash sets in, a cool compress or hydrocortisone cream can help with healing. If it gets bad, you should see a doctor immediately. 

Here's another idea — cut out limes. Luckily, lemons, oranges, grapefruits, etc. don't carry the same itch-inducing oils. 

For fresh limes, check out the Mountain View Farmers Market at the Caltrain Station, Sundays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.


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