IMPORTANT
Unless otherwise stated on the package, most supplements and herbal remedies aren’t suitable for children under 12.
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Photosensitivity

What you need to know:

The sensible advice here is quite obvious; don’t let them sit in the sun if you know they’ll get these adverse reactions, which can ruin the whole family’s holiday. These conditions are 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. If you’re in charge of children, you need to take extreme care if you don’t want to end up with them being at risk of skin Cancer in later life. For more advise see melanoma, in this section.
Doctors rarely warn patients about drugs, which can cause photosensitive dermatitis. Even though most of these are rarely prescribed for children, you need to know what they are:
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
  • Some antibiotics
  • Drugs for depression
  • Pills for diabetes
  • Heart disease medication
  • 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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This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk).
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.