Is it ok to tan on antibiotics?

[Louise]

Or do they cause sun sensitivity?

[Dchan]

depends on which antibiotic it is. If it's Keflex (cephalexin), it won't make you sensitive, but the Sulfa antibiotics like Tetracycline, quinolone and sulfonamide will

[Dchan]

here's some info on What meds can cause Photoallergic reactions.

"Chemicals that produce a photoreaction (reaction with exposure to UV light) are called photoreactive agents or, more commonly, photosensitizers. After exposure to UV radiation either from natural sunlight or an artificial source such as tanning booths or even those "purple-lighted" mosquito zappers, these photosensitizers cause chemical changes that increase a person's sensitivity to light, causing the person to become photosensitized. Medications, food additives, and other products that contain photoreactive agents are called photosensitizing products.

FDA has also reported that photoreactive agents have been found in deodorants, antibacterial soaps, artificial sweeteners, fluorescent brightening agents for cellulose, nylon and wool fibers, naphthalene (mothballs), petroleum products, and in cadmium sulfide, a chemical injected into the skin during tattooing.

Photoreactive agents, such as Azulfidine, can cause both acute and chronic effects. Acute effects, from short-term exposure, include exaggerated sunburn-like skin conditions, eye burn, mild allergic reactions, hives, abnormal reddening of the skin, and eczema-like rashes with itching, swelling, blistering, oozing, and scaling of the skin. Chronic effects from long-term exposure include premature skin aging, stronger allergic reactions, cataracts, blood vessel damage, a weakened immune system, and skin cancer.

Widely used medications containing photoreactive agents include antihistamines, used in cold and allergy medicines; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used to control pain and inflammation in arthritis; and antibiotics, including the tetracyclines and the sulfonamides, or "sulfa" drugs.

Sometimes this quality can be put to good medical use. For example, two well-known photoreactive chemicals, psoralens and coal-tar dye creams, are used together with UV lamps to treat psoriasis, a chronic skin condition characterized by bright red patches covered with silvery scales."

[Louise]

They're Amoxycillin.

[Dchan]

I wouldn't risk it too long with amoxicillin, this one can cause sensitivity. It's not listed as a side effect for the medicine, but has been reported.

[Louise]

Thanks for the info. I take antihistamines everyday, so i'd better not risk it while taking both.

[RydeTheLTRAIN]

DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT tan in ANY way when you are on the Z-Pack. (Zithromax..Axithromyacin , i think is how you spell it) I got burning red blotches on the PALMS of my hands and the bottom of my feet and my neck. I couldnt even open a bottle of water because it hurt so bad. BE CAREFUL!!!

[TanPimp]

I took the Z-Pack and tanned and nothing bad happened. I also have taken doxycycline which is a photosensitive anti-biotice and sat in the sun all day, nothing happened there. Thats just me though, if your really concerned about it I guess stay out of the sun or the bed.

[ladyboss]

All the salons have a list of meds, I would check the list and if you're really not sure ask your Dr.