Phototoxicity: Which medicines should you avoid in the sun?

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August 13, 2024

Clare Dominic

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Phototoxicity: Which medicines should you avoid in the sun?
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Phototoxicity: Which medicines should you avoid in the sun?

The combination of chemicals, which are found in medicines, and UV rays can cause cell damage, giving you a rash that looks like severe sunburn. This is a phototoxic reaction. Which medicines should you be more careful about?

Which medicines should you avoid in the sun?

A wide range of medicines and care products can trigger a phototoxic reaction: certain antibiotics (e.g. doxycycline, ciprofloxacin), anti-inflammatories (e.g. ketoprofen and piroxicam), diuretics (e.g. dydrochlorothiazide, furosemide), antidepressants (e.g. fluoxetine), medications for cardiovascular diseases (e.g. amiodarone), antifungals (e.g. terbinafine), anticancer agents (e.g. flutamide), antipsychotics (e.g. chlorpromazine), etc. Certain plants such as St. John's wort, anti-acne agents and essential oils such as bergamot can also trigger a reaction.

The package insert of a medicine normally describes whether or not there is a chance of a phototoxic reaction. So always read the package insert of a product carefully.

What are the symptoms?

A phototoxic reaction can be mild to severe. Usually you get a severe rash or sunburn. Itching is rare or non-existent. In some cases the rash is so severe that blisters form. The rash usually disappears after a few days, but there is a chance that the skin will become brown for a long time (hyperpigmentation).

Phototoxicity can theoretically occur in any patient taking phototoxic drugs. The amount of sun exposure required to produce a reaction varies widely. In some people, minimal sun exposure can cause a rash or sunburn, while in others, a reaction occurs after prolonged exposure. The dose of the drug and the skin color of the person also play a role in determining the severity of the reaction. People with darker skin have more melanin pigment, which provides protection against free radicals through its antioxidant properties.

If you have ever had a phototoxic reaction to a particular drug, the chance of a reaction in the future remains. So avoid the drug and others with a similar composition.

Risk of skin cancer

A study by doctors in Florida also found a link between phototoxic drugs and the risk of skin cancer. The researchers looked at 200 white patients between the ages of 40 and 90 who were being treated for the two most common types of skin cancer. They found that patients who used phototoxic drugs were more likely to develop skin cancer. However, Dr. Gerald Sokol, the lead researcher on the study, qualified the results: “We don't want patients to stop taking the drugs they need. They just need to know that they need to protect themselves from ultraviolet light.”

Also read: Types of skin cancer: which spots are potentially malignant?

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Last updated: August 2024

Phototoxicity: Which medicines should you avoid in the sun?

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