Holidaymaker, 20, left looking like a CHIPMUNK when she suffered ‘sun poisoning’

A holidaymaker claims she was left looking like a chipmunk after her face ‘blew up’ when she suffered a severe reaction to the sun. 

Holly Barrington’s face around the eyes and nose swelled up – despite wearing UV protection sunglasses during a trip to Tenerife last month.

Doctors on the Spanish island told her the severe reaction was likely down to ‘sun poisoning’ – a term used for an aggressive case of sunburn.  

Miss Barrington, a 20-year-old student at Salford University, assumed she had gone blind on the holiday with her father Simon, 47.  

Holly Barrington’s face around the eyes and nose swelled up – despite wearing UV protection sunglasses during a trip to Tenerife last month

She said: ‘I looked horrendous, I couldn’t even open my eyes because my face had blew up – I was so lucky I could fly home in the end.

‘The doctor [in Tenerife] told me the swelling could be due to “sun poisoning” – which I had never heard of.

‘Despite the fact I wore suncream, I believed my eyes would be protected by my sunglasses but they must not have protected my eyes.’ 

Miss Barrington, from Huddersfield, hired a lounger bed facing the sea on the second day of her four-day break last month to try and get a tan.

But overnight her eyes swelled uncontrollably. 

Shocking selfies show the moment she awoke the next morning, where her face had blown up around her eyes.

Speaking of the horror, Miss Barrington said: ‘I was on holiday with my dad and had only flown out the day before.

‘On the second day of the holiday, we hired a bed to be able to lay and face the sun as I usually do on holiday.

Doctors on the Spanish island told her the severe reaction was likely down to 'sun poisoning' - a term used for an aggressive case of sunburn (pictured on holiday in Ibiza in 2017)

Doctors on the Spanish island told her the severe reaction was likely down to ‘sun poisoning’ – a term used for an aggressive case of sunburn (pictured on holiday in Ibiza in 2017)

Miss Barrington, a 20-year-old student at Salford University, assumed she had gone blind on the holiday with her father Simon, 47

Miss Barrington, a 20-year-old student at Salford University, assumed she had gone blind on the holiday with her father Simon, 47

She said: 'I looked horrendous, I couldn't even open my eyes because my face had blew up - I was so lucky I could fly home in the end' (pictured on holiday in Ibiza in 2017)

She said: ‘I looked horrendous, I couldn’t even open my eyes because my face had blew up – I was so lucky I could fly home in the end’ (pictured on holiday in Ibiza in 2017)

‘I wore suncream and didn’t burn but when I got back to the room and had a shower, I could feel my face starting to swell and felt really hot.

‘I looked shocking but I thought it would just sort itself out – I couldn’t even open my eyes and was screaming.’

Miss Barrington then bought aloe vera cream and tried to battle the swelling herself and purposely kept herself out of the sun.

The biomedical science student woke up on the final day of her trip unable to open her eyes at all and screamed for her father’s help.

Miss Barrington called for an emergency doctor to her hotel room after she feared she may not be able to travel home on medical grounds.

She added: ‘It was the last option as I had tried creams and nothing was working. I didn’t think I would be able to fly home and I panicked.’

The doctor, which cost 80 euros (£70) for the call out, reassured her the swelling would go down – but it took over a week before her face returned to normal.

Miss Barrington hired a lounger bed facing the sea on the second day of her four-day break last month to try and get a tan. But overnight her eyes swelled uncontrollably

Miss Barrington hired a lounger bed facing the sea on the second day of her four-day break last month to try and get a tan. But overnight her eyes swelled uncontrollably

The biomedical science student woke up on the final day of her trip unable to open her eyes at all and screamed for her father's help

The biomedical science student woke up on the final day of her trip unable to open her eyes at all and screamed for her father’s help

Miss Barrington called for an emergency doctor to her hotel room after she feared she may not be able to travel home on medical grounds

Miss Barrington called for an emergency doctor to her hotel room after she feared she may not be able to travel home on medical grounds

WHAT IS SUN POISONING?

Sun poisoning is the term used for a severe case of sunburn – caused by prolonged exposure to UV rays.

Dermatologists warn it can happen to anyone if they stay in the sun for a long time without protection. 

Wearing sun cream, sunglasses, a hat and protective clothing can protect against the reaction.

Sun poisoning can lead to headaches, fevers, swelling, nausea, dizziness and dehydration.  

It can usually be treated by getting out of the sun, taking a cold shower, drinking extra fluids and using aloe vera.  

Miss Barrington said: ‘I was told it was mainly cosmetic and allowed to fly home on the return trip.

‘Everybody on the plane was staring at me, it was embarrassing but at least I was allowed to fly.

‘I looked like a chipmunk on the flight back, I couldn’t believe what had happened. I thought “what if I look like this forever?”‘

Miss Barrington believes the sunglasses may not have protected her eyes and claims she was told the UV rays could have pierced through the lenses.

She is now hoping to warn other travellers of ‘sun poisoning’ and has urged anyone looking for a hot holiday to ensure they are protected from the sun’s rays.

Miss Barrington added: ‘I just want to raise awareness of the dangers of the sun.

‘Everyone wants the “bikini” picture in the sun but I know I didn’t know about sun poisoning and I will make sure I am protected next time.’ 

Sun poisoning refers to a case of severe sunburn which occurs after being exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun for an extended period of time.

Wearing sun cream, sunglasses, a hat and protective clothing can protect against the reaction, which can cause severe swelling. 

Miss Barrington believes the sunglasses may not have protected her eyes and claims she was told the UV rays could have pierced through the lenses

Miss Barrington believes the sunglasses may not have protected her eyes and claims she was told the UV rays could have pierced through the lenses

She is now hoping to warn other travellers of 'sun poisoning' and has urged anyone looking for a hot holiday to ensure they are protected from the sun's rays

She is now hoping to warn other travellers of ‘sun poisoning’ and has urged anyone looking for a hot holiday to ensure they are protected from the sun’s rays



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