By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
What's The JamWhat's The Jam
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • UK News
    • World News
  • Super ViralHot
  • Lifestyle
    • Health and Fitness
    • Photography
    • Property
  • Humor
  • Celebrity
  • Weird
  • Videos
  • All Topics
    • Babies and Kids
    • Celebrity
    • Comedy and Humor
    • Documentary and Reportage
    • Fails
    • Health and Fitness
    • Holidays and Travel
    • Influencers and Models
    • Latest Videos
    • Life Hacks
    • Lifestyle
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pets and Animals
    • Photography
    • Property
    • Real Life
    • Sport
    • Strange and Bizarre
    • Super Viral
    • UK News
    • World News
Search
  • Health and Fitness
  • Holidays and Travel
  • Nature and Wildlife
  • Pets and Animals
  • Photography
  • Babies and Kids
  • Comedy and Humor
  • Fails
  • Real Life
  • Strange and Bizarre
  • Submit News
  • Customize Interests
  • Bookmarks
  • Newsletter
  • Who Are We
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Holidaymaker left with sunburn so severe her own MUM couldn’t recognise her
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
What's The JamWhat's The Jam
Aa
  • News
  • World
  • Viral
  • Funny
  • Weird
  • Celebrity
  • DIY
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
    • News
    • World
    • Super Viral
    • Videos
  • All Topics
    • Babies and Kids
    • Celebrity
    • Comedy and Humor
    • Documentary and Reportage
    • Fails
    • Health and Fitness
    • Holidays and Travel
    • Influencers and Models
    • Life Hacks
    • Lifestyle
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pets and Animals
    • Photography
    • Property
    • Real Life
    • Sport
    • Strange and Bizarre
  • Quick Links
    • Customize Interests
    • Bookmarks
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of use
    • Write For Us
    • Advertise
    • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
A woman’s face swelled so badly from sun poisoning in the Dominican Republic her own mum did not recognize her - even with sunscreen and aloe vera gel.
Health and Fitness

Holidaymaker left with sunburn so severe her own MUM couldn’t recognise her

Paige Oldfield
Last updated: 2025/05/27 at 10:08 AM
Paige Oldfield
Share
6 Min Read
Ashlei’s face swollen after being sunburnt, two days into her trip to the Dominican Republic. (Jam Press/Ashlei Bianchi)
SHARE

A woman’s holiday turned into a nightmare when sunburn made her face so swollen, her own mum didn’t recognise her.

Ashlei Bianchi said she looked like E.T. after disaster struck two days into her trip to the Dominican Republic.

The 23-year-old had spent the afternoon soaking up the Punta Cana sun while relaxing with her family around the pool.

READ MORE: TikTok doctor reveals how drinking lemon water daily can make you look YOUNGER

- Advertisement -

But by evening, things had taken a scary turn when she noticed her forehead and head had swollen.

Despite using suncream, the New York native thought she had just suffered a mild reaction to the sun.

A woman’s face swelled so badly from sun poisoning in the Dominican Republic her own mum did not recognize her - even with sunscreen and aloe vera gel.
Ashlei Bianchi. (Jam Press/Ashlei Bianchi)

The children’s hospital assistant says she wiped her face with an aloe vera gel and carried on with her trip.

But things quickly went downhill when Ashlei woke up on the final morning of the holiday to find one of her eyes had swollen shut.

By the end of the four-day trip, Ashlei’s face had become so puffy that even her own mum, Michelle Bianchi, 52, didn’t recognise her over FaceTime.

- Advertisement -

Other family members also joked that she looked like alien E.T.

A woman’s face swelled so badly from sun poisoning in the Dominican Republic her own mum did not recognize her - even with sunscreen and aloe vera gel.
Ashlei’s face swollen after being sunburnt, two days into her trip to the Dominican Republic. (Jam Press/Ashlei Bianchi)

On the way to the airport, Ashlei feared her drastically changed appearance meant she wouldn’t be able to get through customs.

“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 told What’s The Jam.

- Advertisement -

“I FaceTimed my mom, and she said I didn’t even look like myself, then the family I went with said I looked like E.T.

A woman’s face swelled so badly from sun poisoning in the Dominican Republic her own mum did not recognize her - even with sunscreen and aloe vera gel.
Ashlei with her mum, Michelle Bianchi. (Jam Press/Ashlei Bianchi)

“My face started getting worse, and that’s when the swelling on and under my eyes happened.

“It was definitely a mixture of just laying out and being by the resort all day.

“One of the pools barely had any shade, so I was more exposed to the rays.

“I had to go on my flight and go through customs looking not like myself, and I was scared I wasn’t going to be able to get back home. I’m so thankful I made it through.

A woman’s face swelled so badly from sun poisoning in the Dominican Republic her own mum did not recognize her - even with sunscreen and aloe vera gel.
Ashlei’s face swollen after being sunburnt, two days into her trip to the Dominican Republic. (Jam Press/Ashlei Bianchi)

“I wore my sunglasses the whole trip home, even when it was dark out, because I was so embarrassed.”

Desperate to find relief, Ashlei stopped at a pharmacy at the Dominican airport and bought anti-inflammatory medication.

She also reached out to her doctor, who prescribed her an oral steroid – but she couldn’t start treatment until she landed back in the States on March 25.

Once home, it took four days of steroids for her face to finally return to normal.

A woman’s face swelled so badly from sun poisoning in the Dominican Republic her own mum did not recognize her - even with sunscreen and aloe vera gel.
Ashlei’s face swollen after being sunburnt, two days into her trip to the Dominican Republic. (Jam Press/Ashlei Bianchi)

Ashlei said: “It wasn’t painful, just more uncomfortable.

“It hurt when I had to close my eyes all the way.

“When I went to the pharmacy, the lady working had wide eyes and went, ‘Oh my.’

