Cortisone and sun: a combination to avoid
Not everyone loves it, but those who love it just can't do without it: every year, in the summer, sunbathing is an unmissable appointment for many people. our favorite music, closing your eyes and letting yourself be kissed by the sun is one of the favorite activities of most Italians and not only. However, before exposing yourself to the sun's rays, it is good to take a series of precautions that are not just about sunscreen In fact, when you are following some treatments with specific drugs, exposure to the sun is not recommended. An example? Cortisone.
When taking cortisone
Cortisone-based drugs are numerous. Perhaps not everyone knows that cortisone is actually a hormone that is secreted by the adrenal glands. It is used as a symptomatic drug, that is, in treating certain symptoms of certain chronic diseases or pathologies. All this means that cortisone in itself does not solve the health problem but contains or completely reduces the symptoms. A cortisone therapy it is very effective in the treatment of inflammations and related disorders, and is also used in the treatment of itching, swelling, redness and other symptoms, such as allergic reactions and arthritis.
It can be taken orally, through injections or in the form of eye drops and creams, especially in the case of dermatological disorders.
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Why should sun exposure be avoided?
Like many other drugs, cortisone is photosensitive. The photosensitivity causes it to react in contact with ultraviolet rays triggering unwanted effects, which occur mainly outside the body, ie on the skin. In fact, during a cortisone-based therapy, the skin becomes very sensitive to the action of rays of the sun and two different reactions can occur.
The first consists of a phototoxic reaction. Phototoxic reactions are usually the most frequent but depend especially on the duration of sun exposure and the dose of the drug taken. The second, on the other hand, is photoallergic in nature and normally concerns subjects more exposed to reactions of solar radiation, with skin clear and very sensitive. Usually, it occurs within a day or two after being exposed to UV rays.
It may happen that the undesirable effects of the cortisone and sun combination occur even in the case of overcast skies or even when you spend most of the time under an umbrella. For this reason, it is always advisable not to expose yourself to sunlight during a cortisone treatment. , especially if it is a therapy for external use, that is, which involves creams or ointments.
The side effects of sun exposure during cortisone therapy
Now let's see in detail the undesirable effects of sunbathing in conjunction with a cortisone treatment. In cases of phototoxic reaction, the drug absorbs solar radiation which can cause tissue damage and the formation of free radicals. When, on the other hand, you are faced with a photoallergic reaction, the symptoms are similar to those of a classic sunburn, such as burning and redness of the skin, erythema and, in the most serious situations, blisters, edema, blisters and hyper-pigmentation.
It is not always possible to recognize whether a phototoxic or an allergic reaction is in progress, because the side effects are essentially the same and, moreover, the two can occur simultaneously.
Possible remedies
As you can guess, the best solution would be to avoid exposure to the sun if you are taking cortisone, particularly in the form of a cream or ointment, whose photosensitivity to radiation is more immediate than using it by mouth.
If you really can't do without it, experts recommend taking shelter during the hottest hours and, in any case, using a high protection cream from UVA rays. The ideal would be a specific cream, such as those designed for babies and children. Doing so would reduce the risk of annoying and severe skin rashes and irritations.
If possible, another alternative is to interrupt cortisone therapy for the period of sun exposure. However, abruptly stopping the drug may lead to some unwanted effects. Therefore, it is always better to first ask the opinion of the doctor or pharmacist, who may suggest different remedies or a cream with different active ingredients.
