I thought I’d get a tan but woke up with sun poisoning – I looked just like an Avatar thanks to my swollen eyes
A YOUNG woman has revealed that she thought she would get a tan whilst on holiday, but instead, woke up with sun poisoning.
Hannah, a 22-year-old model from Toronto, went abroad with her pal, but was left looking like an Avatar after not wearing sun cream.
The influencer enjoyed herself while sunbathing and swimming in Cuba, but was left in hysterics when her swollen eyes had her resembling the blue creatures from the 2009 Sci-Fi film.
Keen to show off her sun poisoning, Hannah took to social media, where she compared her swollen face to that of an Avatar.
Posting online, Hannah uploaded a clip of her red face and simply penned: “How sun poisoning has me looking.”
‘Sun poisoning,’ though not a formal medical term, is a common way to describe a severe sunburn, potentially involving symptoms beyond just skin redness and pain, such as fever, chills, and nausea.
In addition to the typical signs of sunburn, sun poisoning can also cause blisters, headaches, dizziness, dehydration and confusion.
Sun poisoning is caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, leading to a severe burn.
While anyone can get sun poisoning, those with fair skin are at a higher risk.
Not only this, but babies, children, and people with certain skin conditions or those taking medications that increase sun sensitivity can also find themselves at risk of sun poisoning.
In Hannah’s short clip, the brunette beauty zoomed in on her swollen eyes and explained: “I’m fully healed now but the edema in my face was too crazy not to post, literally woke up with my eye swollen shut.”
Hannah confirmed that she didn’t wear sun cream whilst in Cuba and as a result, suffered from severe sunburn.
She then confessed: “I had no idea what [sun poisoning] was. Me and my girl both woke up like this because we didn’t use sun screen.”
With red and swollen skin, Hannah quickly made her way to the nearest hospital, where she was given an injection in her bum to control the body’s reaction.
Advice for adults and children on sunscreen and sun safety in the UK and abroad
The experts at the NHS have warned that sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer.
They state that despite the common misconception, sunburn ”does not just happen on holiday”.
This means that you can burn in the UK, even on days when it’s cloudy.
”There’s no safe or healthy way to get a tan. A tan does not protect your skin from the sun’s harmful effects.”
You can find more tips on their website here.
To prevent sun poisoning, it is crucial to wear sun cream with a high SPF, even on cloudy days.
Those in the sun should seek shade where possible, especially during peak sun hours, and as well as wearing protective clothing, such as long sleeves and hats, should also ensure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
If you do suspect you have sun poisoning, you should seek medical attention, especially if you have a fever, chills, or dehydration symptoms.
Me and my girl both woke up like this because we didn’t use sun screen
Hannah
To control sun poisoning, you can apply cool compresses and have cold showers to help relieve pain and inflammation.
Over-the-counter pain relievers can also help, and hydration is crucial, so drinking plenty of fluids is advised.
Social media users react
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @xo.hannah.3, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly gone viral and amassed 1.8 million views.
Not only this, but it’s also racked up 129,100 likes, 855 comments and 10,00 shares.
How to care for sunburn safely
WE should all avoid getting burnt in the sun as it can cause skin cancer.
But if you do get burnt this summer, it’s important to take care of your skin safely.
Your skin will likely feel hot to the touch, be sore and painful, and flake or peel after a few days. If your burn is severe, your skin may also blister.
According to the NHS, the best ways to ease sunburn yourself are to:
- Get out of the sun as soon as possible
- Cool your skin with a cool shower, bath or damp towel (take care not to let a baby or young child get too cold)
- Apply aftersun cream or spray
- Drink plenty of water to cool down and prevent dehydration
- Take painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for any pain
- Cover sunburnt skin from direct sunlight until skin has fully healed
You should also avoid using petroleum jelly, putting ice or ice packs directly on sunburnt skin, popping blisters, scratching or trying to remove peeling skin and tight-fitting clothing.
Most of the time, sunburn can be treated at home. But you should ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if you’ve been out in the sun and:
- Your skin is blistered or swollen
- Your temperature is very high, or you feel hot and shivery
- You feel very tired, dizzy and sick
- You have a headache and muscle cramps
- Your baby or young child has sunburn
Severe sunburn can lead to heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can be very serious and in some cases fatal.
Source: NHS
Social media users were gobsmacked by Hannah’s sun poisoning and many flocked to the comments to express this.
One person said: “Omg I thought it was a filter.”
Another added: “I’m scared.”
A third commented: “Jump scare omg.”
I’m sooo sorry that happened to you, but Avatar was the first thing that came to mind
TikTok user
At the same time, many agreed with Hannah and noticed her resemblance to an Avatar.
One user penned: “You look like you’re from an Avatar movie omg.”
A second agreed: “I’m sooo sorry that happened to you, but Avatar was the first thing that came to mind.”
Alongside crying emojis, someone else chimed in: “It’s giving Avatar.”
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