Some medications can increase sensitivity to the sun

On any given day the UV index can vary greatly, which means it can take many people anywhere form 15 minutes to an hour to begin to burn. Whatever the case, certain medications can easily cause even the most frequent tanner to burn.

It’s often overlooked during the summer months, but medicine from Ibuprofen, to allergy medication, and even antibiotics can cause problems to your skin when in the sun.

According to consumerreports.org, many medications cause a chemical change in the skin that make your skin react differently to UV rays. This usually causes either one of two different reactions on your skin.

The first reaction is called phototoxic reactions, which is more common in individuals. The UV rays react with your medication and causes rashes on your skin that can appear within minutes.

The least common reaction is photoallergic reaction. This occurs when the UV rays cause chemical changes in your body that react to a substance as if it’s an allergen. Usually, an itchy, red rash shows up after 24 hours.

Consumerreports.org reports that some medications taken everyday can increase the risk of sun sensitivity. Those medicines include, but aren’t limited to:

– Antibiotics

– Birth control pills

– Acne pills and/or treatments

– Antidepressants

– Pain medications

– High blood pressure pills

While medicine can affect each person differently in the shade, it’s always important to exercise caution.

It’s important to always know side effects of your medicine, as side effects from the sun are often overlooked. Always remember to hydrate when outside in the sun and if you are on medication wear a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves. This will help limit the sun exposure of your skin.

The best thing to do is seek shade often and make sure you stay cool.

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