Grandmother Develops Severe Sun Poisoning, Shingles After 15-Minute Sun Nap

Jean Hill, a 67-year-old grandmother from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, suffered severe sun poisoning after dozing off in her garden for just 10 to 15 minutes despite applying factor 30 sunscreen. The next morning, she woke to a swollen, blistered face and an eye swollen shut, leading to a diagnosis that the sun poisoning had weakened her immune system enough to trigger shingles, a painful viral infection. Although treated with antiviral tablets, creams, and eye drops, Jean continues to experience facial soreness and pain nearly two months later. Her husband described her condition as alarming, prompting an urgent hospital visit. Medical experts noted that while shingles is not directly caused by sun exposure, the severe sun damage likely compromised her immune defenses, triggering the infection. Jean's experience highlights the underestimated dangers of sun exposure, even for short periods.