A MUM “cooked herself like a roast chicken” and got third degree burns by slathering herself in carrot oil to sunbathe.
Laura Bevin only realised her mistake after being left “looking like a Drumstick lolly” and in severe pain.
Laura Bevin was left with severe burns after only using carrot oilCredit: Kennedy News
The mum wants to warn others to only use sun cream in the futureCredit: Kennedy News
She only used the zero SPF oil during a seven hour trip to the beach last month, despite covering her daughter in factor 50 sun cream.
After getting home from the day out in Southport, Merseyside, Laura was forced to sleep on top of her duvet due to the pain.
And days later blisters erupted, with one the size of a satsuma.
After a visit to a walk-in centre and a hospital A&E Laura was told she was suffering from third-degree burns.
In a horrifying description the mum-of-one said her scorched “crispy” legs looked like “burnt chicken skin” and even sounded like that when it cracked.
Shocking pictures show her legs burned red raw with large wounds where the skin has peeled away.
She said she has been left “living like a vampire” as her skin has been left so sensitive to the sun.
The mum is sharing her ordeal as a warning to others to always use sun screen as it’s “just not worth” the pain to try and get a tan.
She said the pain of the burn is not worth trying to get a tanCredit: Kennedy News
The mum used this tanning oil – the company said it’s product would not protect from the sunCredit: Kennedy News
Six weeks on, Laura said her leg is still tender and she now flees the sun despite smothering her skin in factor 50 sun cream.Credit: Kennedy News
Laura, from Warrington, Cheshire, said: “I don’t know what I was playing at. I thought, ‘I won’t burn, I’ll just get a nice colour’ but obviously not.
“I kept smothering Millie in factor 50 sun cream not realising I was basically cooking myself.
“I didn’t blister straight away, I was just red. I looked like a Drumstick Squashie sweet or lolly.”
The 24-year-old said: “In the car on the way home the skin from my thighs to my ankles felt like leather and quite tight.
“That night they were red and it felt like my skin was on fire so I slept on top of the covers and had the fan on.
“The next morning my friend brought me some natural yoghurt so I lay on the bed reapplying that.
“For two days I lay there and I could only hobble around for toilet trips. Three days later, when I put the aloe vera gel on, all these blisters just came out.”
Doctors popped the oozing blister and after inspecting her flaking and scorched skin, said Laura was suffering from third-degree burns and she may need a skin graft.
HORROR BURN
Staff then scraped off some of her burnt skin, applied a cream and bandaged her leg up and asked her to return for a check-up.
Six weeks on, Laura said her leg is still tender and she now flees the sun despite smothering her skin in factor 50 sun cream.
A Calypso Sun spokesman said: “Calypso Sun provides a wide range of products from deep tanning oils to very high sun protection SPF50+ lotions and sprays.
“We truly hope Laura has a speedy recovery from her experience but would also like to remind everyone of the importance of choosing SPF products whilst out in the sun.
“Products that do not contain sun screen will not protect you from the sun. All Calypso Sun products are manufactured to UK British Retail Consortium Standards.”
Lisa Bickerstaffe, a spokesperson for British Skin Foundation, said: “The British Skin Foundation would not recommend using carrot oil on the skin during a day trip to the beach.
“Always protect the skin with high factor SPF30+ with UVA protection of four or five stars when you’re out in the sun. Team this with other sun safe behaviours such as sun protective clothing, wide brimmed hats and sunglasses.
“Remember to reapply at least every two hours or after swimming, sweating and towel drying. Seek shade between 11am-3pm when the UV index is highest.”
