You may know to bring a list of the drugs you’re currently taking with you to the pharmacist when you pick up a new prescription… to see if your new prescription is going to interact with your current medications….

You may even remember to ask about any OVER THE COUNTER medications or herbs that you’re taking….

But did you ever think to ask your pharmacist if you should skip the trip to the beach because of your medications? 

You might be surprised to learn that MANY drugs can trigger a photoallergic reaction.

A photoallergic reaction is when a drug (or an ingredient in a drug) interacts with sunlight to create an allergic reaction.  While you will readily recognize a phototoxic reaction, (the skin reacts immediately, as if poisoned) a photoallergenci reactions causes the body to produce a harmless mixture that the immune system mistakenly perceives as a harmful invader.

For more information about photoallergenic reactions, click here.

For a complete list of drugs that interact with the sun to create photoallergic reactions, click here. There are an ALARMINGLY long  list of common drugs that can have dangerous consequences when combines with exposure to the sun.

Before you hit the beach (or the tanning bed) be sure to check with your pharmacist to see if your medications have the possibility of interacting with exposure to the sun.