The combination of some drugs with sun exposure in summer can be dangerous
Especially in summer, being more exposed to sunlight, it must be borne in mind that there are quite a few medications that cause photosensitivity. It is an adverse reaction that occurs on the skin and also in the eyes, although less frequently, due to the interaction of certain chemical substances with ultraviolet radiation. The reactions can be phototoxic and photoallergic:
The former are the most frequent and everyone can be affected by them. They occur because the photosensitizing substance in the skin absorbs ultraviolet radiation and releases it back into the skin, causing cell damage. They manifest in the form of skin lesions that appear in areas exposed to the sun, either as edema, vesicles, erythema, blisters, etc. This type is very quick to appear and usually lasts between 2 and 7 days.
Photoallergic reactions, on the other hand, do not occur all over the world nor do they appear immediately, but rather in a period that can range from 1 to 14 days. What happens is that the ultraviolet radiation affects the photosensitizing substance and transforms it into a compound that the immune system confuses with a harmful antigen and against which it defends itself in the same way as with an allergic reaction to pollen or food. The lesions can occur in the form of rashes or blisters, but the most common is itchy dermatitis or eczema.
The first step to avoid it is to know what the main photosensitizing drugs are. The Organization of Consumers and Users warns that the list is very broad and heterogeneous, with drugs of all kinds. There are from some for the treatment of acne (isotretinoin, retinoic acid, etc), to medications for cardiac arrhythmia (such as amiodarone), antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin or erythromycin), antidepressants (such as amitriptyline), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( such as ibuprofen), antihypertensives, (such as enalapril), etc.
The best thing to do is to ask the pharmacist or doctor and read the package insert of the medication, especially the section on warnings and precautions and the section on adverse reactions. In the event that the reaction occurs, you should go to the doctor who, if possible, will interrupt the treatment or, in any case, will try to reduce the dose. The best advice is to avoid sun exposure during daylight hours and wear clothing that covers the extremities.
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