Do NOT rub limes on your feet as recommended by JRS!

[pion314]

Today's issue of the Jackrabbit Speaks contains some rather poor medical advice recommending people rub lime juice on their feet to prevent playa foot. While this may work, lime juice on the skin + sunlight can cause phytophotodermatitis. People should NOT be rubbing limes anywhere on their skin if they are going to be in sunlight.

In layman's terms, any skin that is exposed to lime juice then sunlight can develop painful open sores that progress to long-term skin discoloration. I have seen this happen before just from squeezing limes into beer. Limes are so notorious for causing this that it sometimes called "Lime Disease." Which of course is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the unrelated malady Lyme Disease. Please spread the word to not ever put lime juice on your skin if you will be in the sun!

From Up to Date:
"Patients with phytophotodermatitis typically present with erythema, edema, and bullae in linear or bizarre configurations on sun-exposed skin that reflect the manner in which they have come in contact with the plant. For example, people who develop phytophotodermatitis from exposure to plants in meadows and fields often have a linear distribution to their cutaneous eruption. The clinical findings appear approximately 24 hours after sun exposure. Lesions are not pruritic, and may be painful. As the acute eruption clears, it is replaced by hyperpigmentation that may take months to years to resolve. It should be noted that often the preceding erythema is inapparent and only the hyperpigmentation is observed."

[tamarakay]

interesting that you should post this. We are dealing with this RIGHT NOW. My husband cut up limes for margaritas, then put his hands on his hips. Then spent the day naked gardening.



He says stop it with the my little pony jokes. The other four pictures all showed various tips and protrudences lol

[tamarakay]

if the Stallion's burns didn't convince you take a gander at this:

https://www.google.com/search?q=lime+ju ... 20&bih=955

[maladroit]

I nominate this for best ePlaya thread of the year!

Also, "Hint: most bars have limes!" in the same goddamn email that explains how you must have a health permit in order to serve any fresh food to the public (which includes limes and their juice). Most bars don't have health permits. Did a virgin write this?

[Meat Hunter]

Thank You.... !!

Those photos are just plum scary.

I was planning on applying for a food permit so that I could gift rum & coke with a twist of fresh lime on the deep playa -- Not any more.........

It will now be just rum & coke.

[Token]

So you're saying some nice Burning Man stencils and a sack full of limes ...

We can make some skin art!

Beats branding, right?

I am curious though, does everyone get the same reaction or is it like poison oak/ivy? Some do some don't?

[FIGJAM]

Thank You.... !!

Those photos are just plum scary.

I was planning on applying for a food permit so that I could gift rum & coke with a twist of fresh lime on the deep playa -- Not any more.........

It will now be just rum & coke.

Bring plastic limes.

I do that for myyyyeeeeeiiiiiii coronas!!!

[Bless]

This seems like horrible misinformation to be spreading.

[trilobyte]

In the spirit of bad advice, I say USE BATTERY ACID!!!!*

Please folks, allow me to share the tip that a friend gave me for my inaugural trip to the desert in 2001, it has proven to be one of the best playa tips EVARRRRR!!!!!

Playa Foot Salad!
Get a bottle of supermarket grade cheap white vinegar
Get a bottle of olive oil. Sure you can use the cheap stuff, but it's for YOU. Pamper yourself, go extra virgin olive oil.
Get a washcloth, and a basin.

Dead fucking simple. Soak the washcloth with the vinegar. Now, use that washcloth to wash your hands and feet. Vinegar is mildly acidic, roughly the opposite Ph level of the alkali in the playa dust. Net result... NEUTRAL. This makes the stinging go away, and limits the effects of playa-foot (which is a lot like athlete's foot). Next, pour on a little of that olive oil and massage it into your hands and feet. That will cut the vinegar, and IT FEELS REALLY GOOD. Holy crap, you've just given yourself a nice restorative hand and foot massage. You'll smell a bit like a salad for 5-10 minutes, but you will FEEL GREAT. I'll repeat it because I'm a little drunk right now (don't judge me!)... YOU'LL FEEL GREAT!

One bottle of each will cover you, all your campmates, and anyone who visits you who you think could stand with a little pampering.

*totally kidding, do not use battery acid!

