The sour side of sunshine Limes and certain other plants are armed with chemicals called furocoumarins, which impair the skin's ability to handle ultraviolet radiation. Contact with these chemicals, followed by sun exposure, can result in severe burns. (more) Can Limes Burn Your Skin? Learn about the other “lime disease.” Written by Melissa Petruzzello Melissa Petruzzello (she/her) is Assistant Managing Editor and covers plants, algae, fungi, insects, spiders, renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles certain topics in Christianity,... Melissa Petruzzello Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Feb. 27, 2026 •History Not to make you scared of your favorite zesty citrus fruit, but yes, limes can burn you. Under the right conditions, contact with lime juice followed by exposure to sunlight can trigger a reaction called phytophotodermatitis—phyto meaning “plant,” photo meaning “light,” and dermatitis meaning “skin inflammation.” The condition is caused by a class of plant chemicals known as furocoumarins (also called furanocoumarins), which are found in limes and a surprising number of other plants. Furocoumarins...

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