A GP has warned people using acne medication to be aware that the drugs can make you more prone to sunburn. Dr Neel Patel, GP at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, is concerned there is a lack of understanding about the photosensitising side effect of acne medications. Dr Patel explains the precautions people taking prescription acne medications must take.
“If your acne is moderate to severe, and you haven’t seen any success with over-the-counter treatments, your doctor may recommend prescription acne treatments. Many of these medications prescribed to treat acne make your skin more sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun and artificial sources like tanning beds.
“Known technically as photosensitivity, this means sun exposure can cause painful damage to your skin and increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Even if you don’t typically burn, your chances of burning become much higher. And the effects can be far more severe than traditional sunburn, leading to blistering and peeling, itchy rashes, scaly bumps and changes in pigmentation.