“Then, when I went through customs in Boston, the guy was like, ‘Too much sun?’ and I was like, ‘Yep!’

“I wore my sunglasses on both my flights and throughout the airport even when it was dark.”

Ashlei says she later learned she had suffered from sun poisoning.

She said: “My doctor wasn’t sure if it was sun poisoning, but I work at a hospital and asked a rheumatologist.

(Jam Press/Ashlei Bianchi)

“She said it was sun poisoning, so that’s what I have been telling people it is.”

Now fully recovered, Ashlei is sharing her story as a warning about the dangers of sun exposure – even with sunscreen.

She said: “I would say the dangers of sun exposure are real.

“I’m lucky my sun poisoning affected my face and not anything else.

“I had no symptoms besides swelling.

“It’s very important to use your sunscreen and wear hats. I think that’s where I went wrong.

“I really should have had something besides sunscreen protecting my face.

“But all in all, the sun is no joke, especially in the Caribbean where it’s much more potent.”

READ MORE: ‘I’ve been judged for taking Ozempic – but it’s made me look 10 years younger’

Have a story to tell? Hello@whatsthejam.com
TAGGED: bizarre, fitness, holidays, shocking, travelling, USA, Video

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
[mc4wp_form]
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article A stunning lenticular “UFO cloud” was spotted over Antarctica, forming near a mountain on King George Island and sparking awe with its saucer-like shape in the sky. ‘UFO cloud’ hovers over Antarctica
Next Article A woman who married a rag doll says their rag doll son has been kidnapped, with a ransom demand of £136k, leaving the family heartbroken and desperate for help. ‘I married a RAG DOLL – at first we were happy but now it’s all falling apart
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

235.3k Followers Like
69.1k Followers Follow
11.6k Followers Pin
56.4k Followers Follow
136k Subscribers Subscribe
4.4k Followers Follow
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Latest News

YouTuber Niko Omilana has laughed off being left out on Celebrity Traitors, turning his awkward castle experience into a comedy skit after being the second contestant banished.
‘Lonely’ Celebrity Traitors star laughs off being left out by co-stars as fans demand he receive ‘justice’
Celebrity 17 October 2025
Jack Grealish was spotted at McGettigan’s Irish bar in Dubai after being left out of England’s squad, relaxing with fans as the Three Lions secured their World Cup qualification.
Jack Grealish spotted in Irish bar in Dubai after England secure World Cup spot
Sport 17 October 2025
A couple who spent two years travelling Australia in a 1966 double-decker bus have listed their luxury mobile home for £62,000 after transforming it into a vintage masterpiece.
Scottish couple selling unique double-decker bus home after two years of travel
World News 17 October 2025
Influencer James Patrick Ellingworth nearly vomited after eating the world’s stinkiest tofu, calling it the “worst thing ever,” even worse than the infamous Surströmming fish.
Influencer nearly gags on camera trying TOFU that is ‘worst thing’ that’s ‘ever graced’ his mouth
Super Viral 17 October 2025

You Might also Like

YouTuber Niko Omilana has laughed off being left out on Celebrity Traitors, turning his awkward castle experience into a comedy skit after being the second contestant banished.
Celebrity

‘Lonely’ Celebrity Traitors star laughs off being left out by co-stars as fans demand he receive ‘justice’

17 October 2025
A couple who spent two years travelling Australia in a 1966 double-decker bus have listed their luxury mobile home for £62,000 after transforming it into a vintage masterpiece.
World News

Scottish couple selling unique double-decker bus home after two years of travel

17 October 2025
Influencer James Patrick Ellingworth nearly vomited after eating the world’s stinkiest tofu, calling it the “worst thing ever,” even worse than the infamous Surströmming fish.
Super Viral

Influencer nearly gags on camera trying TOFU that is ‘worst thing’ that’s ‘ever graced’ his mouth

17 October 2025
Teacher and travel lover Lucy shared a 99p hack using contact lens cases to store liquids, saving hundreds on flights by avoiding travel minis and checked luggage fees.
Life Hacks

Travel-loving teacher shares ‘genius’ 99p travel hack that has saved her hundreds of pounds on flights

17 October 2025
Simon Cowell has offered £1,000 and a business deal to anyone who can find Pizzaland’s lost margarita recipe, hoping to revive his favourite pizza from the defunct chain.
Celebrity

Simon Cowell partners with fan who unearthed Pizzaland recipe

17 October 2025
A ghostly figure believed to be the Grey Lady of Longleat House was caught on camera in Wiltshire’s Wolf Wood, sparking intrigue ahead of the estate’s autumn ghost tours.
Strange and Bizarre

Ghost who haunts ancient home caught on camera

17 October 2025
Ryder Cup legend Justin Rose has hinted at buying his beloved Aldershot Town and wants Luke Donald as manager after Tommy Widdrington’s sudden resignation from the club.
UK News

Ryder Cup hero Justin Rose ‘to buy’ non-league Aldershot Town…and bring in Luke Donald as manager

17 October 2025
Tourists were stunned when firefighters removed a 16ft anaconda hiding under pool steps at a Brazil resort, using tools to free and safely release the massive snake.
World News

Five people have to carry away huge 16ft anaconda at busy tourist spot

17 October 2025
//

What’s The Jam is your one stop website for the latest viral and weird news from around the world.

 
Have a story to tell? Hello@whatsthejam.com

Quick Link

  • Customize Interests
  • Bookmarks
  • Write for Us
  • Newsletter
  • About Us

Top Categories

  • UK News
  • World News
  • Latest Videos
  • Lifestyle
  • Super Viral

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

[mc4wp_form]

What's The JamWhat's The Jam
Follow US
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
Go to mobile version
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Our site is an advertising supported site. Please whitelist to support our site.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?