Some Skin Products Up Cancer Risk

(WebMD)  It was a day outdoors like many others and you had slathered on the sunscreen only to end up with a wicked sunburn. What went wrong? The answer may lurk in your medicine cabinet. Certain drugs and other substances can increase the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet light and cause the skin to burn in less time or at a lower intensity of sunlight than it would normally.

Sunburn is a serious matter. Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays is a known risk factor in skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 62,000 new cases of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, in 2006. The death rate has increased 50 percent since 1973. WebMD talked with two experts about medications that heighten your risk for sunburn and how to stay safe in the sun.

Leading Culprits

Diuretics: Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is a commonly used diuretic ("water pill") used to treat high blood pressure. Combination drugs, which contain HCTZ, include Maxide, Dyazide, Hyzaar, and Zestoretic.

Antibiotics: Tetracycline drugs, which include Sumycin, Tetracyn, and Vibramycin, are used to treat bacterial infections. Quinolone drugs like Cipro, which gained attention during the anthrax scare, and sulfa drugs, such as Bactrim, also heighten sun sensitivity. Cipro and Bactrim are antibiotics often used for urinary tract infections.

Skin care products: Retin-A, alpha hydroxy acid, and microdermabrasion products used to minimize wrinkles and improve skin tone make the skin more susceptible to sun damage.

Heart medications: Amiodarone, marketed under the brand name Cordarone, is used to treat abnormal heart rhythms.

Diabetes medications. Glipizide, sold also under the brand name Glucotrol, is an oral medication for type 2 diabetes. Other related drugs include Amaryl and glyburide.

NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain drugs): NSAIDs include over-the-counter pain relievers such as Advil, Aleve, Motrin, and the prescription drug Celebrex.

Balsam of Peru: This herbal ingredient is often used in perfumed products and aftershave lotions.

Shedding Light On The Subject

Heightened sensitivity to sun, or a phototoxic reaction, occurs when ultraviolet rays interact with certain chemicals in medications. Even after you have stopped taking a drug, its effects may linger.

"Depending on the type of drug and how long you've been taking it, it can remain in your system from one to five days," says Bill Bailey, RPh, director of specialized care centers for Medicine Shoppe in St. Louis. "To be on the safe side, always ask the pharmacist about the effects of your medications on sun exposure. They'll go online and get current, accurate information," he says.

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