What Causes Sun Sensitivity or a Sun Allergy?

Allergy To Sun

Are you suddenly allergic to the sun? You may be putting something on your skin or taking a drug that made you get a “sun allergy”.

There are many things that can cause your skin to suddenly become sensitive to sun.

A sun allergy increases your changes of sun burn and sun damage to your skin.

Sun sensitivity results in sunburn and hyperpigmentationand speeds skin agingso you need to know what is causing your sun sensitivity.

Find a list of medications that make you sensitive to sun in alphabetical order at the end of this sun allergy blog.

Allergic Reaction To the Sun

Photoallergy is a type of skin reaction that occurs when certain chemicals applied to the skin interact with ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight. It is an allergic response that develops over time and involves the body’s immune system. When the skin is exposed to a combination of certain substances (such as certain medications, skin care products, fragrances, or sunscreen ingredients) and UV light, it can lead to a photoallergic reaction.

UV radiation is capable of altering the chemical structure of these substances, turning them into something the immune system recognizes as foreign or potentially harmful, also known as an allergen. This process is known as photoactivation. Once these photoactivated substances are formed, they can bind to skin proteins, prompting the immune system to react. This response can lead to symptoms like redness, itching, and inflammation on areas of the skin exposed to the sun. Importantly, these symptoms may not show up until one to two days after the exposure and can spread to areas not directly exposed to the sun. Because of the immune system involvement, once a photoallergy develops to a certain substance, future exposure to that substance (in the presence of UV light) can trigger the same allergic reaction.

Signs Symptoms of Sun Sensitivity

The symptoms of sun sensitivity occur in areas of sun exposure and are:

redness

hives

blisters

tanning

hyperpigmentation

If these are caused by skin care products, you will see these symptom only in areas that ahve been exposed to both:

sun

skin care product

What skin care ingredients are photoallergens?

Some skin care ingredients can cause an allergy such as redness and hives when exposed to sun. These are called photoallergens.

Photoallergens can be used without any problems on the skin until you go in the sun. Once you wear them in the sun, they can cause a skin allergy in susceptible people.

Sunscreens cause an allergic reaction when you go in the sun:

Avobenzone (Parsol)

Benzophenone

Benzophenone-3

Benzophenone-4

Ensulizole

Octinoxate

Octocrylene

Fragrances that are known photoallergens are:

Balsam of Peru

Bergamot Oil

Citronellol

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot Orange) Oil

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Extract

Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil

Coumarin

Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde

Isoeugenol

Musk Ambrette

Musk ambrette

Musk tibetene

Nitromusks

Oils that are photoallergens:

Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil

Hydrogenated Peanut Oil

Oil of Bergamot

Photosensitivity

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Phototoxicity

A phototoxic reaction, similar to a photoallergic reaction, is a type of skin reaction that occurs when certain substances on the skin interact with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, the mechanisms and symptoms of phototoxic reactions are different from those of photoallergic reactions because they are not caused by the part of the immune system that medicates allergy such as IgE antibodies.

In a phototoxic reaction, certain chemicals applied to the skin, when exposed to UV light, become activated and can directly damage surrounding skin cells.

Phototoxic reactions can occur in anyone exposed to the reactive substance and sufficient UV light, regardless of previous exposure, immune status, or history of allergies.

The symptoms of a phototoxic reaction usually develop within hours of UV exposure and closely resemble an extreme sunburn. This may include redness, pain, swelling, and blistering on the areas of skin exposed to the sun. The symptoms of a phototoxic reaction are typically confined to the areas directly exposed to the sunlight and don’t spread to shaded areas.

Which medications increase sun sensitivity and make you more likely to sunburn?

These medications, when taken by mouth, make you sun sensitive.

Make sure you avoid sun and wear SPF when you are taking these medications.

Medications used to make the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light to treat diseases like psoriasis and vitiligo:

methoxsalen

psoralens

trioxsalen

Acne medications:

accutane

bactrim

doxycycline

isotretinoin

tetracycline

trimethoprim

Antibiotics:

ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

doxycycline

levofloxacin

ofloxacin

tetracycline

trimethoprim

Antifungal medications:

These antifungal medications make your skin more likely to sunburn:

flucytosine

griseofulvin

voricanozole

Antihistamines:

cetirizine

diphenhydramine

loratadine

promethazine

cyproheptadine

Blood pressure and heart medications:

ACE inhibitors

Amiodarone

Calcium channel blockers

Diltiazem

Enalapril

Nifedipine

Quinidine

Valsartan

Cholesterol lowering drugs (statins):

atorvastatin

lovastatin

pravastatin

simvastatin

Diabetes medications:

glipizide (Glucotrol)

glyburide

Diuretics:

chlorothiazide

chlorthalidone

furosemide (Lasix)

hydrochlorothiazide

triamterene

Psychiatry drugs:

haloperidol

olanzapine

quetiapine

risperidone

Antidepressants:

amitriptyline

doxepin

imipramine

nortriptyline

Hormones:

estrogen

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS):

celecoxib

Ibuprofen (Advil)

ketoprofen

naproxen

piroxicam (Feldene)

Sulfonamides:

acetazolamide,

sulfadiazine

sulfamethizole

sulfamethoxazole

sulfapyridine

sulfasalazine

sulfasoxazole

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List of medications that make you more likely to sunburn in alphabetical order:

Accutane

ACE inhibitors

acetazolamide,

Amiodarone

amitriptyline

atorvastatin

bactrim

Calcium channel blockers

celecoxib

cetirizine

chlorothiazide

chlorthalidone

ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

cyproheptadine

Diltiazem

diphenhydramine

doxepin

doxycycline

Enalapril

estrogen

flucytosine

furosemide (Lasix)

glipizide (Glucotrol)

glyburide

griseofulvin

haloperidol

hydrochlorothiazide

Ibuprofen (Advil)

imipramine

isotretinoin

ketoprofen

levofloxacin

loratadine

lovastatin

methoxsalen

naproxen

Nifedipine

nortriptyline

ofloxacin

olanzapine

piroxicam (Feldene)

pravastatin

promethazine

psoralens

quetiapine

Quinidine

risperidone

simvastatin

sulfadiazine

sulfamethizole

sulfamethoxazole

sulfapyridine

sulfasalazine

sulfasoxazole

tetracycline

triamterene

trimethoprim

trioxsalen

Valsartan

Voricanozole

Do topical retinoids give you sun sensitivity?

There is a myth that retinoids make you very susn sensitvie. You can read more about retinol, tretinoin and other topical retinols and how they react in the sun in the blog.

What vitamins cause sun sensitivity?

A deficiency of niacin causes a disease pellagra that causes sun sensitivity. There are no vitamins that i know of that increase sun sensitivity. Polypodium leukotomas and antioxidants will decrease sun sensitivity.

Foods that cause phytophotodermatitis

When you have juice or residue from these foods on your hands and touch your skin, you make your skin more sun sensitive in the areas you touch. This is very common and is called phytophotodermatitis or “rash that occurs when plants touch the skin and skin is exposed to sun”.

Foods that make skin burn in the sun causing hyperpigmentation are:

carrots

celery

dill

figs

limes

parsley

If you suffer from hyperpigmentation only on the face or sun exposed areas, it is possible that one of these sun sensitizers is causing the hyperpigmentation.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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