*Warning: This article contains images that some people may find distressing.*
A woman is sending warning to others after she ditched suncream for zero SPF carrot oil while sunbathing, leaving her with third-degree burns.
Laura Bevin hoped to achieve a golden summer glow during a family day trip to the beach in Southport, Merseyside, with her mum Carol Bevin, 52, and 29-year-old sister Nicola Bevin last month.
Despite covering her five-year-old daughter Millie Bevin in factor 50 suncream, Laura shunned the suncream and instead used £7.99 Calypso Original Carrot Oil deep tanning spray during the seven-hour stint.
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Later that evening things took a turn for the worse when was forced to sleep on top of her duvet cover as her legs were incredibly tight and painful and days later blisters erupted on her left leg, including one the size of a satsuma.
After a visit to a walk-in centre and a hospital A&E days later, Laura, from Warrington, Chesire, was told she was suffering from third-degree burns.
The mum-of-one is now sharing her ordeal as a warning to others to always use sunscreen as it's 'just not worth' the pain of what she went through.
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Calypso said they 'truly hope' Laura has a speedy recovery and reminded customers of the 'importance of choosing SPF products while out in the sun'.
Support worker Laura said: "I do feel self-conscious being so pale because I think everyone looks a bit better with a tan, especially next to them as they're so brown.
"My mum and sister are really brown and they were using the carrot oil, whereas I'm really white. I don't know what I was playing at. I thought 'I won't burn, I'll just get a nice colour' but obviously not.
"I kept smothering Millie in factor 50 suncream not realising I was basically cooking myself.
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"I didn't blister straight away, I was just red. I looked like a Drumstick Squashie sweet or lolly."
As Laura left the beach and started the journey home that she realised how burned she was.
Laura said: "In the car on the way home the skin from my thighs to my ankles felt like leather and quite tight.
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"That night they were red and it felt like my skin was on fire so I slept on top of the covers and had the fan on.
"The next morning my friend brought me some natural yoghurt so I lay on the bed reapplying that.
"For two days I lay there and I could only hobble around for toilet trips. Three days later, when I put the aloe vera gel on, all these blisters just came out."
When she eventually went to A&E for treatment, doctors popped the oozing blister and after inspecting her flaking and scorched skin, said Laura was suffering from third-degree burns and she may need a skin graft.
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Staff then scraped off some of her burnt skin, applied a cream and bandaged her leg up and asked her to return for a check-up.
Days later Laura returned to the hospital.
She said: "I went to a walk-in centre where they put a tube sock bandage on. The following day I went to hospital because I was in agony.
"I don't know whether the tube sock had caused all the pressure to go into my ankle but a huge blister, the size of a satsuma, appeared at the bottom of my ankle that wobbled as I walked.
"The blister was leaking a lot of fluid as it had become infected. They don't usually pop blisters at the hospital but they did this time because of the infection inside.
"They took some of my skin off with a scalpel to tackle the infection and put a lotion on my leg to help remove the scabs.
"When I went back the doctor removed a flap of skin that looked like chicken skin you get on a Sunday roast, but burned. It sounded exactly like chicken skin too.
"They were talking about a skin graft at one point as they didn't know how it would turn out but luckily my body healed well."
Six weeks later, Laura said her leg is still tender and she now flees the sun 'like a vampire' despite smothering her skin in factor 50 sun cream. The hospital said the area could be sensitive for the rest of her life.
Laura now makes sure to lather her skin with SPF suncream to protect her from the sun.
A Calypso Sun spokesman said: "Calypso Sun provides a wide range of products from deep tanning oils to very high sun protection SPF50+ lotions and sprays.
"We truly hope Laura has a speedy recovery from her experience but would also like to remind everyone of the importance of choosing SPF products whilst out in the sun.
"Products that do not contain sun screen will not protect you from the sun.
"All Calypso Sun products are manufactured to UK British Retail Consortium Standards."
Lisa Bickerstaffe, a spokesperson for British Skin Foundation, said: "The British Skin Foundation would not recommend using carrot oil on the skin during a day trip to the beach.
"Always protect the skin with high factor SPF30+ with UVA protection of four or five stars when you’re out in the sun. Team this with other sun safe behaviours such as sun protective clothing, wide brimmed hats and sunglasses.
"Remember to reapply at least every two hours or after swimming, sweating and towel drying. Seek shade between 11am-3pm when the UV index is highest."
Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News & Media