Medications that don't like light!
As promised I have another post for you about what causes photosensitivity and how it can impact your upcoming skincare regime. I discussed how antibiotics can affect having a treatment like red light therapy. But which other medicines can affect how the skin reacts to the sun? So I had a look around on the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) website to get a comprehensive list for you.
- Antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, levofloxacin, tetracycline, trimethoprim)
- Acne treatments (including acitretin, isotretinoin, tazarotene, and tretinoin)
- Antifungals (flucytosine, griseofulvin, voriconazole)
- Allergy medications (cetirizine, diphenhydramine, loratadine, promethazine, cyproheptadine)
- Cholesterol lowering statin drugs (simvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin)
- Diuretics (thiazide diuretics commonly used for high blood pressure: hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone; other diuretics: furosemide and triamterene)
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib, piroxicam, ketoprofen)
- Oral contraceptives and estrogens
- Phenothiazines (tranquilizers, antiemetics: examples, chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, promethazine, thioridazine, prochlorperazine)
- Psoralens (methoxsalen, trioxsalen)
- Retinoids (acitretin, isotretinoin)
- Sulfonamides (acetazolamide, sulfadiazine, sulfamethizole, sulfamethoxazole, sulfapyridine, sulfasalazine, sulfisoxazole)
- Sulfonylureas for Type 2 diabetes (glipizide, glyburide)
- Alpha-hydroxy acids in cosmetics
- Tricyclic antidepressants including amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, protriptyline, and trimipramine
- St. John’s wort
You might be thinking what’s the big deal? Well, you may cause more damage to your skin because it is more sensitive, having a peel for example while using a retinoid can irritate it greatly and lead to damage. Such as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation or even scarring.
Come in and see us at Invigorate Advanced Aesthetics in Centennial, Colorado for Red Light Therapy.
"You might be thinking what's the big deal? Well, you may cause more damage to your skin because it is more sensitive, having a peel for example while using a retinoid can irritate it greatly and lead to damage. Such as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation or even scarring."
