The Post

Feeling the burn?

- Sapeer Mayron

As the weather warms and the sun comes out, some people may be feeling the burn a little more than others – purely because of the medication they are taking.

Expert dermatolog­ist Associate Professor Amanda Oakley explained the redness and rash you might get is not exactly sunburn, or your skin becoming sunburnt more easily.

Rather, it’s a reaction between the drug and the ultraviole­t (UV) rays from the sun. Specifical­ly, UVA rays.

Some sunscreens protect against either UVA, UVB or both – the latter are called broad-spectrum sunscreens.

There are two kinds of reactions to UVA rays. The most common is called phototoxic, which appears like a severe sunburn or rash and can occur quickly after exposure to the sun, or tanning bed. The other is a photoaller­gic reaction, which is much less common and looks like a rash, blisters or lesions for days after exposure to the sun.

Oakley, the senior dermatolog­ist at Waikato Hospital and a global leader in the sector, said most drugs that cause photosensi­tivity warn users s on the packaging, and reactions are quite rare.

Even ibuprofen and naproxen could cause a photosensi­tive reaction.

She said the best thing is to avoid the sun, especially in the hottest parts of the day and not to use tanning beds.

Which meds are a risk?

■ Antidepres­sants: Tricylics interrupt the brain’s heat response, so you may not know you’re getting too hot.

■ Acne treatments and skincare: Retinol makes skin sensitive to the sun because it boosts cell turnover, so you’re often baring fresh skin cells to the sun. Products with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide will also increase the risk of sunburn.

■ Antibiotic­s: The most common drug to cause photosensi­tivity is doxycyclin­e, Oakley said.

■ Anything else? Some perfumes and oils can also increase your burn risk. Check ingredient­s and do patch tests. A cocktail of citrus, skin and sun can cause burns and blisters. It’s sometimes called ‘‘margarita dermatitis’’. If trying to lighten hair with lemon juice, don’t leave remnants of the lemon on the skin and avoid the scalp.

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