It’s hot out there: Drug-induced photosensitivity

Abstract

Drug-induced photosensitivity reactions are cutaneous adverse drug reactions (ADRs) which occur after exposure to both a sensitizing medication and ultraviolet radiation (UVR).1 These adverse drug reactions are commonly classified as phototoxic or photoallergic.1–4 It has been estimated that these photosensitivity reactions account for 8% of cutaneous ADRs reported (0.5% of all types of reported adverse reactions).4,5 The prevalence is most likely much higher as medication-induced photosensitivity is under-reported.