Picture courtesy of Emilia Azarova

 

A British teenager's dream holiday in Thailand quickly turned into a distressing ordeal after she suffered severe sunburn on her first day.

 

Seventeen-year-old Emilia Azarova, from North West London, travelled to the island of Koh Samui on 13 June for a Muay Thai competition. Eager to bask in the sun, the law student went for a two-hour ocean swim, neglecting to apply sun cream.

 

"I didn’t feel hot in the water, so I thought I was safe," Emilia explained. "But as soon as I got out, my lips were swollen like I'd had filler."

 

The following day, Emilia awoke with painful facial swelling. Initially dismissing it as a minor burn, her condition rapidly deteriorated.

 

"My face felt so painful I couldn’t even move it. Blisters appeared on my forehead, nose, and chin, and the pain was excruciating," she recalled.

 

This unexpected twist meant Emilia had to abandon her intensive training schedule for the competition. Seeking medical assistance, she was treated at a local hospital where she received an injection to reduce swelling and cream for the blisters.

 

"The blisters subsided the next day, but my skin was left peeling and sore," she shared. "Even moving my face was painful."

 

The incident marred a week of her trip and thwarted her training plans. However, Emilia is now determined to highlight the underestimated dangers of sun exposure, particularly for those accustomed to tanning.

 

Picture courtesy of Emilia Azarova

 

"I used sunbeds before coming here, thinking I'd be fine. This has completely changed my approach to sun safety."

 

She now takes comprehensive precautions before venturing outdoors.

 

"I won’t leave my apartment without a shirt, a cap, and three layers of sun cream. I don’t care if I'm sweating; I won’t risk it again."

 

Emilia emphasises the intensity of the sun in tropical regions and urges travellers to be vigilant.

 

"You see Thai people wearing jumpers and covering up; it shows how strong the sun is. Even if it feels cool, the rays are intense. I recommend long clothes, hats, and proper sun protection. Don’t wait until it’s too late."

 

This costly lesson, costing Emilia valuable time and a hospital visit amounting to approximately 500 Thai Baht, serves as a crucial reminder of the sun’s hidden threats.

 

Stay informed and prioritise sun safety – a slip can turn a dream holiday into a nightmare.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-03

 

 

500 baht, she is lucky.

 

I share her pain.

 

Long sleeves, long pants and stayed in the shade but I neglected my feet with regular sandals. 2nd degree burns, blisters and swollen as if I had gout. You learn that lesson once and it's enough. 

"I used sunbeds before coming here, thinking I'd be fine. This has completely changed my approach to sun safety."

 

It used to be a common misconception that a "base tan" from a sunbed would stop you burning but that was debunked many years ago.

 

There aren't really any "hidden dangers" in sun exposure. Not wearing sun block has been a no-no for decades.

 

Let me guess; she has never before been south of London? 😆 

 

I learnt as a kid, that neither should one stay that long in the sun the first day (sun cream, or not), nor should one expect not to get a sunburn only because one 'was in the water, not feeling hot...'

Bet she is going  to Uni next year. 

A new  modeling career  or ' sun ' influencer awaits !

On 7/3/2025 at 5:30 AM, snoop1130 said:

"I won’t leave my apartment without a shirt, a cap, and three layers of sun cream.

 

Probably best to avoid the crappy sunscreens on the market which have harmful chemicals.

The reaction of the sun with these harmful chemicals probably exarcebates cancer risk.

 

Just stay in the sun not long enough to get burned. 

 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A British teenager's dream holiday in Thailand quickly turned into a distressing ordeal after she suffered severe sunburn on her first day.

A law student with no common sense.... 

Should have checked the UV saftety index, usually gives awarning. I can't sunbathe anywhere as I burn very easily so when I go out I where long trousers and hat. Swimming is the same, T-shirt etc.

17-year-old law student and her Muay Thai competition, oh my Buddha.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This costly lesson, costing Emilia valuable time and a hospital visit amounting to approximately 500 Thai Baht

go-fund-her

What's up with that pic for this article??? Bizarre pandering

The water will reflect the rays of the sun, so if you are in or near the water, you will more easily get burned. On our last trip to Koh Samui, we took the very early morning flight, because it was several thousands of Baht cheaper than any of the later flights. We arrived in the hotel around 8 am and we knew that we couldn't check in that early, so after eating breakfast we decided to spend the next 4 hours resting on the beach in the shade of some trees. Since our sun protection was still in our suitcases, which we deposited in the reception, we didn't go out in the sun at all, but still my sensitive farang-skin got very red and painful, so I had to avoid the sun for the next few days. We will soon be travelling to Koh Samui on the very early morning flight again, but this time I will make sure to grab the sun protection from my suitcase, before heading to the beach chairs after breakfast  😀😀😀.

14 hours ago, ezflip said:

500 baht, she is lucky.

 

I share her pain.

