Latest news with #JeanHill
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A short nap in the sun left me in pain for weeks
A woman is warning others not to underestimate the power of the sun after she developed such severe sunburn that it triggered shingles, leaving her face swollen, blistered and almost unrecognisable. Jean Hill, 67, had only planned to sit in her garden for a short read in the sunshine when temperatures soared into the high 20s back in May. But after dozing off for what she believes was "just 10 or 15 minutes," she woke up to what would turn out to be weeks of pain and discomfort. Despite wearing factor 30 sunscreen, the retired cleaner from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, says her face turned bright red overnight, her eye swelled shut, and she could barely recognise herself in the mirror the next morning. "It was coming up to the first May Bank Holiday and the sun came out, so I thought I'd get some fresh air," she says. "I fell asleep for a short time, but the next day I woke up and couldn't open my eye – I was in so much pain." Jean's husband, 67-year-old Timothy, was shocked to find her face bright red and badly swollen. "My face was so disfigured I could barely recognise myself," Jean remembers. "There were little white spots under my skin and it was burning." Panicked, she headed to A&E, where doctors told her she needed to see a specialist. Jean was told she'd developed severe sunburn, also known as sun poisoning, which weakened her immune system enough to trigger shingles, an infection that causes blistering, a painful rash and flu-like symptoms. Specialists examined Jean's right eye and confirmed she had developed the viral infection. While shingles itself isn't caused directly by the sun, doctors explained the severe sun damage had likely weakened her immune defences and triggered the infection. "I was given antiviral tablets, creams and eye drops, but six weeks on, I was still swollen and in pain," Jean says. "I didn't go out for weeks. I had to wear sunglasses or keep the curtains closed because the light hurt my eyes so much." Her treatment included nerve pain medication, antibiotics and moisturising creams to help soothe the blisters. Despite this, she says the pain has been relentless. "It's still really painful. The corner of my eye is the worst – I feel like banging my head against the wall." Doctors have reassured Jean that her symptoms will eventually heal, though recovery can take months. She believes the trouble began when her sunglasses slipped off her face as she napped, leaving her closed eyelids exposed to UV rays. "There are people who go out without sunglasses or a hat, lying on the beach with no sun cream," she says. "I was careful, and this still happened to me; they don't realise the danger." Older adults and young children are especially vulnerable to sunburn because their skin is thinner and more sensitive to UV rays. Children's skin burns more easily, and as we age, our skin naturally becomes thinner and loses some of its protective barrier. Jean hopes sharing her experience will encourage others to take sun safety seriously, especially as the UK is due for a hotter-than-average summer. "I never dreamt anything like this could or would happen," she says. "I don't want it to happen to anyone else." Sunburn usually causes red, hot or sore skin that feels tender. Severe sunburn can lead to swelling, blisters or peeling after a few days. You might also feel unwell with headaches or nausea. If you have severe blistering, dizziness or dehydration, or if you're worried, it's best to get medical advice. According to the NHS, symptoms usually develop in stages: A tingling, painful feeling in an area of skin (often on one side of the body) A headache or feeling generally unwell A burning or itching sensation before the rash appears A red rash that develops into fluid-filled blisters The rash most often appears on the chest and tummy, but it can also affect the face, eyes or genitals. While shingles isn't usually life-threatening, it can be very painful and sometimes leads to complications like long-lasting nerve pain or eye problems, especially if not treated promptly. Additional reporting by SWNS Read more about sunburn: How to treat sunburn at home – and when to see a doctor (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read) The best sunscreen of 2025 – and the two to avoid (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read) I'm Australian and I think Britain's approach to sun safety is absolutely unbelievable (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
Irish Daily Mirror
01-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
'I was left disfigured after 15-minute nap in my garden'
Jean Hill, a 67 year old retiree, was left battling severe sun poisoning after accidentally nodding off in the garden during the sweltering heat last May 1. She had hoped for nothing more than a bit of relaxation and reading in the sunshine when unexpectedly, a brief nap resulted in a chilling health scare. As she dozed with temperatures hitting the high 20s, her sunglasses slipped off, leading to a frightful shock when she awoke: one eye had swollen so extremely that it had blisters and white spots. Jean, despite her diligence with SPF 30 protection, faced a brutal bout of pain, later confirmed by doctors as sun poisoning. Compounding her troubles, shingles reared its ugly head, complete with an agonising rash, fever, and nausea – all outcomes of the viral aftermath that tormented her even almost two months post-incident. Speaking about the incident, Jean reflected on the lead-up to the