A TEENAGER has shared photos of her agonising giant balloon-shaped blisters after getting sunburned while on holiday.
Maisie Squires, 16, from Leeds, suffered severe burns to her entire back while snorkelling with her family in Cuba in July.
She says she had been wearing sun cream but just an hour was long enough for the tropical rays to cook her skin.
To make matters even worse, Maisie had to take a nine-hour flight back to the UK the next day.
Shocking images posted on Facebook show that her blisters were so bad they stuck out underneath her T-shirt.
Maisie captioned the post: “So mind how swollen and disgusting my back looks, but this is what my sunburn turned into this morning just before a 9 hour flight back home to England So shocked! A&E it is! (wear sun cream)
“I was snorkelling for one hour and my back was showing, but I didn’t realise my back was burning and I did wear suncream.
“I’ve blistered like that because the sun was very hot in Cuba on Tuesday and I have very fair skin.”
Bulging blisters
One image shows someone lifting Maisie’s top, exposing two bulging yellow blisters.
The one on the left is so big it droops down while the one on the right is smaller but still prominent enough to poke through her top.
Painful black marks surround the blister, including two smaller ones beneath her bikini strap while almost her entire back is bright red.
The post has been shared more than 10,000 times on Facebook, with thousands of people commenting beneath it.
I didn’t realise my back was burning and I did wear suncream
Nicola Hartshorn Procter said: “This happened to me with factor 50 on my legs as I’m so fair and burn I feel for you that looks so sore, I had blisters but not that big.
“Hope you start healing and recover soon.”
Courtney Noel said: “Looks like 3rd degree burns almost.”
Clara Ebanks commented: “That looks so sore hope it’s not done too much damage to your skin."
Kimberly Thomas said: “You need medical attention asap. I am very surprised if they let you fly. They are severe burns and you may need a skin graft. You’re at high risk of infection too.
“Please seek medical attention asap.
“Your body may also go into shock at any time due to the burns and also sun stroke. I’m sorry to worry you. Please please seek medical help.”
Jesscia Louise Humphreys said: “Wow I can’t even imagine your pain! This looks so sore! Hope your ok!”
Maisie later posted an updated picture showing the blisters removed.
Beat the burn: A pharmacist's top 10 tips for sun protection
MAKING sure you are wearing the right amount of sunscreen will protect your from the lobster look and skin cancer
Lloyds Pharmacy pharmacist Michael Wong gives his top tips on staying sun smart:
- Reapply sun cream a minimum of every two hours and make sure you always reapply after swimming, exercise, sweating and towelling
- If you have moles or freckles, make sure you wear a minimum SPF30
- Wear water resistant sunscreen while swimming and don’t forget to apply sun protection under your swim wear as the garments can move around
- Use a golf-ball sized (or six teaspoons) amount of sun cream to cover your entire body
- People tend to burn their nose more than any other body part, so don’t forget to apply sun cream there, as well as to the tops of your ears and the delicate skin on your lips
- Seek shade wherever possible especially between the hours of 11am and 3pm when the sun is at its hottest
- Wear protective loose fitting clothing and a sun hat
- Don’t forget to protect your eyes, choose sunglasses that protect your eyes against UV rays
- Drink plenty of water, dehydrated skin is more prone to sun damage
- If you have a history of sun damage or skin cancer you should always wear the highest sun protection and seek shade whenever possible
Speaking today, Maisie, confirmed she had been treated at A&E.
She said: "The blisters on my back are still very sore and I still cannot sit back or lay down on my back.
"I did not get them removed or anything as the hospital said to me that they will just have to pop on their own."
Her dad, Dean Squires, said: “She was wearing sun cream on front and back. It happened on the last couple of days of the holiday.
“We went to the hospital and they put some Sudocrem on it and said to let it take its course naturally.
“The two bigger ones popped when her little sister ran past her on the bus shuttle from the airport and it popped them.
“She [Maisie] was screaming like hell. It weren’t nice for her at all.”
The two bigger ones popped when her little sister ran past her on the bus shuttle from the airport
The 38-year-old also explained how they injuries were “much worse in real life” and said someone told her she’ll need a bra for her blisters.
He added: “Every time I looked at her it was making me cringe, it was so much worse in real life.
“I’ve never seen as bad before. We know teenagers don’t listen but she was wearing cream and was still burnt.
“Hopefully it’ll be a good warning to other people.
“Someone told her, ‘you’ll need a bra for those.’”
Take extra care
Experts have urged those who go snorkelling on holiday to take extra precaution.
A spokesperson from the British Association of Dermatologists told The Sun: "When swimming, particularly snorkelling which exposes your back to the sun for a long period, when the UV index is high then you need to take extra precautions.
"Sunscreen will quickly wash off, so protective clothing such as a rash vest is a necessity."
They added: "Prevention is always better than a cure when it comes to sunburn, as the ‘cure’ will only do so much, and the damage to the skin can’t be reversed.
"When it comes to protecting yourself we recommend staying in the shade between 11am-3pm, applying sunscreen with an SPF 30 and good UVA protection, and using protective clothing such as a hat, t-shirt, and sunglasses.
"Cases of severe sunburn, particularly in young children, should be seen by a doctor.
"If you suffer severe blistering then you should get help immediately, which means a trip to your local A&E."
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