SATURDAY, Aug. 10, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Most folks know that a good sunscreen can guard against the sun's harmful rays, but many might not realize that some medications and creams can undo some of that protection. “There are multiple reasons we should be mindful of excessive sun exposure aside from skin cancer, although that’s certainly important,” said , an assistant professor of dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
“There may also be some external factors that can make us more sensitive to sunlight.” Nezafati explained that certain medications can render your skin more vulnerable to the sun’s harmful rays and offered some advice on how to protect yourself. Certain drugs contain ingredients that can trigger a physical reaction when the skin is exposed to UV light, according to the .
The severity of the reaction depends on the drug dosage and the amount of time spent outdoors or in the tanning booth. Blood pressure medications such as hydrochlorothiazide are a common example. “Basically, what happens is the ultraviolet radiation reacts with the medicine circulating in the patient’s blood, converting that drug into a chemical byproduct that can directly damage skin cells and cause sunburns,” Nezafati said in a UT Southwestern news release.
Some antibiotics like ciprofloxacin and doxycycline, which treat a wide assortment of infections, work the same way, he added. “The most important thing is for patients to be aware of the side effe.