 

Long sleeves, long pants and stayed in the shade but I neglected my feet with regular sandals. 2nd degree burns, blisters and swollen as if I had gout. You learn that lesson once and it's enough. 

 

I did that on my very first trip abroad to Cyprus when I was 18, 2nd day, swollen and was on crutches until the 2nd to last day, ever since I wear the slider style flip flops

How can a 17 year old be a law student? She won't even have taken A-levels yet, let alone started at university? That is, of course, unless she's some type of genius, but based upon the evidence of the article, she clearly isn't that.

13 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Let me guess; she has never before been south of London? 😆 

 

I learnt as a kid, that neither should one stay that long in the sun the first day (sun cream, or not), nor should one expect not to get a sunburn only because one 'was in the water, not feeling hot...'

Its something your parents teach you normally.

 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Picture courtesy of Emilia Azarova

 

A British teenager's dream holiday in Thailand quickly turned into a distressing ordeal after she suffered severe sunburn on her first day.

 

Seventeen-year-old Emilia Azarova, from North West London, travelled to the island of Koh Samui on 13 June for a Muay Thai competition. Eager to bask in the sun, the law student went for a two-hour ocean swim, neglecting to apply sun cream.

 

"I didn’t feel hot in the water, so I thought I was safe," Emilia explained. "But as soon as I got out, my lips were swollen like I'd had filler."

 

The following day, Emilia awoke with painful facial swelling. Initially dismissing it as a minor burn, her condition rapidly deteriorated.

 

"My face felt so painful I couldn’t even move it. Blisters appeared on my forehead, nose, and chin, and the pain was excruciating," she recalled.

 

This unexpected twist meant Emilia had to abandon her intensive training schedule for the competition. Seeking medical assistance, she was treated at a local hospital where she received an injection to reduce swelling and cream for the blisters.

 

"The blisters subsided the next day, but my skin was left peeling and sore," she shared. "Even moving my face was painful."

 

The incident marred a week of her trip and thwarted her training plans. However, Emilia is now determined to highlight the underestimated dangers of sun exposure, particularly for those accustomed to tanning.

 

Picture courtesy of Emilia Azarova

 

"I used sunbeds before coming here, thinking I'd be fine. This has completely changed my approach to sun safety."

 

She now takes comprehensive precautions before venturing outdoors.

 

"I won’t leave my apartment without a shirt, a cap, and three layers of sun cream. I don’t care if I'm sweating; I won’t risk it again."

 

Emilia emphasises the intensity of the sun in tropical regions and urges travellers to be vigilant.

 

"You see Thai people wearing jumpers and covering up; it shows how strong the sun is. Even if it feels cool, the rays are intense. I recommend long clothes, hats, and proper sun protection. Don’t wait until it’s too late."

 

This costly lesson, costing Emilia valuable time and a hospital visit amounting to approximately 500 Thai Baht, serves as a crucial reminder of the sun’s hidden threats.

 

Stay informed and prioritise sun safety – a slip can turn a dream holiday into a nightmare.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-03

 

 

Amazing, how stupid this girlie. And such is a student? Where she bought her leaving cert? 

Where is the go fund me?

What is it with these Brits ?

Everyday another c-ckup.

Getting into accidents , getting bitten by something, 

then no travel insurance , smuggling dope, getting severe sunburn, ....

27 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

go-fund-her

...close...just another useless <deleted> who will turn this into an influencer startup - soon to be OF star...

 

Different sun in koh samui compared to London sun 🙄🙈

Jebus christ what hope is there 🔥

Nothing to do with Thailand... it's her body unable to cope with heat and sunshine...

as I assume, she must be passing most of her time in UK... indoors, covered with Sunscreen always and lack of vitamin D... 

What's with that top pic?  Is she receiving communion?  Was there a poolside mass?

 

I got sunburnt too as a teenager, never made the news though... 😕 

1 minute ago, lamyai3 said:

I got sunburnt too as a teenager, never made the news though... 😕 

you have now

33 minutes ago, FlorC said:

What is it with these Brits ?

Everyday another c-ckup.

Getting into accidents , getting bitten by something, 

then no travel insurance , smuggling dope, getting severe sunburn, ....

might have something to do with how some of these articles are cherry picked to suit a certain narrative, There is a lot of anti british sentiment out there especially amongst the left, Its inevitable that it finds its way onto this and other forums

1 hour ago, BerndD said:

17-year-old law student and her Muay Thai competition, oh my Buddha.

Certainly not Pre-Med student…

14 hours ago, quake said:

Bet she is going  to Uni next year. 

Shes claims to be law student, question which laws remains open😆

15 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

might have something to do with how some of these articles are cherry picked to suit a certain narrative, There is a lot of anti british sentiment out there especially amongst the left, Its inevitable that it finds its way onto this and other forums

Yes lots of Brits here on AN, or the other kind of Anglo's.

As she's British and having rarely seen the sun, Emilia thought SPF was a boy band.