ordeal: "It was coming up to the first Bank Holiday in May and the sun came out, so I got out my sun lounger. I'm not much of a sunbather - but I fell asleep for a short time." She detailed the harrowing effects the day following the mishap: "But the next day I woke up and couldn't open my eye and I was in so much pain. I was bright red, swollen and blistered and my face felt like it was on fire," reports the Mirror. "When I went to the hospital I was told the sun poisoning had caused shingles - I couldn't believe it. I was given antiviral tablets, creams and eye drops - but six weeks on, I'm still swollen and in pain. I had only been sitting outside for 10 or 15 minutes - people don't realise the danger of sunbathing." The following day, Jean was shocked by her own reflection, leading to a state of panic; her husband Timothy, 67, a retired handyman, remarked that her skin had become 'bright red', prompting them to dash to A&E. Jean, from Kidderminster, explained: "My face was so disfigured I could barely recognise myself. There were little white spots under my skin and it was burning." After being seen by a specialist and undergoing examination with sophisticated equipment, Jean's worst fears were confirmed; she had indeed developed shingles due to her immune system being weakened by sun poisoning. Jean shared how her GP attributed her aggressive sun poisoning to her recent sun exposure, which in turn triggered the shingles outbreak. Despite initial treatments, Jean had to go back for a follow-up visit where she was prescribed additional medication to combat persistent symptoms. She recounted: "I didn't go out for weeks and I had to wear sunglasses or close the curtains because my eyes were sensitive to the light. I'm still on medication now - I've still got blisters under my brows, and my forehead is inflamed. "I have nerve tablets for the pain and eye drops and night cream to soothe it. But it's still really painful, I feel like banging my head against the wall. The corner of my eye is the worst." Despite her suffering, Jean's doctors have given her hope that her condition will improve over time. She's now on a mission to raise awareness about the dangers of sun exposure, even if it's brief. Jean believes her ordeal began when she fell asleep and her glasses slipped off, leaving her eyes exposed to intense UV rays despite being closed. She cautioned: "There are people who go out not wearing sunglasses or a hat and lie on the beach with no sun cream on. I was careful and this happened to me - they don't realise the danger. "I never dreamt anything like this could or would happen. I don't want it to happen to anyone else." - Seek shade between 11am and 3pm. - Avoid getting sunburned. - Wear appropriate clothing and sunglasses. - Be extra cautious with children. - Always use sunscreen with at least SPF 30.
Daily Record
01-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Gran's garden nap left her with sun poisoning and triggered shingles agony
"I couldn't open my eye, and my face felt like it was on fire. My face was so disfigured I barely recognised myself." A gran has issued a stark warning after a short nap in the garden left her with sun poisoning so severe it triggered a brutal case of shingles. Jean Hill, 67, from Kidderminster, had only planned to enjoy a few quiet minutes of reading in the sunshine on May 1, as temperatures soared into the high 20s. But after dozing off in her sun lounger for just '10 or 15 minutes', she woke up to what would become a nightmare. As she slept, her sunglasses slipped down, leaving her eye exposed to the blistering sun. By the next morning, Jean was in agony — her face red, swollen and covered in painful blisters. She couldn't open one of her eyes due to swelling and white-spotted blisters, prompting an emergency dash to hospital. Doctors confirmed she was suffering from sun poisoning, despite having worn SPF 30 sunscreen. Even more worryingly, the reaction had triggered a case of shingles — a viral infection linked to weakened immunity, often brought on by stress or trauma to the body, reports the Mirror. Jean, a retired cleaner, was left reeling: 'It was coming up to the Bank Holiday and I thought I'd enjoy a bit of sunshine in the garden. I'm not a sunbather — I only nodded off for a short while — but when I woke up the next day I was in so much pain. I couldn't open my eye, and my face felt like it was on fire.' Her husband Timothy, also 67, rushed her to A&E after noticing her skin had turned 'bright red' and her face was badly swollen. Specialists confirmed that her immune system had been compromised by the extreme sun exposure, triggering the shingles outbreak. Jean said: 'My face was so disfigured I barely recognised myself. I had white spots under my skin and it was burning. I've been on antivirals, creams, eye drops — you name it — and I'm still in pain nearly two months later. I've still got blisters under my brows, and my forehead is inflamed.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Now on nerve pain tablets, nightly creams, and regular eye drops, Jean still struggles with sensitivity to light and has barely left the house since. She's speaking out to warn others that even brief exposure to the sun can have serious health consequences — even if you're careful. 'I was wearing sunblock and sunglasses, but my glasses slipped off and that's all it took. I see people lying out in the sun with no hat, no cream, no sunglasses. I just want them to know the risks. I never dreamt something like this could happen from just 10 minutes in the sun — and I don't want anyone else going through what I've been through.'
