Understanding Photosensitivity
Many medications and topical solutions can cause the skin to burn or break out in a rash when exposed to ultraviolet light. Photosensitivity is an adverse skin reaction to certain substances in the presence of ultraviolet light. This may cause erythema, rashes, itching, scaling or inflammation.
Perfumes and colognes containing Furocoumarins, compound from natural products such as plants and fruits. Their natural oils CAN SENSITIZE THE SKIN TO SUNLIGHT.
Food and fruits that contain photosensitizing agents: celery, carrots, lime, coriander, parsley, fennel, dill, buttercup, mustard and fig.
A partial list of known photosensitizing medications is listed below by name:
Before using the list, you should be aware of the following:
- This list is for the most common photosensitizing materials. This is not a list of every material that could have photosensitizing effects. If there is any question about a drug or product that you use, you should consult a physician.
- NOT all individuals who use or take these medications will experience a photosensitive reaction. Also, an individual who experiences a photosensitive reaction on one occasion will NOT necessarily experience it again or every time.
- A medication will NOT cause the same degree of skin reaction in all individuals.
- Brand names of products should be considered only as examples; they do NOT represent all names under which the generic product may be sold.
| Accutane | Danocrine | Garamycin | Naturetin | Serentil |
| Achromycin | Dapsone | Glucotrol | NegGram | Serepasil |
| Actidil | Declomycin | Grisactin Ultra | Neptazane | Sinequan |
| Actifed | Deconamine | Haldol | Normozide | Sparine |
| Adrueil | Diabeta | Hibiclens | Noroxin | Stelazine |
| Aldactazide | Diabinese | Hispril Spansule | Norpramin | Sumycin |
| Aldoclor | Dilantin | Hydromox | Optimine | Surmontil |
| Aldoril | Dimetane | Hygroton | Oreticyl | Tacaryl |
| Ambenyl | Dincardin | Inderide | Ornade Spansule | Taractan |
| Ancobon | Dlulo | Intal Inhaler | Orudis Capsules | Tavist |
| Apresolene-Esidrix | Diupres | Intron A | Pamelor | Tegretol |
| Aquatenson | Diuril | Lasix | Pediazole | Temaril |
| Asendin | Diutensen-R | Librium | Periactin | Tenoretic |
| Azo Gantanol | Dyazide | Limbitrol | Permitil | Terramycin |
| Azo Gantrisin | Dyrenium | Lozol | Pertofrane | Thalitone |
| Azulfidine | Elavil | Ludiomil | Phenergan | Thorazine |
| Bactrim | Endep | Marplan | Phisohex | Timolide |
| Bainetar | Enduronyl | Maxzide | Polaramine | Tofranil |
| Barbiturates | Esidrix | Mellaril | Prolixin | Tolazamide |
| Benadryl | Esimil | Mepergan | Quindex | Tolinase |
| Butazolidin | Estar Gel | Mexate | Quinidine | Trandate HCT |
| Capoten | Etrafon | Mexate-AQ | Quinine | Triaminic TR |
| Cesamet | Exna | Minizide | Rauzide | Vaseretic |
| Cipro | Fansidar | Minocin | Renese | Vasotec Tablets |
| Clinoril | Flexeril | Moduretic | Ru-Tuss II Capsules | Velban |
| Compazine | Folex | Motrin | Seldane | Vivactil |
| Fulvicin U/F | Mykrox | Septra | Voltaren Tablets | |
| Gantanol | Naquival | Ser-Ap-Es | Zaroxolyn |