There are many medications that say to avoid the sun as they can cause blisters, rashes, hives, sunburn and/or other skin eruptions. These eruptions can occur even if you are exposed to sunlight or sun tanning lamps for even a short period of time. The most common medications that can cause photosensitivity are medicines prescribed for arthritis, antihistamines, allergy medicines, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs used to control inflammation and pain, “sulfa” drugs, drugs with tetracycline, antipsychotics, drugs used for cancer chemotherapy, diuretics, cardiovascular drugs and oral medications for diabetes. Herbal remedies, like St. John’s wort, can also cause photosensitivity.

Sun tanning and Medications that say to avoid the sun can have various types and degrees of photosensitive reactions. Some medications might only produce a fine red rash when you expose your skin during sun tanning. There are other medications which might produce severe sunburn when your skin is exposed to the sun for even a short period of time. To learn more about this, please visit http://snipurl.com/3et6k

If you love being in the sun, but you are taking a medication that says to avoid the sun, please make sure to apply at least a sunblock SPF 15, although SPF 30 would be preferable. Additionally, check the labels of the sunscreens for ingredients like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and/or avobenzone that provide protection from UVA as well as UVB rays of the sun. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to going out in the sun and try tanning during cooler hours of the day (avoid high intensity hours from 10 am to 4 pm). When you are not sun tanning, avoid the sun as much as possible by wearing hats, long sleeved shirts, pants and sunglasses.