Tanning and having a vacation golden glow are signs of a great time for people, however sometimes achieving that glow can go wrong quickly. A woman's dream vacation quickly turned into a nightmare when severe sunburn caused her face to swell so dramatically, her own mother couldn't recognize her. Ashlei Bianchi, 23, was enjoying her trip to the Dominican Republic when, just two days in, her face became so puffy she joked she looked like the alien E.T on Tik-Tok, sharing her story with the masses. Mild Redness to Extreme Puffiness Ashlei had spent an afternoon by the pool in Punta Cana, soaking up the sun with her family. Even though she used sunscreen, she noticed her forehead and head starting to swell by evening. Thinking it was just a mild reaction, she applied aloe vera gel and continued her holiday. However, on the final morning, Ashlei woke up to find one of her eyes swollen shut. Ashlei recounted her experience and warned people to take sun exposure and much more seriously. Now fully recovered, Ashlei is sharing her experience to warn others about the serious dangers of sun exposure, even when using sunscreen. "The dangers of sun exposure are real," she stressed. "I'm lucky my sun poisoning affected my face and not anything else." She had no symptoms other than the severe swelling. Ashlei emphasizes the importance of using sunscreen and wearing hats, admitting she should have used more than just sunscreen to protect her face. She concludes, "The sun is no joke, especially in the Caribbean where it's much more potent." What Is Sun PoisoningMost of us get sunburns. According to Harvard Health Publishing, over 30% of adults say they get at least one sunburn a year. Usually, sunburns get better in a few days without problems. But sometimes, sunburns can be very bad. We call these severe sunburns "sun poisoning." It's not really poisoning, but the symptoms are much worse than a normal sunburn. Sun poisoning happens if you stay in the sun too long without enough sunscreen. It can also happen if you're only in the sun for a little while but have very sensitive skin or take certain medicines that make you burn easily. Symptoms And Risk Factors Of Sun Poisoning A regular sunburn, caused by too much UV light from the sun or tanning beds, usually involves redness, pain, and skin that feels hot. These symptoms typically fade within three days. However, sun poisoning symptoms are much worse and last longer. They begin with a red rash but can quickly turn into blisters, intense pain, swelling, and even a fever. If you develop blisters, it means you have a second-degree burn, which can lead to serious problems like DehydrationSkin infectionsHeadaches, nausea, and vomiting.Fever or chills.Lasting skin changes from sun damage.Anyone can get sun poisoning, but some people are more likely to experience it. This includes people with fairer skin, babies and children (whose skin is more delicate), and individuals with skin conditions that make them extra sensitive to the sun. Taking certain medications can also increase the risk. Home Treatments For Sun Poisoning Harvard Health Publishing explains that most of the time, you can handle sun poisoning at home. To ease the pain and discomfort:Put cool cloths on your skin.Use aloe vera gel or creams without strong smells.Take a cool bath with oatmeal (colloidal oatmeal).Take pain relievers you can buy without a prescription, like ibuprofen.Stay completely out of the sun until you feel better.If you have blistersGently clean your skin with soap and lukewarm water.Do not pop the blisters. If they break on their own, put petroleum jelly on them.Don't use steroid creams like cortisone, as they can stop your skin from healing.Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.