Why do some medications say to avoid prolonged or excessive exposure to direct or artificial sunlight?
825015
My long term medication says that too, and I too am pale, the medicine made me extra-sensitive to sun and i got a burn in august and I still have the tan from it on the tops of my legs and my chest.\nSo my advice is dont go atall, or if you do only go for a litte bit.
26575
Ultraviolet Radiation, electromagnetic radiation that has wavelengths in the range between 400 nm, the wavelength of violet light, and 15 nm, the length of X rays. (The nanometre, nm, equals a millionth of a millimetre, or 40 billionths of an inch.) Ultraviolet radiation is produced artificially by electric arc lamps. Natural ultraviolet radiation is produced principally by the Sun.\n\nUltraviolet radiation can be harmful to living things, particularly when the wavelengths are small. Ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths below 300 nm is used to sterilize surfaces because it kills bacteria and viruses. In humans, exposure to ultraviolet radiation of wavelengths under 310 nm can cause sunburn; prolonged exposure over many years can cause skin cancer.\n\nThe Earth's atmosphere protects living organisms from the Sun's ultraviolet radiation. If all the ultraviolet radiation produced by the Sun were allowed to reach the surface of the Earth, most life on Earth would probably be destroyed. Fortunately, the ozone layer of the atmosphere absorbs almost all of the short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation, and much of the long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation. However, ultraviolet radiation is not entirely harmful; a large part of the vitamin D that humans beings and animals need for good health is produced when the skin is irradiated by ultraviolet rays.\n\nWhen exposed to ultraviolet light, many substances behave differently than when exposed to visible light. For example, when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, certain minerals, dyes, vitamins, natural oils, and other products become fluorescent—that is, they appear to glow. Molecules in the substances absorb the invisible ultraviolet light and are energized, then shed their excess energy by emitting visible light. See Luminescence. As another example, ordinary window glass, transparent to visible light, is opaque to a large range of ultraviolet rays, particularly those with short wavelengths. Special-formula glass is transparent to the longer ultraviolet wavelengths, and quartz is transparent to the entire naturally occurring range.\n\nUltraviolet astronomy has been carried out since the early 1960s with the aid of detectors on artificial satellites, providing data on stellar objects that cannot be obtained from the Earth's surface. An example of such a satellite is the International Ultraviolet Explorer, launched in 1978.
489681
Stay out of the sun as much as you can and moisturize the affected area(s) to sooth the skin... you can try an after-sun lotion (I like Alba Organics Kona Coffee after-sun lotion), but the best thing for you is to keep away from the sun for a few days -- if you can't avoid it, limit your exposure and wear plenty of sunscreen.  Your sun poisoning can be caused by birth control pills or another medication, but cetirizine (Zyrtec) shouldn't cause it.
444683
It could be hypo-thyroidism, hypo-glycemia, depression, narcolepsy and depending on what type of meds you're on it could be side effect of that drug. If it happens alot during the daytime you should not drive or operate machinery. Do to safety reasons until you get it under control.
996457
That's because Septra is an antibiotic that can make you more sensitive to sunlight.  That means that you're more likely to get a sunburn or a photoreaction wherein your skin burns more easily than you normally would.
703419
a lot of meds sy no tanning\nit is a matter of your own personal feelings\nbut i must also say tanning in any way is not good  for your skin\nit can cause skin cancer
611822
Sun poisoning is most likely to occur during hot seasons when ultraviolet light is strongest. It's triggered by exposure to the sun, usually combined with sunburn. It's especially likely in children who take medications that cause photosensitivity. The most common drugs include tetracycline antibiotics, thiazide diuretics, sulfa drugs, and oral contraceptives. It's not a precursor to skin cancer, so don't worry. Of course, long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer, but just because you get sun poisoning doesn't mean your'e going to get cancer.
80891
In todays society it is becoming more and more apparent that the amount of sunlight a person recieves can drastically affect mood.\nAlthough it is still widely discredited there are people that suffer from a condition called Seasonal Affected Disorder.\nThe body cannot manufacture vitamin D without getting enough sunlight. Hence a downshift in the amount of sunlight recieved results in a downshift in the amount of vitamin D produced. This is where the link between sunlight and mood comes in.\n\nFor those people that suffer from Seasonal Affected Disorder, symptoms can range from mild to severe and include lethargy, moodswings, nausea, restlessness and general discomfort.
987751
Dear Sara,\n\nI will copy part of my answer from your other post:\n\n"At present, the only widely accepted intervention for age-related maculopathy is the use of high-dose antioxidants. However, this treatment only slows progression in some patients and does not reverse damage already present."
213520
No. What kind of medical expertise do you have? Don't make unscientific assumptions based on no evidence. It may be too much or it may not be, depending upon the person's condition.\n\nIf someone has a serious medical condition, it would not be unusual to take a large number of medications.
939225
I also suffer from SAD and have been successfully utilizing a tanning salon, in the winter months only, with great results.  I realize UVA/UVB rays can be harmful, but I use sunblock and I only go 2 times a week during Dec./Jan./Feb.; by then, spring is back where I live and I can be outdoors again.
379264
No, it is not true.  The other name for HDP is "photophobia" and it's fairly common - I have it too.  I find it necessary to wear shades even on hazy sunlit days and especially when driving.  Intensely-bright oncoming car headlights at night can be a problem for some folks, too.\n\nIt is a fairly common misconception that reading in poor light situations damages the eyes.  It does not, but it does place extra work on the eyes, which can lead to "tired eyes" and even severe headache after awhile.  Both are self-limiting conditions; put down the book and find a better-lighted place to read or study.  And sometimes, even with good light and all, you just have to put the reading material aside and rest your eyes for a few hours.
137550
You might find lots of people encouraging you take medicines like these during your travel either on sky, road or sea but honestly I think it is not right. Traveling these days are not safe and need to be cautious just in case if any un wanted events happens you can take some action. But, if you are in the effect of drug…….what can you do?\n\nThink…..do not get motivated by stupid answers on this forum.
822229
All medications are chemicals. Many of them have more side effects than they have actions on the medical conditions they were prescribed to alleviate. Because of litigation, no drug manufacturer deliberately produces a dangerous medication. It simply happens because the FDA cannot test long enough.
523333
Here's a good rule of thumb:  if prolonged exposure doesn't give you a sunburn, the UV light probably isn't going to damage your eyes.
888556
actually these are good controls. you shouldn't be worried about them. however, if you are still worried then raise your dose in the afternoon but be careful of night time lows. this can be prevented by testing once during the night. if you experience night time lows then go back to your regular doses.
506561
I really think natural exposure ie while walking in the streets for your everyday activities is absolutely enough and in some countries even too much. More sunlight exposure can lead to skin cancer and other skin, liver and even brain damages. Because in the last decades Sun activity has been very intense and the ozon layer gets thinner.\n\nThis doesn't mean u should live in a cave, either, and come out only at night :-)