My nose is permanently red after sunburn 5 years ago – strangers make comments but even doctors are baffled
"The redness has ruined my self-confidence and I now wear makeup every day to hide it,' the 24-year-old, who currently lives in New York, US, said.
6
6
6
"I get many comments from strangers asking me what's wrong with my nose or asking if I am sick," she added.
The young woman from Ireland was on a boat trip on the Spanish island when she nodded off under the blazing sun without any sunscreen on.
She spent around four hours exposed to strong UV rays and when she woke up burnt all over and with a bright red nose.
The initial marks took about a week to go down. But two weeks later, her nose was still red and sore.
'The skin on my nose was very textured and would often bleed and scab," the advert operator said.
'For the first three years after the burn, my nose was very inflamed,
"It is more calm at the moment," she said. "It's still very red but the texture is smoother.'
Sunburn can cause lasting damage to the skin, including premature aging, the development of precancerous lesions, and a significantly increased risk of skin cancer.
These harmful effects may not appear immediately and can take years, or even decades, to manifest.
Jessica has seen three different doctors about her nose but no one has been able to help her.
HSE issue skin cancer warning as Ireland set to bask in high temperatures this weekend
'No diagnosis has been made which is very frustrating because I wish I knew why this happened and if there could be a cure," she said.
At first, she was prescribed some creams and treatments for acne.
'Very let down'
When they didn't work, she was recommended to go to a skin clinic and get laser, which is sometimes used to help even out skin pigmentation.
She said: "I got four sessions of intense pulsed light therapy but saw no results.
'I've had visual skin evaluations and blood tests but no doctor ever gave me a diagnosis.
'They denied it being rosacea due to it only being on my nose and it staying consistently red.'
Jessica claims she hasn't been treated seriously and some doctors have simply told her to avoid spicy foods.
She said: 'I feel very let down by the healthcare system at home as no doctor ever seemed to care or wanted to refer me to a specialist.
6
6
6
'I now wear factor 50 sunscreen every day.'
She would like to seek further help, but she's concerned it could end up being a waste of money.
'If I knew a treatment would work, I would love to try it," she added.
How to apply sun cream
Dr Karishma Hemmady, consultant dermatologist at Stratum Clinics, says: "I recommend reapplying every two hours as a minimum, as we tend to apply it much more sparingly than is done during lab testing – so a SPF 30 will offer you only SPF 15 in most cases."
But make sure to reapply as sun cream protection fades over the day.
Dr Hermmady says: "Exposure to water will also alter the protection, even if your product is water resistant, so if you're swimming, perspiring and towel drying, or any other vigorous or abrasive activity, make sure you re-apply.
"Up to 85 per cent of a product can be removed by towel drying."
Being unprotected will also increase the likelihood of suffering with sunburn which could also lead to heatstroke. This is particularly dangerous and potentially fatal in young children, the elderly and people with health conditions.
Dr Hemmady says: "Sunburn draws fluid to the skin surface and away from the rest of the body causing dehydration.
"In order to achieve the sun protection factor on the label, a fingertip-sized squirt should cover an area of skin the size of a hand.
"So, a couple of squirts should be sufficient to adequately protect the face and about one tablespoon worth needs to be applied to each body part.
"This is often a lot more than people think, so it is worth measuring this for a few applications to get a feel for how much is needed.
"Applying less will reduce the protection to a higher degree than is proportionate – for example, only applying half the required amount can actually reduce the protection by as much as two thirds."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Royal skincare boss backs our tourist tax campaign
The boss of a skincare brand used by King Charles and Queen Camilla has warned that 'you can feel the economy slowing down' while Labour refuses to scrap the tourist tax. Deborah Mitchell (pictured with Camilla), whose company Heaven Health & Beauty sells nettle and bee 'venom' as anti-ageing Botox alternatives, has seen sales fall after VAT-free shopping for tourists was axed. The company has now joined 500 others in backing the Daily Mail's campaign to scrap the tourist tax and reinstate VAT-free shopping for visitors. Mitchell, 59, said this would help boost retailers' profits after they were whacked by more tax hikes, including higher wages and National Insurance contributions.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
I'm a relationships expert: these are the commonly missed signs that your female friends are TOXIC (and how to cut them off)
I have gone through more friendship break-ups than I care to admit and, controversially, I believe that makes me a better friend. It might even keep me younger too. A study last week revealed that toxic friendships cause premature biological ageing, comparable to that triggered by smoking. New York University found that social exchanges with so-called frenemies can cause chemical changes to DNA by keeping the body in a state of high stress.
