The 16 common drugs in your medicine cabinet that increase your risk of agonising sunburn revealed
THE sun is finally shining and many of us will be making a beeline for the beach or our local park.
But thousands of Brits need to take extra care when outdoors this summer as their medication might make them more prone to sunburn.
Dozens of drugs - both prescription and over-the-counter - can increase what's known as photosensitivity.
In the short term, this could mean sore, red, blistered skin that can make it difficult to sleep.
But longer term, frequent sunburn means you are at increased risk of skin cancer - which kills six people in the UK every day.
Dr Chun Tang, a GP at , tells Sun Health: "People might be surprised to hear that some everyday medicines can make skin extra sensitive to sunlight.
"It’s called photosensitivity, and it means your skin reacts more strongly to UV rays, often ending in a sunburn that arrives quicker and hits harder than usual.
"A few common culprits include antibiotics like doxycycline and ciprofloxacin, both often prescribed for infections.
"Then there are anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and naproxen, diuretics (water tablets used for blood pressure), and even some acne treatments like isotretinoin (formerly Roaccutane).
"Older antidepressants such as amitriptyline can also increase your sun sensitivity.
"These meds are perfectly safe when taken as prescribed, but when it’s a sunny day, suddenly your skin is on high alert.
"Some reactions look and feel like severe sunburn (that’s called phototoxicity), while others show up more like a rash (which is known as photo allergy).
"Either way, it’s not much fun, especially if you weren’t expecting it."
Also among the most common potentially problematic medicines are oral contraceptives - taken by almost a third of women in the UK.
Antihistamines, antifungals, arthritis medicines, chemotherapy and immunosuppressants can also cause photosensitivity.
No matter the drug, even short periods of sun exposure can trigger symptoms when the skin is photosensitive.
Older adults, who are more likely to be taking multiple medications, need to be especially mindful
Dr Chun Tang
Dr Tang says: "The most obvious side effect is that you burn far faster than you normally would, sometimes after just 10 or 15 minutes in the sun.
"I don’t mean just a gentle pink glow, we’re talking red, sore, blistered skin that can peel and take days to calm down.
"You might also notice itchy rashes, changes in skin colour, or patches of irritation that appear on parts of the body you didn’t think had even seen the sun.
"Some of these reactions can be mistaken for heat rash or even eczema, so if something doesn’t look quite right, it’s worth asking your GP or popping into your local pharmacy for advice."
Dr Unnati Desai, national lead for GP services at , adds: "Drug-induced photosensitivity can lead to complications such as secondary skin infections and pigmentation due to the inflammation, which is more common in darker skin types.
"It may have an impact on daily activities, such as sitting near a window, driving a car, taking part in outdoor activities, which in turn can impact wellbeing."
The drugs that increase your risk of sunburn
- Acne medicines - isotretinoin
- Antibiotics - doxycycline and other tetracycline drugs, fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin, levofloxacin, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, dapsone
- Antidepressants - fluoxetine, citalopram, sertraline, amitriptyline, doxepin, St. John's wort
- Antifungals - griseofulvin, voriconazole, flucytosine
- Antihistamines - promethazine, diphenhydramine, cetirizine, loratadine, cyproheptadine
- Antipsychotics - chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, perphenazine, thioridazine, thiothixene, prochlorperazine
- Arthritis drugs - leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine
- Blood pressure drugs - hydrochlorothiazide, diltiazem, furosemide, bumetanide
- Chemotherapy
- Cholesterol drugs - simvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin
- Diabetes medications - sulfonylureas
- Heart medications - amiodarone, diltiazem, nifedipine
- Immunosuppressants - cyclosporine
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - celecoxib, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, piroxicam, diclofenac
- Oral contraceptives and oestrogens
- Sulfonamides - sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfisoxazole
It's important to note that not everyone who takes any of these medications will be more sensitive to the sun.
We are all at risk, but some of us will be more prone to complications than others.
"Some of us are naturally more sun-sensitive," Dr Tang says.
"If you’re fair-skinned, you’ll already know you need to be careful in the sun, and medications that increase photosensitivity can make it even trickier.
"Older adults, who are more likely to be taking multiple medications, also need to be especially mindful.
"It’s not just about age or skin tone though; if you spend lots of time outside for work, exercise, or gardening, the risk goes up too.
"If you’re starting a new medicine, always check the patient info leaflet, or speak with your pharmacist to see if sun sensitivity is a known issue.
"The good news is it’s easy to protect yourself. High-factor sunscreen, hats, and covering up during peak sun hours (usually 11am to 3pm) can make all the difference, so you can enjoy the sunshine."
As with all medications, if you have a reaction, speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
Things you should never put on sunburn
WHEN you're particularly badly burnt, it can be easy to rush to the internet in search of a hack to ease your painful symptoms.
But some of the so-called remedies out there can be dangerous. The NHS says:
- Do not use petroleum jelly on sunburnt skin
- Do not put ice or ice packs on sunburnt skin
- Do not pop any blisters
- Do not scratch or try to remove peeling skin
- Do not wear tight-fitting clothes over sunburnt skin
Speak to a pharmacist about other ways to soothe sunburn, and medications you may be able to try.
If you are worried you or someone you know has heat stroke or heat exhaustion, or if skin is very blistered or swollen, call NHS 111 or speak to your GP.
If you're looking for quick relief, experts suggest:
- Getting out of the sun as soon as possible
- Cooling your skin with a cool shower, bath or damp towel (take care not to let a baby or young child get too cold)
- Applying aftersun cream or spray
- Drinking plenty of water to cool down and prevent dehydration
- Taking painkillers, such as paracetamol, for any pain
- Covering sunburnt skin from direct sunlight until skin has fully healed