Daily Mirror
01-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I was left disfigured after 15-minute nap in my garden'
Jean Hill dozed off in the sun for just 15 minutes - but it was enough to leave her in agony A retiree was left with severe sun poisoning after nodding off in the garden, prompting her to issue a stark warning to others as temperatures soar across the UK. Jean Hill, 67, intended to enjoy a brief spell of reading in the sunshine on May 1 when temperatures soared into the high 20s, but dozing off in her chair for around "10 or 15 minutes" led to an unforeseen health ordeal. As Jean slept, her sunglasses slipped off, and the exposure caused her to wake up with a dramatically swollen eye, so much so that by the next morning she couldn't open it due to blisters speckled with white spots. The intensity of the pain was a shock for Jean and, despite precautions with SPF 30 sunblock, doctors confirmed she was suffering from sun poisoning. The complications escalated as she was hit with shingles, a distressing rash brought on by viral infection, heightened with fever and nausea. Although medicated for her condition, Jean, a retired cleaner from Kidderminster, still experiences soreness and discomfort nearly two months later. She said: "It was coming up to the first Bank Holiday in May and the sun came out, so I got out my sun lounger. I'm not much of a sunbather - but I fell asleep for a short time." The aftermath left her reeling, as she described: "But the next day I woke up and couldn't open my eye and I was in so much pain. I was bright red, swollen and blistered and my face felt like it was on fire. "When I went to the hospital I was told the sun poisoning had caused shingles - I couldn't believe it. I was given antiviral tablets, creams and eye drops - but six weeks on, I'm still swollen and in pain. I had only been sitting outside for 10 or 15 minutes - people don't realise the danger of sunbathing." The next day, Jean's reflection startled her as panic took over; her husband, Timothy, 67 and a retired handyman, said that her skin had turned 'bright red', leading them to rush to A&E. She said: "My face was so disfigured I could barely recognise myself. There were little white spots under my skin and it was burning." After being assessed by a specialist and examined with advanced equipment, Jean's fears were confirmed; she had developed shingles as a result of her immune system being compromised by sun poisoning. Jean recounted how her doctor linked her sun exposure to the onset of an aggressive form of sun poisoning, which subsequently led to a case of shingles. Despite receiving initial treatment, Jean's condition required her to return for a follow-up appointment, where additional medication was prescribed due to lingering symptoms. She said: "I didn't go out for weeks and I had to wear sunglasses or close the curtains because my eyes were sensitive to the light. I'm still on medication now - I've still got blisters under my brows, and my forehead is inflamed. "I have nerve tablets for the pain and eye drops and night cream to soothe it. But it's still really painful, I feel like banging my head against the wall. The corner of my eye is the worst." Despite the agony, Jean's doctors have given her hope that her condition will heal over time. She's now on a mission to raise awareness about the dangers of the sun, even after brief exposure. Jean believes her ordeal started when she dozed off and her glasses slipped off, leaving her eyes vulnerable to intense UV rays despite being closed. She warned: "There are people who go out not wearing sunglasses or a hat and lie on the beach with no sun cream on. I was careful and this happened to me - they don't realise the danger. "I never dreamt anything like this could or would happen. I don't want it to happen to anyone else." NHS sun safety tips - Seek shade between 11am and 3pm - Avoid getting sunburned - Wear appropriate clothing and sunglasses - Be extra cautious with children
Wales Online
01-07-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Grandmother fell asleep in the sun for 15 minutes - it left her 'disfigured'
