Overview

• On May 1 in Kidderminster, 67-year-old Jean Hill fell asleep for about 10–15 minutes and lost her sunglasses, exposing her face to intense UV despite wearing SPF 30 suncream.
• She awoke the next morning with blistered, bright red swelling around her eye and was diagnosed at A&E with sun poisoning complicated by a shingles outbreak.
• Her treatment has included antiviral tablets, topical creams, eye drops and antibiotics, yet she still endures facial inflammation and significant pain six weeks into recovery.
• Hospital doctors concluded that the UV-induced sun poisoning weakened Hill’s immune system, directly triggering the shingles flare-up.
• With UK temperatures at record highs, the NHS urges everyone to use shade, protective clothing and high-factor sunscreen even for brief periods outdoors.