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Expert verdict on Kim Kardashian's bizarre elastic SKIMS headstrap that she claims offers 'a natural facelift'
Kim Kardashian has come under fire from skincare experts over her shapewear brand's latest product—a £40 bandage-like 'face wrap' she promises will sculpt women's jawlines overnight. The Seamless Sculpt Face Wrap, launched by SKIMS last week, is designed to 'lift' the chin and jaw while you sleep—but dermatologists say it's the latest worrying escalation in a viral 'ugly sleep' trend that could be putting young women's health at risk. The bizarre beauty routine, popular on TikTok, involves layering on serums and moisturisers, sealing them in with sheet masks, strapping the face with chin bands, taping the mouth shut and covering the head with a bonnet—all in the belief that it will lead to a more youthful appearance by morning. However leading consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto said the increasingly extreme rituals are more about 'performative perfection' than results backed by science—and warned the growing obsession is fuelling skin damage, breathing problems and unrealistic beauty standards. 'This is an imperfect alternative to expensive cosmetic treatments,' she said. 'These increasingly complex night-time rituals often go beyond what the skin physiologically requires and can trigger inflammation or damage the skin barrier.' She also criticised face-taping—using strips of kinesiology tape to immobilise the face in a bid to prevent wrinkles—calling it 'ineffective and unnecessary'. Most alarming, however, is the growing trend of mouth-taping during sleep. Promoted by influencers as a way to encourage nasal breathing, experts warn it could actually block airflow and increase the risk of suffocation. 'There is no proven benefit,' Dr Mahto said. 'Anything that limits oxygen intake during sleep is potentially dangerous.' Despite the warnings, videos tagged #uglysleeproutine have racked up millions of views on TikTok—with influencers claiming: 'The uglier you go to bed, the hotter you wake up.' Experts say the trend preys on teenage insecurities and is driven by viral marketing rather than any real skincare benefit—and are now urging young women to ditch the tape and embrace a more balanced approach to beauty. 'Wrinkles are not just about movement, they involve collagen loss and changes in fat cannot reverse of prevent those processes', Dr Mahto told The Guardian. Another consultant dermatologist added that whilst applying a mask overnight could help combat water loss, there is a fine line between boosting hydration and over doing it. 'At night, the skin becomes more permeable, meaning it absorbs active ingredients more efficiently. 'Blood flow increases, repair processes accelerate, and water loss peaks,' Dr Mahto explained. 'So yes, there is some genuine science behind using particular products in the evening. 'Anything that increases skin sensitivity, like retinoids or exfoliating acids, is usually better applied at night, when the skin is not being exposed to UV or environmental pollutants. But other experts have warned against the toxic trend that sees young women layer occlusive products like overnight sheet masks, neck straps and face tapes, saying that it could trigger skin sensitivity, breakouts and even allergic reactions. This is particularly true for teenages who are using skincare products intended for adults only, such as exfoliating acids and retinoids and other powerful actives, the British Association for Dermatologists has warned. Whilst a lot of these anti-ageing products can be tolerated by older skin, they pose a significant health risk to younger generations, triggering irritation and even contact allergies. 'I think most dermatologists will tell you the biggest problem they see is people overdoing it by following skin trends, or layering on products that should not be combined,' Dr Cristina Psomadakis, a consultant dermatologist told The Guardian. 'The best thing you can do at night is wash off the remains of the day, including your face sunscreen or makeup that can clog your pores.' Earlier this year, experts sounded the alarm over the viral sleep trend of taping the mouth shut in a bid to sculpt the jawline and reshape the nose overnight. Mouth taping involves securing the mouth shut with adhesive tape, across the lips, before going to sleep, forcing the wearer to breathe through their nose. While the fad has gained popularity among celebrities like Gwenyth Paltrow and Tess Daly, experts warned that it deprives wearers of life-giving oxygen overnight. By analysing 10 studies on the practise, scientists at the Lawson Research Institute discovered an alarming risk of potentially fatal suffocation for millions who naturally breathe more easily through their mouth. 'Mouth taping is a contemporary practice that is often celebrity-endorsed, but is not necessarily scientifically accurate,' Dr Brian Rotenberg, an ENT specialist and author of the study, explained.
