According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), certain medications can make people extra sensitive to sun or heat exposure. With most medications, an adverse reaction or extra sensitivity to sunlight or heat is rare, says Susan Flaker, PharmD, Mayo Clinic Health System’s director of pharmacy in southeast Minnesota. “It really is a case-by-case basis. Not everyone taking these medications will have these reactions, it’s really dependent on each separate person and their body makeup,” she says. “But it happens enough that drug companies have to put a label on the medication to warn people.” According to Dr. Flaker, some medications make the skin more susceptible to sunburn, while others can inhibit the body’s ability to cool off, register heat and respond to it, or stay hydrated. It may also depend on how long you’ve been taking the medication. “Someone who is established on a medication for a long period of time typically won’t have as much heat sensitivity. But if you have just started one, you may be more susceptible and need to pay close attention to your body,” she says. According to Flaker, warning signs to look out for are:
Feeling or looking flushedSunburning quicklyExperiencing warning signs of dehydration such as dizziness.
The best plan of attack is to take preventative measures before stepping outside, including wearing a hat and sunscreen — and reapplying it throughout the day — wearing loose, breathable clothing that covers the skin, and drinking plenty of water. The most important thing is to continue to take any medication that is prescribed to you. “Don’t abruptly stop any medication, especially any prescription medication. Stopping can cause more harm than good,” Flaker warns, advising people who are worried that their medication may be causing adverse reactions to heat or sunlight to talk with their healthcare provider about their options. Flaker says that she worries less about people who are on prescription medications that could make them more susceptible to sun and heat exposure than those taking over-the-counter drugs — such as antihistamines and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — that could have the same effect. “People can just run in and take those without truly thinking about the side effects and they don’t have anyone telling them they need to be extra careful in the sun,” she says, noting that before taking any medication, even one you can purchase without a prescription, it’s important to speak with a pharmacists to understand any potential adverse reactions you may encounter.
Medications That Cause Photosensitivity
According to the National Cancer Institute, photosensitivity, also known as sun allergy, 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 sunscreen 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 are typically broad-spectrum antibiotics that target multiple types of bacteria. The ones that can make people sensitive to the sun include:
silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene)sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra)sulfasoxazole (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.” The FDA recognizes three antifungals as potentially causing sun sensitivity:
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 their potential effects often go uncommunicated to the people who take them. 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 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 type of 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. According to the Mayo Clinic, 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. According to the Mayo Clinic, even brief exposure to sunlight could cause a skin rash, itching, and redness, or a severe sunburn for some people taking phenothiazines. To avoid an adverse reaction, the Mayo Clinic advises people to stay out of the sunlight between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. if possible, wear a hat, and use sunscreen with at least SPF 15. According to the FDA, 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, which can make your 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)
Medications That Cause Heat Sensitivity
According to Flaker, certain medications can also cause heat sensitivity, but as is true for sun sensitivity, not all people taking these medications will become extra sensitive to the heat. The important thing is paying attention to how your body reacts and being prepared with plenty of extra water, loose, light clothing, a hat, sunscreen, and access to shade. The following four types of medication can cause heat sensitivity:
1. Antihistamines and Decongestants
As mentioned above, these medications — which are usually purchased over the counter — can cause adverse reactions to the sun. According to the Mayo Clinic, they can also cause a person to sweat less, which could inhibit their ability to cool off and may actually raise body temperature. The same is true for antihistamine, decongestant, and anticholinergic combination medications, which include:
pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and methscopolamine nitrate (Allerx-D)chlorcyclizine and phenylephrine (Dallergy)chlorpheniramine, methscopolamine, and phenylephrine (Extendryl JR, Extendryl SR)phenylephrine CM (Vazculep)phenylephrine hydrochloride, chlorpheniramine maleate, and methscopolamine nitrate (Rescon ER)chlorcyclizine and pseudoephedrine (Stahist)
2. Beta-Blockers
Beta-blockers are used in some people to control heart rhythm, treat angina, and reduce high blood pressure. According to Flaker, they can also reduce blood flow to the skin, which could inhibit the body’s ability to cool off. According to a study published in August 2022 in Nature Cardiovascular Research, taking beta-blockers increased the risk of heart attack by 65 percent on hot days. Common beta blockers include:
acebutololatenolol (Tenormin)bisoprolol (Zebeta)metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)nadolol (Corgard)nebivolol (Bystolic)propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran XL)
Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any heat-related problems. Flaker warns that it’s dangerous to stop taking a medication without talking to your healthcare provider first, especially medications that help regulate cardiovascular issues.
3. Diuretics
Some people take a diuretic for high blood pressure or congestive heart failure. “Essentially, your body has too much fluid in it and you’re trying to get some of that fluid out to ease the strain on your heart,” Flaker says. “That may increase both sun or heat sensitivity, because you’re decreasing the amount of fluid you have in your body. That means you’re also decreasing blood flow to the skin, so the triggers on your skin that say, ‘Hey it’s hot, I need to do something to cool down,’ aren’t being activated as much.” According to the FDA, the following diuretics could cause sensitivity to heat and sunlight, though Flaker says stopping these medications before talking with a healthcare provider will do more harm than good:
hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, HydroDiuril, and Oretic)chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone, and Chlorthalid)chlorothiazide (Diuril)furosemide (Lasix)triamterene (Dyazide)acetazolamide (Diamox)
4. Psychotropic Medications
Psychotropic medications are psychiatric medicines that fall into five categories: antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, stimulants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. According to the Ohio Department of Mental Health, many different types of psychotropic drugs can cause a person to be more sensitive to hot days that reach 85 degrees F or higher. According to Flaker, psychotropic medications can decrease thirst, which can cause dehydration, especially in hot weather. Stimulants such as Adderall, a medication taken for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can make people more susceptible to overheating. “Those medications will play with your hypothalamus, which is the brain’s regulator. It’s going to change the way the brain regulates responses to stress, including heat,” she says. Flaker recommends that the first few times you’re out in the sun or hot weather while taking such medications you should be sure to drink plenty of water, wear loose fitting clothing, and pay attention to how your body is responding. While many psychotropic medications can make you sensitive to hot weather, Flaker says those who are taking the following medications should be particularly careful when it comes to hydrating and staying in the shade when possible:
carbidopa and levodopa (Sinemet), which are taken for Parkinson’s diseaseAdderall and other stimulants taken for ADHDamitriptyline, an antidepressantnortriptyline (Pamelor), an antidepressanthaloperidol (Haldol, Haldol Decanoate, Haloperidol LA, and Peridol), an antipsychotic
