Getting out on a sunny day is fun!
But you must consider potential health risks if you have sensitive skin.
Few medications cause photosensitivity, a phenomenon where a person becomes more sensitive to sunlight. Simply put, even with a brief exposure to sunlight, you may develop sunburn-like symptoms, rashes, and other types of skin damage.
Both topical and oral medications could activate sun sensitivity.
The most common medications that increase the risk of Sunburn include antibiotics, amiodarone, oral contraceptives, diuretics, antifungals, and acne products.
Let us take a quick look at how few medications that can increase your risk of Sunburn in this article. We will discuss photosensitivity, types, and list of medications causing sunburns.
Stay tuned and read the article till the end.
What is Photosensitivity?
Exposure to sunlight has various benefits, including vitamin D production, which helps prevent bouts of depression. However, exposure to intense ultraviolet radiation for a longer period is harmful and causes Sunburn.
Photosensitivity is also known as a chemically induced change that causes your skin to overreact when exposed to direct sunlight. The results are sunburn-like symptoms, rashes, and other unwanted side effects.
Sunburns caused by sun sensitivity (photosensitivity) may be worse than usual ones.
Note that photosensitivity is also caused by artificial ultraviolet light, such as continuous exposure to tanning booth radiation.
There are two types of Photosensitivity Reactions:
Photoallergy:
As the name suggests, it is a skin allergic reaction triggered by exposure to sunlight. Symptoms may take 24 to 72 hours to develop after the exposure.
When certain topical medications are applied to the skin, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light causes structural changes, leading to the production of antibodies responsible for sun sensitivity.
You may notice that the Sunburn is spread to the areas of the skin that were not exposed to the sunlight.
Phototoxicity:
It is the most common type of photosensitivity reactions.
Compared to the previous one, phototoxicity causes immediate rashes and skin irritation in response to sunlight. Also, it only affects the areas of your skin exposed to UV radiation.
In some cases, phototoxicity reactions may take an hour or so to develop severe Sunburn.
List of Medications that increase your risk of Sunburn
Photosensitivity may get triggered during any time of the year and regardless of the time of the day you step outside.
Though there are many possible causes of sun sensitivity, topical and oral medications with certain photosensitizing ingredients are at the top of the list.
Few medications explicitly mention that you should avoid sunlight.
Here is a list of medicines that increase your risk of Sunburn:
Medicines | |
Antibiotics | ● Ciprofloxacin ● Doxycycline ● Levofloxacin ● Ofloxacin ● Tetracycline ● Amoxicillin ● Trimethoprim |
Antifungals | ● Flucytosine ● Griseofulvin ● Voriconazole |
Antihistamines | ● Cetirizine ● Diphenhydramine ● Loratadine ● Promethazine ● Cyproheptadine |
Cholesterol Drugs | ● Simvastatin ● Atorvastatin ● Lovastatin ● Pravastatin |
Diuretics | ● Hydrochlorothiazide ● Chlorthalidone ● Chlorothiazide ● Furosemide ● Bendroflumethiazide ● Triamterene ● Benzthiazide ● Cyclothiazide |
NSAIDs | ● Ibuprofen ● Naproxen ● Celecoxib ● Piroxicam ● Ketoprofen |
Phenothiazines | ● Tranquilizers ● Chlorpromazine ● Fluphenazine ● Promethazine ● Thioridazine ● Prochlorperazine |
Psoralens | ● Methoxsalen ● Trioxsalen |
Retinoids | ● Acitretin ● Isotretinoin |
Sulfonamides | ● Acetazolamide ● Sulfadiazine ● Sulfamethizole ● Sulfamethoxazole ● Sulfapyridine ● Sulfasalazine ● Sulfisoxazole |
Sulfonylureas | ● Glipizide ● Glyburide |
Others | ● Oral Contraceptives and Estrogen ● Methotrexate ● Amiodarone ● Amitriptyline ● Nifedipine ● Quinidine ● Captopril ● Enalapril ● Fosinopril ● Ramipril ● Disopyramide ● Hydralazine ● Clofibrate ● Desipramine ● Fluorouracil ● Vinblastine Dacarbazine ● Procarbazine ● Doxepin |
Apart from the above, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) in some cosmetics also cause sun sensitivity and may lead to severe Sunburn.
For a comprehensive list of photosensitizing drugs, refer to this table by the NIH (National Institute of Health).
How to protect yourself from Photosensitivity
Of course, sunscreen is the most common solution to prevent photoallergy and phototoxicity.
Here are all possible ways to avoid photosensitivity:
Use Sunscreen:
You should wear sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) value greater than 30. It should also provide broad-spectrum (UVA + UVB) protection.
For best results, apply your sunscreen as directed. Most sunscreens last up to 2 hours, so we suggest reapplying sunscreen as directed and as needed based on physical activity and the intensity of sunlight.
Pick Your Clothes and Gears Wisely:
Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants will indeed limit the amount of sun rays reaching your skin. Moreover, adding sunglasses and broad-brimmed hats to your attire ensures ultimate protection from UV light.
- Seek Out Shade:
Most specialists recommend avoiding direct contact with sunlight from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the evening.
Ensure you seek shade during the time specified above.
- Consult Experts:
If you still are having symptoms of severe sunburns after following the above safety measures, seek guidance or advice from your primary care provider.
You are not supposed to stop taking the medication due to photosensitivity or risk of Sunburn.
At Zenith Primary & Urgent Care (click here), we carefully analyze your medications to determine the right solution to lower your risk of sun sensitivity and deal with any kind of sunburn you are currently experiencing. Contact us if you have any questions about the possibility of photosensitivity due to your current medications.
Final Words
A lot of medications that cause Sunburn are used to treat serious health issues, including diabetes. Those medications should be regularly consumed as directed by your health advisor without any breaks.
Finding new ways to minimize sun exposure will surely prevent the risk of Sunburn from medications.
In case of severe photosensitivity reactions, immediately get in touch with your doctor or specialists like Zenith Primary & Urgent Care.
