A recent article in Washington D.C.’s WTOP Living website is calling it the ‘Other Lime Disease’, to distinguish it from the serious deer tick-borne illness named after Lyme, Connecticut. Quite simply, it’s a syllabic mouthful called phytophotodermatitis, an itchy, painful blistering rash that comes about 48 hours after sunlight hits skin that has come in contact with the juice or oil from limes and their peels.

Breaking it down: Phyto means plant. Photo means light. Derm means skin. And –itis means inflammation. Voila!

The juice and oil in limes contain light-sensitive chemicals called furocoumarins. On their own, furocoumarins are harmless, but when they come in contact with UV rays from the sun, they chemically transform into something very unpleasant for the skin. The resultant rash – which is much larger than just the point of exposure – is as red, blistery, itchy and uncomfortable as poison ivy (though unlike poison ivy’s linear pattern, phytophotodermatitis looks like paint dribbling down the arm.)

If you are unfortunate enough to contract the rash, cold compresses and over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream should clear the itching and inflammation (even if the redness disappears, you may still have slight skin discoloration.) As with any inflammatory skin condition, if you scratch and break the blisters, you run the risk of infection and scarring. Unfortunately, the rash can remain present for months or even in some serious cases, years. If it lasts longer than a couple of months, you will need to see a doctor.

Phytophotodermatitis is not as uncommon as you may think and can result from skin’s contact to any number of fragrances, fruits, vegetables and grasses exposed to sunlight (which means weeding the garden.) In my practice, I’ve seen it triggered by celery, lemons, and even parsley. Probably the most unusual case I’ve ever encountered was caused by hogweed on the legs of an avid backpacker.

If you have an outdoor job this summer as a bartender, waiter or cook, you’ll want to take precautions. Sadly, other than wearing gloves when in contact with possible culprits, prevention is difficult, particularly on the pads of the fingers. The best I can offer is to wear a mineral sunblock with SPF of at least 30. Should you be exposed (or even suspect that you might be), wash the area thoroughly with soap (rinsing with water is NOT enough). Then immediately slap on your sunscreen and plenty of it.

“What?,” you ask, “Is this yet still another way that Dr. Ava is reiterating her sunscreen message? Again?” Indeed that’s right, you got it. To be sure, phytophotodermatits (a.k.a., ‘margarita dermatitis’) happens but it doesn’t have to disrupt your skin.