According to the National Cancer Institute, photosensitivity causes the skin to become extremely sensitive to sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) light. This causes skin to burn easily, which can cause a rash or sunburn that can be painful, itchy, blistered, or peel.
However, not everyone who takes medications that can cause photosensitivity will have a reaction, according to the FDA. If you do experience a reaction, this does not mean you are guaranteed to have a reaction every time you take the medication and spend time in the sun.
Below are 10 types of medication that can potentially cause photosensitivity:
1. Antibiotics
Antibiotics can treat a huge number of bacterial infections, but they don’t all target the same bacteria.
“Certain antibiotics have to be taken for certain infections and you really want to treat the specific infection and not just take something that is good enough, because that can lead to antibiotic resistance to certain infections,” says Flaker, who notes that if side effects related to sun sensitivity do occur, they will be temporary.
To ensure that you have no adverse reaction related to the sun, Flaker recommends wearing SPF while taking a course of antibiotics. “Just make sure that you’re putting a lot of extra sunscreen on your forearms, hands, neck, and face, because that’s traditionally where you see the photosensitivity,” she says.
According to the FDA, the following antibiotics could cause sun sensitivity in some people:
- ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
- doxycycline (Vibramycin)
- ofloxacin (Floxin)
- tetracycline (Sumycin)
- trimethoprim (Trimpex)
Sulfonamides include broad-spectrum antibiotics that target multiple types of bacteria. The ones that can make people sensitive to the sun include sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra) and sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin).
2. Antifungals
According to Flaker, antifungals are similar to antibiotics, but target a fungal infection rather than an infection caused by bacteria.
“The important thing is to take what the physician prescribes you for the antifungal and antibiotic — they will select the medication that is the most effective to treat the specific organism that is in your body,” she says. “Sun sensitivity will only be for maybe a couple of weeks so really taking what they prescribe will be the biggest thing.”
A number of antifungals can potentially cause sun sensitivity, including:
- flucytosine (Ancobon)
- griseofulvin ( Gris-PEG)
- voricanozole (VFEND)
3. Antihistamines
Antihistamines are used to treat allergy symptoms and sometimes bug bites that cause a reaction, such as mosquito bites or bee stings. They’re typically purchased over the counter, meaning the people who take them may not be aware of potential side effects. According to Flaker, antihistamines dry out the body and “prevent fluids from circulating around in your body like they should.”
Antihistamines that can cause sun sensitivity include:
- cetirizine (Zyrtec)
- diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- loratadine (Claritin)
- promethazine (Phenergan VC)
- cyproheptadine (Periactin)
4. Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs
Some prescription drugs used to lower high cholesterol can also cause sun sensitivity in some people. Despite this risk, it’s important that people who are on certain cholesterol-lowering medications continue to take them or speak with their healthcare provider about switching before going off of them, she said.
According to Flaker, not all medications may work for all patients, and not all will experience sun or heat sensitivities, so the most important thing is to continue taking cholesterol-lowering medications as long as your healthcare provider advises you to.
The ones that can cause sun sensitivity include:
- simvastatin (Zocor)
- atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- lovastatin (Mevacor)
- pravastatin (Pravachol)
5. Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
People take NSAIDs to treat pain and reduce fever and inflammation, but some can make you sensitive to the sun, though Flaker says this is very rare and “not a pool-party-pooper.”
“If they stay in the shade, cover up, and apply sunscreen a little more often they should be fine on an NSAID in the sun,” she said.
NSAIDs include:
- ibuprofen (Advil)
- naproxen (Aleve)
- celecoxib (Celebrex)
- piroxicam (Feldene)
- ketoprofen (Orudis)
6. Oral Contraceptives and Estrogens
According to Flaker, any oral contraceptive or estrogen medication can cause sun or heat sensitivity, but it’s less likely to happen if you’re established on the medication.
“If you start it in the summer, or started it in the winter and this is your first time in the sun being on your contraceptives, pay attention to make sure your body isn’t getting flushed or sunburned,” she says.
7. Phenothiazines
Phenothiazines, medications used to treat severe mental disorders including schizophrenia, and other psychotic disorders. These drugs are also used to treat severe nausea and hiccups, or pain in hospitalized patients. Some phenothiazines can cause sun sensitivity, especially in the eyes, and may make a person sweat less, which can increase body temperature and lead to overheating.
Even brief exposure to sunlight could cause a skin rash, itching, and redness, or a severe sunburn for some people taking phenothiazines.
Phenothiazines that could cause photosensitivity include:
- fluphenazine (Prolixin)
- thioridazine (Mellaril)
- prochlorperazine (Compazine)
8. Psoralens
Psoralens absorb the ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun and use them as ultraviolet radiation to treat vitiligo, eczema, psoriasis, and skin problems related to certain lymphomas. So naturally, they make people extra sensitive to sunlight.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re prescribed a psoralen to develop a plan for staying safe in the sun.
The medications can be oral or topical and include:
- methoxsalen (Oxsoralen-Ultra)
- trioxsalen
9. Retinoids
Retinoids are used to treat acne and other skin conditions and can make people very sensitive to the sun. According to Flaker, the topical medications essentially scrape off the top layer of skin, which makes it easier to sunburn. It’s important to stay out of the sun — whether that be indoors, in the shade, or under a hat or shirt, and use sunscreen with a high SPF to prevent burning, she says. These medications include:
- acitretin (Soriatane)
- isotretinoin (Accutane)
10. Sulfonylureas for Type 2 Diabetes
Not everyone who has type 2 diabetes needs to take sulfonylureas, a diabetes treatment that can make skin sensitive to sunlight. According to Flaker, for people whose blood sugar is not able to be regulated through diet and exercise alone, these medications may be needed. There are alternatives, but they may not be effective for everyone, and the most important thing for these patients is controlling blood sugar, she says. Two types of sulfonylureas that can cause sun sensitivity include:
- glipizide (Glucotrol)
- glyburide (Micronase)
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