Grandmother fell asleep in the sun for 15 minutes - it left her 'disfigured' Jean Hill nodded off for around a quarter of an hour in her garden Jean Hill developed sun poisoning (Image: SWNS ) A grandmother who got an infection and shingles that left her so puffy she was unrecognisable warns against doing this one thing in the sun. Retiree Jean Hill, 67, brought out her garden deckchair to sit reading in the sun at her home in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, for a short while on May 1 - when temperatures hit the high 20s. The grandmother-of-two then lay on her sunbed for a quick rest, and fell asleep for "10 or 15 minutes", during which time her sunglasses fell off her face. She woke up and continued her day, but when she arose the next morning, her eye was swollen shut and blistered with white spots. Jean was in agonising pain and couldn't open one eye and doctors revealed, despite wearing factor 30 sun cream, she had developed sun poisoning. Worse still, it had weakened her immune system to the point that she had developed shingles - a painful and itchy rash caused by an infection, which can also cause temperatures and nausea. Despite being prescribed medications, nearly two months on Jean says her face is still sore and painful. Jean, a retired cleaner, said: "It was coming up to the first Bank Holiday in May and the sun came out, so I got out my sun lounger. I'm not much of a sunbather - but I fell asleep for a short time. "But the next day I woke up and couldn't open my eye and I was in so much pain. I was bright red, swollen and blistered and my face felt like it was on fire. "When I went to the hospital I was told the sun poisoning had caused shingles - I couldn't believe it. I was given antiviral tablets, creams and eye drops - but six weeks on, I'm still swollen and in pain. I had only been sitting outside for 10 or 15 minutes - people don't realise the danger of sunbathing." Article continues below Jean Hill before sun poisoning (Image: Jean Hill/SWNS ) Jean woke up the next morning in a panic as she looked in the mirror. Her husband, Timothy Hill, 67, a retired handyman, told her she had turned 'bright red' - and she went to A&E. She said: "My face was so disfigured I could barely recognise myself. There were little white spots under my skin and it was burning." She was told she needed to see a specialist, which she did, and a doctor looked at her swollen right eye with a machine. She was told she had developed shingles, an itchy viral rash caused by an infection. Her doctor believed her sun exposure had led to some kind of sun poisoning, which had weakened her immune system and developed into shingles, Jean said. She was given antiviral tablets to treat the shingles along with other treatments and was told to return in two weeks. When she did, she was given another supply plus antibiotics, as she was still suffering from the effects. Jean was left with shingles after developing sun poisoning (Image: SWNS ) She said: "I didn't go out for weeks and I had to wear sunglasses or close the curtains because my eyes were sensitive to the light. I'm still on medication now - I've still got blisters under my brows, and my forehead is inflamed. "I have nerve tablets for the pain and eye drops and night cream to soothe it. But it's still really painful, I feel like banging my head against the wall. The corner of my eye is the worst." Jean's doctors have reassured her that the condition will eventually heal. But she wants to warn people to be aware of how much damage the sun can do, even if only exposed for a short time. Jeans reckons the issue began when her glasses fell off her face as she napped and her eyes were exposed to high UV - even though her eyes were shut. She said: "There are people who go out not wearing sunglasses or a hat and lie on the beach with no sun cream on. I was careful and this happened to me - they don't realise the danger. "I never dreamt anything like this could or would happen. I don't want it to happen to anyone else." Jean with husband Timothy (Image: SWNS ) - spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm - never burn Article continues below - cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses - take extra care with children - use at least factor 30 sunscreen
