Education & Training: Photosensitivity Refresher Course

Salon operators must be aware that each individual is different and that there are varying portions of the population that will react to any given medication or product.

Photosensitivity is a physical reaction that occurs in varying degrees to a certain portion of the population. It occurs when different drugs or medical conditions react with ultraviolet (UV) exposure, causing the body to become more sensitive regarding the skin’s acceptance of UV light.

The chemical may enter the body several ways—orally, topically or parenterally (not through the digestive tract)—but must be present when the skin is exposed.

Compounds that cause photosensitivity usually are cosmetic or therapeutic in nature. Certain medications are designed to enhance the immune system or reduce the immune response, and the chemical changes that occur when using such medications reduce the skin’s ability to defend or heal itself.

There also are medical conditions that cause a similar response. Hopefully, a tanning customer will be aware of any medical condition and will have been told by his or her physician to be careful of sun exposure. However, it is the salon owner’s responsibility to inform the client that ultraviolet light is the same whether it is emitted from the sun or from a tanning unit.

There are a number of reactions that can occur from mixing certain medications with ultraviolet light. The reaction is almost the opposite of putting sunscreen lotion on the skin. For example, an SPF 8 lotion is formulated to allow a person to remain in the sun for eight times longer than that person normally could without burning. In the case of a photosensitizing agent, the individual only may be able to be out in the sun for one-fourth the time he or she normally can before getting erythema or sunburn.

Certain drugs are more photosensitizing than others. For example, Tetracycline, Thiazide and anti-cancer drugs such as Interferon top the list as most likely to cause a severe reaction. However, salon operators must be aware that each individual is different and that there are varying portions of the population that will react to any given medication or product.

Also consider formulation, metabolism, elimination factors and photochemical reactivity, as well as the method of administration. Factors associated with radiation include the special irradiance of the ultraviolet source, dose and rate of delivery, number and frequency of exposure, and the timing of the radiation relative to the presence of the chemical in the body. Refer to a list of photosensitizing drugs and agents at www.lookingfit.com. While this list is comprehensive, it does not list the newer medications on the market. If you have any concerns, have your customers consult with their doctors or pharmacists to see if they can withstand UV exposure—indoors or outdoors.