[digital]

I've been blanking on a crew gift for months now. I've got it. Maybe because too much vino as well.

Crew foot salads with pedicure. The above sounds perfect for before and after a nice foot cleansing with massage and toe trimming. We are on our feet many hours a day and what better gift than a foot rejuvenation! Thanks for the idea, Trilo.

[Eric]

Or you could have feet like mine that love the playa. I walk around camp barefoot or in my clown-slippers (which let in a lot of dust), and the most I've ever done is wipe them down with baby-wipes. As with everything, you never know until you get there.

That said - keep stuff around to seal any cuts or abrasions that you get! I have to use liquid bandaid on my fingernail cuticles unless I want them cracked & painful by the end of the week. Toe cuticles, on the other hand, get no damage. Stupid body.

[Token]

Eric's "Foot Salad" Deli

Featuring a choice of Italian vinaigrette, Cool Ranch, Fig Balsamic, and Blue Cheese.

Giggidy

[tamarakay]

So you're saying some nice Burning Man stencils and a sack full of limes ...

We can make some skin art!

Beats branding, right?

I am curious though, does everyone get the same reaction or is it like poison oak/ivy? Some do some don't?

From what I've read it is pretty universal. Some blister more than others, but this is really bad juju

[tamarakay]

This seems like horrible misinformation to be spreading.

I agree. I sent links to the jack rabbit speaks and asked them to send a retraction.

[smiffman]

This just in from FOX news.............


To be fair "Or just rub the inside of a lime on your feet then pop your socks on........"

[tamarakay]

How many do you think are going to read it and just say LIME JUICE! Plus, it's on your hands, then you touch your skin anywhere. That is what happened to my husband. He squeezed the limes, then had his hands on his hips while I mixed up the margaritas. He did wash his hands, but was completely oblivious to the lime juice on his hips. Then he went outside and gardened. BAD BAD BAD burns.

[mudpuppy000]

Here's some other plants that might cause it as well, and if you burn them the smoke can cause the same reaction.

Parsnip
Celery
Parsley
Cow parsnip/hogweed
Giant hogweed
Bergamot lime (Citrus bergamia)
Citron (Citrus medica)
Zabon (Citrus maxima)
Fig
Beans

http://www.dermnetnz.org/reactions/phot ... titis.html

Guess we might need to rethink our refried bean wrestling pit.

[skippy3k]

Lime juice + Male + Urination + Shirt-cocking = Perfect storm of discomfort.

[pink]

They probably meant to say lemons, which I've seen on here as an alternative to vinegar.

Damn, I was just up At a music festival and as part of a camp kitchen juiced a quart of lime juice (not sure how many likes but it was a lot). No reaction but it was evening and I was also dishwasher so that might have helped get it off before I got into the sun again.

[Eric]

Eric's "Foot Salad" Deli

Featuring a choice of Italian vinaigrette, Cool Ranch, Fig Balsamic, and Blue Cheese.

Giggidy

Fuck that, I'll toss them a baby-wipe & tell them to have at, and my work is done. I am not nice enough to wash someones feet (unless he's really damn pretty, and has already proven to be a good kisser)

[tamarakay]

heard back from will, he is looking into it. The pictures got his attention though.

[Savannah]

This seems like horrible misinformation to be spreading.

I agree. I sent links to the jack rabbit speaks and asked them to send a retraction.

I'm glad you did, Tamarakay.

If you enter "lime juice burns" into Google, this is the first result:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/limes-sunl ... d=31505292

The reactions is described as "rare", but it's worth knowing about.

Vinegar is a good alternative and what I would opt for if I were uncertain. I have used lemon juice on my skin on the playa for years, but primarily on my FEET, followed by thick moisturizer, and before bed--not on places that were about to get sun! And I use a mix of things to clean myself--soap and water included.

Amusingly enough--I would imagine that most bars do not want to be asked to spare limes for others' feet.

If there's anything that we know: it's that mixers and other little niceties are the hardest for bars to hold on to!

[tamarakay]

Ken's dermatologist said that parents get suspected of child abuse often due to this. You touch your childs face or back or whatever with juice on you, then they get the bruising look. Goes undiagnosed in most cases as people assume it is a weird sunburn.