Sensitive to light through medication

04/11/2014

Side effects are very versatile. The most common are nausea and vomiting, headache or dizziness. But there are also medicines where side effects occur only in certain seasons. Whenever the sun shines stronger, photosensitivity appears in some patients.

For certain medications, patients need to closely watch their skin. When sunbathing, it can lead to unwanted skin reactions. Some drugs react with light. Then it comes to a reddish, itchy rash. „It forms dandruff, blisters or edema“, as the Apothekerkammer Niedersachsen in Hannover warns. Drugs affected include antibiotics, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, cardiovascular agents, diuretics and some psychotropic drugs.

The active ingredients can trigger phototoxic or even photoallergic reactions in humans. Phototoxic skin reactions are similar to a strong sunburn. Doctors are good at distinguishing such photo-toxic reactions as they affect only those parts of the skin exposed to the sun. These are mainly face, neck, forearms and backs of the hands. Photosallergic symptoms also affect those parts of the skin that were not directly affected by the influence of light. The symptoms such as itching, dandruff or blisters appear only after some time after taking the medicine.

Stay in the shade and sunscreen with high UVA filter
A reason for the panic does not exist the data of the pharmacist chamber. It is advisable to use sunscreen with a high UV / UVA filter as a precaution. „Lying in the shade and watching for skin changes“, is another council of the Chamber. Exact observation of skin reactions should take a few days if taking these medicines. Studies have shown that especially people with a light skin are more often affected by the side effects of light than people with a darker skin.

Anyone who identifies the aforementioned skin lesions should always protect their bodies from the direct sun with adequate clothing. „Taboo for those affected are the solarium and the midday sun“, so the chamber. (Sb)

Picture: Rainer Sturm