### Young Woman’s Holiday Plans Derailed by Severe Reaction to the Sun
A dream holiday turned into an ordeal for 23-year-old Ashlei Bianchi, who experienced a dramatic bout of sun poisoning that left her nearly unrecognisable and fearing she wouldn’t make it back home. Ashlei, who works as a children’s hospital assistant, travelled with her family to the sun-soaked resort town of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, hoping for a relaxing getaway. Instead, she found herself facing a frightening medical episode after spending time outdoors by the pool.
On just her second day abroad, Ashlei began to notice swelling around her forehead and head. While she applied sunscreen and believed she was taking the right precautions, the intense Caribbean sun proved more potent than she had anticipated. Initially, Ashlei assumed the swelling was a mild reaction, so she used aloe vera gel in the hopes it would ease her symptoms, and she continued to enjoy her holiday with her family.
However, things took a turn for the worse. By the time the trip was drawing to a close, Ashlei’s appearance had changed drastically. She woke up on the final morning to find one of her eyes swollen completely shut, and the puffiness around her face had intensified so much that her mother, Michelle Bianchi, 52, failed to recognise her during a FaceTime call. The inside joke among other family members compared her appearance to the iconic alien character ET.
As she prepared for her flight home, Ashlei’s anxiety grew. She worried that her new, swollen features might lead to problems at passport control and customs. Speaking about the experience, she said, “I did use sunscreen, but I still got a little red, which was going to happen either way since I’m not used to the sun down there, and we were in the pool all day.” She added that the lack of adequate shade by the resort’s pools had left her far more exposed to the harsh rays than she realised.
After her ordeal worsened, Ashlei needed medical intervention. On her way to the airport, she stopped at a pharmacy in the Dominican Republic, purchasing anti-inflammatory medication. She also consulted with her doctor back home, who prescribed oral steroids to relieve the swelling. However, she had to wait until her flight landed before she could begin the treatment on 25 March.
Once safely home, it took Ashlei four days of steroid medication before her facial swelling receded and her features returned to normal. She described the physical aftermath as uncomfortable, explaining that closing her eyes completely was painful. The experience of going through airports with her sunglasses on, even during the night, was both embarrassing and uneasy, particularly since other people could not help but stare.
Medical staff later informed Ashlei that she had suffered from sun poisoning—a severe inflammatory response sometimes caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight, even when sunscreen is used. While her own doctor was unsure, a rheumatologist at the hospital where Ashlei works confirmed this diagnosis.
Now fully recovered, Ashlei is keen to share her story as a warning about the risks associated with sun exposure, especially in tropical locations where the ultraviolet index is higher than many people are used to. “I would say the dangers of sun exposure are real. I’m lucky my sun poisoning only affected my face,” she said. Ashlei emphasised that in addition to using sunscreen, travellers should consider hats and other forms of physical sun protection to guard against unexpected reactions.
Her experience serves as a stark reminder that even brief exposure in a new climate can have significant health consequences. As many prepare for summer getaways, Ashlei’s story is a timely cautionary tale about respecting the power of the sun, wherever the holiday destination might be.