What may increase your risk for problems from a sunburn?

Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your doctor.

Conditions

• Being younger than 6 or older than 60
• Pregnancy
• Previous photosensitive skin problems, such as a phototoxic reaction, photoallergic reaction, or polymorphous light eruption
• A skin problem or condition present since birth (congenital defect)
• History of skin cancer
• A family history of skin cancer, especially melanoma
• Multiple moles, irregular moles, or large moles
• Skin type, such as fair skin, red hair, or freckles that burns easily

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal
• Smoking or other tobacco use
• Living or vacationing regularly at high altitudes or in tropical climates
• Regular use of tanning booths
• Regular sunbathing

Medicines

Note:

Many medicines have a warning about photosensitivity on the label.

• Medicines to treat long-term (chronic) medical conditions:
  • Antibiotics, such as tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, or sulfa drugs
  • Thiazide diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide
  • Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil)
  • Tranquilizers, such as phenothiazines (for example, Serentil or Thorazine)
  • Blood pressure medicines, such as diltiazem (Cardizem)
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Skin products that contain vitamin A or alpha hydroxy acids (AHA)
  • Acne medicines, such as tretinoin
  • Hormones, such as estrogen or progestin in hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills
  • Oral diabetic medicines, such as sulfonylureas (Glucotrol)
• Blood-thinning medicines, such as warfarin, heparin, and aspirin
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• History of or current radiation therapy

Diseases

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Hemophilia
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• Kidney disease
• Lupus
• Lyme disease
• Macular degeneration
• Macular dystrophy
• Malnutrition or an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia
• Multiple sclerosis
• Porphyria
• Psoriasis
• Rheumatoid arthritis