Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPhotosensitivity DefinitionDrugs That Cause PhotosensitivityRadiation and PhotosensitivitySymptomsSun Safety TipsBenefits of Sun ExposureTreating Sunburn
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Photosensitivity Definition
Drugs That Cause Photosensitivity
Radiation and Photosensitivity
Symptoms
Sun Safety Tips
Benefits of Sun Exposure
Treating Sunburn
Guido Mieth / Getty Images
What is Photosensitivity?
Sun sensitivity, known asphotosensitivityorphototoxicity,is the tendency to sunburn more easily than usual. Most photosensitivity reactions associated with chemotherapy drugs are phototoxic. In a phototoxic reaction, medications such as chemotherapy drugs absorb ultraviolet radiation. This absorption of UV light causes a change in the chemical composition of the drug, which emits skin-damaging energy.
Which Drugs Cause Photosensitivity?
Nearly any chemotherapy agent (or non-cancer-related medications as well) may cause you to be more sensitive to the sun. It’s important to talk with your oncologist about your particular medications. In addition, the combination of different drugs may raise your risk further than a single drug would alone. Some of the commonly used chemotherapy drugs known to cause photosensitivity include:
Thankfully, this increased sensitivity to the sun goes away soon after completing chemotherapy.
Some nonchemotherapy medications that could have an additive effect with chemotherapy in causing sun sensitivity include:
Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider if you aren’t certain if your chemotherapy or other medications will increase your risk of a sunburn.
Sun Sensitivity and Radiation Therapy
It’s important to keep in mind that chemotherapy isn’t the only treatment that can raise your risk of a sunburn. With radiation therapy, a propensity to burn occurs primarily in the regions of your body that are treated with radiation, but unlike that with chemotherapy, a predisposition to burning may last for years after your last treatment is finished. If you’ve had radiation therapy, you may wish to consider sun protection a long term goal. Not only could a predisposition to burning last far beyond your last treatment, but the combination of radiation damage to your skin and sun damage could increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
When Do the Symptoms Start?
Photosensitivity reactions can occur immediately after you are exposed to the sun, or may not be evident for several hours after returning indoors. If you notice any redness when you are in the sun, apply sunblock, sunscreen, or get out of the sun. It usually takes several hours before the full extent of a sunburn can be realized.
Sun Safety Tips During Chemo
Knowing that your skin may be more sensitive during chemotherapy, what can you do to protect yourself? A combination of things is usually best, including:
Intuitively it seems that some sun exposure would be beneficial during cancer treatment. Getting outside, breathing fresh air, and talking a walk can all help you feel better emotionally. Medical research seems to back that intuition. Other studies have looked at vitamin D and survival for many other cancers, and while there have been mixed results, having an adequate vitamin D level goes far beyond improving survival. Many people simply feel better if their level is optimal.
What If I Get a Sunburn?
If you develop a sunburn while on chemotherapy, try to stay out of the sun to avoid further injury to your skin. Use cool, wet compresses to ease discomfort. Call your healthcare provider if you have severe redness if the sunburned area involves a significant percentage of your body, if you develop a fever or chills, or if you have any other concerns. Check out these additionaltips on how to treat a sunburn.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UpToDate.Cutaneous Side Effects of Conventional Chemotherapy Agents.National Cancer Institute.Skin and Nail Changes During Cancer Treatment.Drucker AM, Rosen CF.Drug-induced photosensitivity: culprit drugs, management and prevention.Drug Saf. 2011;34(10):821-37. doi:10.2165/11592780-000000000-00000American Cancer Society.Coping with Radiation Treatment.National Comprehensive Cancer Network.Take Precautions During Cancer Treatment in Warmer Weather.MD Anderson Cancer Center.Cancer Treatment Side Effect: Skin Changes.Additional ReadingPayne, A., and D. Savarese.Cutaneous Side Effects of Conventional Chemotherapy Agents.UpToDate. Updated 04/10/18.Smith, E. et al.A review of UVA-mediated photosensitivity disorders.Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences. 2012. 11(1):199-206. doi:10.1039/c1pp05191a.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UpToDate.Cutaneous Side Effects of Conventional Chemotherapy Agents.National Cancer Institute.Skin and Nail Changes During Cancer Treatment.Drucker AM, Rosen CF.Drug-induced photosensitivity: culprit drugs, management and prevention.Drug Saf. 2011;34(10):821-37. doi:10.2165/11592780-000000000-00000American Cancer Society.Coping with Radiation Treatment.National Comprehensive Cancer Network.Take Precautions During Cancer Treatment in Warmer Weather.MD Anderson Cancer Center.Cancer Treatment Side Effect: Skin Changes.Additional ReadingPayne, A., and D. Savarese.Cutaneous Side Effects of Conventional Chemotherapy Agents.UpToDate. Updated 04/10/18.Smith, E. et al.A review of UVA-mediated photosensitivity disorders.Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences. 2012. 11(1):199-206. doi:10.1039/c1pp05191a.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
UpToDate.Cutaneous Side Effects of Conventional Chemotherapy Agents.National Cancer Institute.Skin and Nail Changes During Cancer Treatment.Drucker AM, Rosen CF.Drug-induced photosensitivity: culprit drugs, management and prevention.Drug Saf. 2011;34(10):821-37. doi:10.2165/11592780-000000000-00000American Cancer Society.Coping with Radiation Treatment.National Comprehensive Cancer Network.Take Precautions During Cancer Treatment in Warmer Weather.MD Anderson Cancer Center.Cancer Treatment Side Effect: Skin Changes.
UpToDate.Cutaneous Side Effects of Conventional Chemotherapy Agents.
National Cancer Institute.Skin and Nail Changes During Cancer Treatment.
Drucker AM, Rosen CF.Drug-induced photosensitivity: culprit drugs, management and prevention.Drug Saf. 2011;34(10):821-37. doi:10.2165/11592780-000000000-00000
American Cancer Society.Coping with Radiation Treatment.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network.Take Precautions During Cancer Treatment in Warmer Weather.
MD Anderson Cancer Center.Cancer Treatment Side Effect: Skin Changes.
Payne, A., and D. Savarese.Cutaneous Side Effects of Conventional Chemotherapy Agents.UpToDate. Updated 04/10/18.Smith, E. et al.A review of UVA-mediated photosensitivity disorders.Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences. 2012. 11(1):199-206. doi:10.1039/c1pp05191a.
Payne, A., and D. Savarese.Cutaneous Side Effects of Conventional Chemotherapy Agents.UpToDate. Updated 04/10/18.
Smith, E. et al.A review of UVA-mediated photosensitivity disorders.Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences. 2012. 11(1):199-206. doi:10.1039/c1pp05191a.
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