More time in the sun may not be the only reason for your sunburn. Do you know that the use of certain medications increases the risk? Take more care to apply sunscreen and minimize direct exposure to sunlight if you are taking a medication that causes photosensitivity.
What is photosensitivity?
Photosensitivity of the skin makes it highly sensitive to sunlight or any other form of ultraviolet light. When the skin is photosensitive, even with very little exposure to the sun, sunburn symptoms such as a rash can appear.
Photosensitivity can be due to several reasons such as autoimmune diseases or the use of certain medications and skin care products containing retinol, glycolic acid, or benzoyl peroxide that removes the outermost layer of skin.
Medications that make you prone to sunburn
1. Antibiotics – Certain antibiotics such as doxycycline, belonging to the class of tetracycline antibiotics used to treat various bacterial infections can make the skin photosensitive. The patients on these medications may have faster and more severe sunburn. The photosensitivity reverses within two weeks of stopping the medication.
2. Oral contraceptives – The use of oral contraceptives that contain hormones such as estrogen and progestin may cause increased sensitivity to sunlight.
3. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen, diclofenac and piroxicam can cause symptoms such as rash, blisters and eczema after sun exposure.
4. Acne medications – Oral medications for acne may contain isotretinoin, which makes the skin more sensitive, especially to sunlight. Topical acne medications such as Retin-A can also increase photosensitivity.
5. Thiazide diuretics – Thiazides used for hypertension and heart failure such as hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, chlorothiazide, bendroflumethiazide, benzthiazide and cyclothiazide are photosensitive medications. The rashes and skin changes may even last for months to years after stopping…
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