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Sun exposure is not just limited to sunburn, blisters, and rashes but could also increase your risk of getting skin cancer
As the brutal winter is about to end, it’s time to welcome the spring and bask in the sun. Not only does it help you get more vitamin D, but it also makes you energetic. However, direct exposure to sunlight for a long time can cause a host of health issues. Also, a few common medications you may be taking daily can make you sensitive to the sun.
However, the risk is not just limited to sunburn, blisters, and rashes but could also increase your risk of getting skin cancer. Here’s a list of four common medicines that can make your skin sensitive and prone to many damages, including the dreaded cancer.
Blood pressure medicines
Millions across the world take hydrochlorothiazide daily to manage their high blood pressure levels. According to a recent study by researchers at the University of Southern Denmark, there is a connection between this medication and squamous cell carcinoma, or SCC, the second most common type of skin cancer.
Hydrochlorothiazide is the generic name for diuretics—also known as water pills that help your body get rid of extra salt and water to help lower those blood pressure numbers. And so, research says the longer you may take the medication, the higher the chance is to develop SCC—up to seven times greater than if you were never taking the drug at all.
Erectile dysfunction drugs
Are you among 25 million men across the world prescribed sildenafil—or Viagra—for erectile dysfunction? According to experts, it has a potential association with melanoma, a disease in which cancer cells form in melanocytes.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are among the most common medicines people take to get rid of bacterial infections. However, according to experts, overuse can significantly increase the risk of skin cancer, particularly non-melanoma skin cancer. It happens due to antibiotics changing the gut microbiome.
Studies have found that photosensitive antibiotics were associated with a spike in cancer cases, and broad-spectrum antibiotics make melanoma grow faster in bones. It happens most likely because the antibiotics weaken your immune system and deplete gut flora.
Immunosuppressants
Medicines like azathioprine—commonly used in transplant patients to prevent organ rejection and to reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis—weaken the skin’s natural defenses against the damage done by ultraviolet rays.
Experts say by suppressing the immune system, immunosuppressants reduce the skin’s natural protective mechanisms, making them more susceptible to sun damage and premature ageing as well. Patients taking azathioprine are often advised to take extra precautions, including using a broad-spectrum sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding direct exposure to the sun.
How to protect your skin if you are on a photosensitizing medication
According to doctors, prevention is key to protecting yourself from any kind of cancer. However, if you are taking a medication that increases sun sensitivity, a few extra precautions can significantly reduce your risk of long-term skin damage and skin cancer.
- Apply sunscreen th SPF 30 or higher every day, even in the winter.
- Shield yourself from the sun with UV-blocking sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and other protective gear.
- Avoid peak sun hours, often 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Schedule annual dermatologist visits and monitor your skin for unusual changes.
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