Hot temperatures across Europe are finally giving us some relief from the cold months of last winter. Many of us will think wisely of protecting their skin from sunburns, and some will recur to a "traditional" concoction based on fig sap.
Actually, although once widely used, the sap of the fig tree is highly irritant for the skin. Caution should be applied even when simply pruning the tree and in all those cases when the skin comes directly in contact with the sap.
The habit of using the sap as a solar lotion is thus not only completely deprived of any foundation but can actually lead to severe burns. The sap, exposed to solar rays becomes even more irritant and can leave permanent marks on your skin.
Do not use it as a solar protection!