NouveauGeek

I have been puzzled for days about the strange red and brown splotches that seemed to suddenly appear on my hands. Along with the discoloration, my skin looked scaly and wrinkly.  I considered my age and the possibility that it was due to some hormonal change; or, a reaction to the new steroid nasal spray my doctor prescribed for my allergy to dust mites. As it turns out, neither of these.

I was squeezing limes with our potato masher (because we desperately need a juicer) and it worked reasonably well, aside from all the lime juice that sprayed out the sides, all over the granite counter, “backsplash,” and my hands, and not just out of the bottom as I hoped. It was hard work, I must say, but the result was the wonderfully tart and refreshing vodka gimlet, perfect for sipping in the sun on our back patio overlooking other Chicago mid-rises and glimpsing Soldier Field and a slice of the Field Museum.  Not only did I enjoy the delicious burst of limey goodness, but also the scent of oily citrus on my hands as I lifted my glass to my lips. Aromadrinking is what it’s called, I think.

My hands have sunburn splotches like the ones you get in the middle of your back–you know, those areas that you can’t access to apply sunscreen. The reaction of the sun with the lime juice was the culprit. I have to say I was very impressed by my allergy doctor (Laura Rogers, MD in Chicago) because when I called her office and explained my ailment, she immediately said it must have been lime juice and asked if I had been working with limes lately. It took me a few moments to remember the potato masher and limejuicesplatter and I answered yes and quickly thanked her and did not want to take up any more of her time, goodbye. HOW WOULD SHE KNOW THIS? Anyway, a great deal of respect for her and her instant and accurate diagnosis, especially because it had nothing to do with allergies.

Update: They faded in time, just like a typical sunburn