Sun and Medications: What You Need to Know About Photosensitivity

The Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate reminds that when taking medications on vacation, it should be remembered that some of them can cause phototoxic and photoallergic reactions when exposed to the sun. A cream with a high filter may not be sufficient for some of them.

GIF warns that some medications, taken regularly or occasionally, may cause adverse reactions in people who use the sun. Therefore, when taking allergy medications, antidepressants, cholesterol lowering medications or hormonal contraception, you should protect yourself from the sun. Applying a cream with a high filter (at least 50+) helps. Additionally, it is worth wearing long-sleeved clothing and long legs or skirts that reach to the ankles. It is also necessary to protect your face with a cream with a high filter and a hat. GIF recommends avoiding exposure to the sun during the most sunlight in such cases. The possibility of a phototoxic or photoallergic reaction does not only apply a few hours after taking the drug, but also persists for some time after you stop taking it.

Which medications can cause sun sensitivity?

As we read in the GIF press release, drugs that increase the likelihood of a photosensitizing or phototoxic reaction are:

• retinoids – isotretinoin, tretinoin
• antibiotics – tetracycline, doxycycline, azithromycin
• chemotherapeutics – nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin
• antifungal drugs – ketoconazole, terbinafine, itraconazole
• antidepressants – imipramine, amitriptyline, doxepin
• antiepileptic drugs – phenytoin, mephenytoin, carbamazepine
• neurological drugs – chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine, perazine
• antiarrhythmic drugs – quinidine, amiodarone
• beta blockers – atenolol, bisoprolol, captopril
• diuretics – furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide
• cholesterol lowering drugs – fenofibrate, atorvastatin, simvastatin
• antiallergic drugs – cetirizine, loratadine, promethazine
• cytostatics used in chemotherapy
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – ketoprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, piroxicam
• hormones – contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, glucocorticosteroids
• antidiabetic drugs – glipizide, gliclazide, metformin
• herbs – St. John's wort, chamomile, marigold, arnica montana, goldenrod, common yarrow, horsetail
• essential oils
• sulfonamides - sulfamethoxazole, sulfasalazine
• antipsoriatic drugs
• anti-dandruff and anti-acne drugs produced on the basis of tar
• antiparasitic drugs – chloroquine

Phototoxic reaction, what is it?

Photoallergy (photosensitivity) is an immunological reaction of the skin that is a consequence of a combination of exposure to UV radiation and photosensitizing ingredients in medications. When the skin suddenly begins to itch, swell, develop a rash or spots after exposure to the sun, this is a signal that photoallergy may have occurred. Phototoxicity occurs when certain substances on or in the skin become toxic after direct exposure to UV light. The reaction is rapid, and the symptoms are usually limited to the exposed area. They often resemble sunburn, i.e. redness, burning, and even blisters. A phototoxic reaction does not involve the immune system, and occurs more often than a photoallergic reaction. It can occur in anyone taking medications, not necessarily just in those with allergies.