Overview
Acne occurs when excess oil, environmental pollutants and dead skin cells clog the hair follicles in the skin. Bacteria build up in the follicles and cause inflammation, which leads to cysts, whiteheads, pimples and blackheads. Although several prescription medications effectively treat acne, they also cause side effects during periods of sunlight exposure. Ask your doctor if your acne treatment causes increased sunlight sensitivity.
Types
Two types of prescription acne medications cause increased sunlight sensitivity. Tetracycline antibiotics, which kill the bacteria that cause acne, increase photosensitivity when you take them orally or apply them directly to the skin. Examples of tetracycline antibiotics used to treat acne include doxycycline, tetracycline and minocycline. Retinoid drugs prevent dead skin cells and excess oil from clogging the hair follicles. Drugs in the retinoid class include adapalene, tretinoin and isotretinoin.
Effects
Increased sun sensitivity leads to photodermatitis, an abnormal reaction to ultraviolet light exposure. This reaction causes itching, dark patches on the skin, redness, swelling, eczema-like lesions, pain and raised areas of the skin. Long-term effects of photodermatitis include scarring and thickening of the skin.
High-Risk Groups
People with fair or light skin have a higher risk for photodermatitis than people with dark skin. Anyone exposed to sunlight for 30 minutes to several hours at a time also has an increased risk for the effects of sunlight sensitivity, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Prevention/Solution
To prevent suffering from the effects of sunlight sensitivity, the skin should be protected from ultraviolet rays during the course of acne treatment with retinoids or tetracycline antibiotics. Exposure to artificial or direct sunlight should be limited. Those who work outdoors should wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, as well as a wide-brimmed hat. A sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher should be applied each day to prevent damage by ultraviolet rays, as recommended by AcneNet. Caution should be used in areas with sand, snow and water, because they reflect the sun’s rays, increasing the chance of sunburn.
Treatment
If sunlight sensitivity results in the formation of weepy blisters, cool compresses can be applied to the skin. If sun sensitivity disrupts a person’s life, a doctor may recommend drug treatment. Azathioprine suppresses the immune system and reduces the effects of sunlight sensitivity. Other drugs used to treat photosensitivity include thalidomide, nicotinamide and hydroxychloroquinine.
Misconceptions
Some people believe that artificial tanning does not have the negative effects of exposure to natural sunlight. Natural sunlight and the artificial light used for tanning both have ultraviolet rays, which cause sunburn and increase the risk of skin cancer. If you have increased sun sensitivity due to acne treatment, avoid artificial tanning beds.
