Overview

Photosensitivity is a tendency to sunburn easily. Many drugs cause photosensitivity, including some chemotherapy drugs. Protecting your skin from the sun is very important. If you should get a severe sunburn, treatment is aimed at reducing inflammation and relieving pain.

Photosensitivity is an enhanced skin response to ultraviolet radiation (sunlight). This means that you may sunburn easily.  A sunburn that you got within a week before chemotherapy may reappear, or rarely, a sunburn may spread to skin that was not exposed to the sun.

There are many drugs that may cause photosensitivity. Chemotherapy drugs commonly associated with photosensitivity include:

• dacarbazine  (DTIC-Dome®)

• fluorouracil (5-FU)

• methotrexate

• vinblastine (Velban®)

If you are photosensitive, you will sunburn easily. Symptoms of a sunburn include:

• Redness

• Inflammation

• Blistering

• Weeping

• Peeling

The treatments for a rash that results from photosensitivity aim to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Corticosteroid cream: Steroids work by reducing inflammation. Your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid cream that you rub on the rash.

Analgesics: These over-the-counter medications can relieve pain associated with a rash. Examples are acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or aspirin.

It is very important to protect your skin from the sun by following these tips:

• Wear long sleeves and long pants.

• Wear a wide brimmed hat.

• Wear light, cotton gloves.

• Use sunscreen on the skin that you cannot cover.

• Sunblock with physical barrier such as zinc oxide may be necessary for vulnerable areas, such as the hands and nose.