Photosensitivity

What you need to know:

The sensible advice here is quite obvious; don’t sit in the sun if you know you’ll get these adverse reactions. But we all do from time to time and it’s far more common in people with fair skin who suddenly expose themselves to sunlight. Here are some precautionary measures:

Polymorphic light eruption and prickly heat often occur in the v of the neck and people often assume it’s caused by an allergy to sun tan lotion, so they stop using it, then it gets worse. The truth is they didn’t use enough lotion or it didn’t have a high enough sun protection factor
Doctors rarely warn patients about drugs which can cause photosensitive dermatitis. These include:

a. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
b. Some antibiotics
c. Drugs for depression
d. Pills for diabetes
e. Heart disease medication
f. Drugs for epilepsy

Other useful advice:

Some essential oils used in Aromatherapy can also cause photosensitivity - particularly bergamot, lavender and sandalwood.

There are no natural remedies or complementary therapies to treat porphyria cutanea tarda.

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The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.