Medicines and Sun Safety

There are many medicines, alternative therapies, essential oils and fragrances that can cause your skin to break out into painful rashes, burns or other skin conditions when you are exposed to sunlight. Unfortunately there is no way of determining whether you are predisposed to this condition. It is far better to be safe than dealing with the effects of irritating rashes.

How photosensitivity occurs is that a chemical that has been taken orally or topically applied is absorbed by the skin. Once the chemical is exposed to UVA rays, it can cause accelerated sunburn, rashes, itching, a burning sensation or any other kind of photosensitive reaction.

Substances that may cause photosensitivity are:

• Antidepressants - if reports are to be believed, there are now a great many teenagers taking these drugs.
• Antihistamines - routinely taken by children in the hay fever season
• Antimicrobials/antibiotics - most notably the sulphonamides and tetracycline’s - often taken by teenagers for acne and by children for infected eczema.
• Antiparasitics - drugs used to treat intestinal worms, head lice or scabies, also anti malarial drugs, which are routinely taken when holidaying in certain countries.
• NSAIDs - Ibuprofen, Lodine, nabutemone etc. (anti-inflammatories)
• Sunscreens (believe it or not!) particularly ones that contain benzophenones, cinnamates, dioxybenzone, PABA and PABA esters.
• Coal tar soaps or shampoos
• St John’s Wort (often used as an alternative therapy anti-depressant)
• Essential oils, for example bergamot, citron, lavender, sandalwood, cedar, musk, Jasmine absolute, lavender oil, sandalwood oil, ylang ylang oil, bergamot, lemon, lime, orange, mandarin, juniper.
• Artificial fragrances in perfumes, aftershaves, colognes etc.

It is important to note the essential oils as they are routinely in children’s personal care products and are often not thought of as a concern.

If your child is taking any of the medication above then they should be covered in a sun screen and kept in the shade as much as possible and wear a hat.