If you’re making vacation plans to go somewhere warm and sunny, it’s important to know beforehand that some of your medications could cause an unexpected problem. You may not be aware of this, but some prescription drugs can make you more sensitive to sunlight and cause your skin to burn more easily, a reaction known as photosensitivity.
What symptoms happen with photosensitivity?
If your medication has a warning to avoid sunlight or mentions photosensitivity as a possible side effect, don’t ignore it. Photosensitivity is an abnormally high sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun.
This usually means that you could be more sensitive to sunlight and get sunburns more easily. It might not be a mild sunburn, either. You may end up with a worse sunburn than usual — even a little exposure could mean a severe burn.
You could also become more sensitive to other light sources, including indoor fluorescent lights. The reaction to UV rays or fluorescent lights can cause itchy spots or areas of redness and swelling on patches of exposed skin.
What medications can cause photosensitivity?
These common medications can make you more sensitive to the sun:
Antibiotics, particularly tetracyclines like doxycycline and fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin
Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline and nortriptyline
Older antihistamines like promethazine
Griseofulvin, an antifungal medication
Quinine and other antimalarial medications
Acne medications like Accutane (isotretinoin) and Retin-A (tretinoin)
Methotrexate, which is used for certain autoimmune conditions and cancers
Sulfonylurea drugs for diabetes like glyburide, glipizide, and glimepiride
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and other thiazide diuretics
Some heart medications for arrhythmia, including amiodarone, which can cause a blue-gray discoloration of the skin
How can I protect myself?
When you’re taking a medication that can cause you to be more sensitive to the sun, you’ll want to lower your risk for sunburns. First (and this may be obvious), avoid direct exposure to the sun. Stay away from tanning beds, too, as they can be even worse for you than direct sun exposure.
When you do spend time outside, wear sunscreen! Protective clothing like long sleeves, pants, hats, and sunglasses can also help.
And if you do get a sunburn, apply cool compresses, and drink water to make sure you don’t get dehydrated. You can’t speed up healing, but topical aloe vera gel can help relieve irritation, and ibuprofen can help minimize redness and inflammation. Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of a more severe burn like fever, chills, nausea, headache, and/or blistering/peeling of the skin.
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