THE sun is blazing and you’re doing everything right, slathering on suncream, grabbing your shades and hat, and staying out of the heat.
But a hidden danger could be lurking much closer to home, inside your bathroom cabinet.
Experts warn that some everyday pills – taken by millions of Brits – may secretly be making your skin far more vulnerable to the sun, dramatically raising your risk of deadly skin cancer.
It comes as the Met Office revealed Brits will bask in a heatwave this weekend, with temperatures set to hit 30C within days.
Earlier this year, a new study warned that 2.6 million women on HRT could be at risk in scorching temperatures, which could turn the vital drug into a serious health concern.
The key ingredient in most HRT meds, oestrogen, significantly raises the risk of skin cancer, the Swedish scientists warned.
The study, published in Photodermatology, Photoimmunology and Photomedicine in March, found the hormone fuels all three major types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and deadly melanoma, with risk climbing sharply at higher doses.
And they’re not the only drugs; antibiotics, antidepressants and medicines to treat high blood pressure can also prove very dangerous.
Some medicines can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, pharmacist Thorrun Govind tells Sun Health.
She explains: “This is a reaction known as photosensitivity.
“It happens when a drug causes your skin to react more strongly to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.”
These drugs can damage the skin in two ways.
She adds: “Either they absorb UV light and become chemically reactive, damaging skin cells – a process called phototoxicity.
“Or UV light alters the drug, triggering the immune system to attack it as a threat, which causes inflammation and rashes. This is known as a photoallergic reaction.”
Worryingly, some of the worst offenders are probably already part of your daily routine.
The 5 common medicines that could increase your risk of skin cancer…
1. IBUPROFEN
Ibuprofen is one of the most widely used painkillers in the UK, with millions reaching for it every year.
But this common drug can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun.
“Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can lead to phototoxic reactions, especially when taken in high doses or combined with sun exposure,” Thorrun says.
This means you’re more likely to experience redness, blistering, or inflammation even if you’re careful with sun cream.
2. ANTIBIOTICS
Certain antibiotics can absorb UV light and increase your risk of sunburn and skin rashes, Thorrun says.
This is especially the case for doxycycline and ciprofloxacin, two commonly used medicines to fight sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs), respectively.
“To minimise the risk of phototoxicity, it’s important to avoid prolonged sun exposure while taking these medications,” she explains.
How to keep your medicines safe in the heat
By Dr Sameer Sanghvi
You also need to be mindful of where you’re storing your medications, especially in hot weather.
Heat, air, light and moisture can all damage your medicine and stop them working as they should.
Medications are likely to expire more quickly if not stored correctly too.
A drawer or cabinet is an ideal place to store medicine.
These tend to stay cool and dark, even in warm weather.
That said, I’d avoid keeping your medicine in bathroom cabinets as these can become very damp thanks to steam from baths and showers.
Unless advised otherwise, you should always keep medication in its original packaging.
Things like the box and blister packet that tablets come in are designed to protect the medicine inside so it can do its job effectively.
3. ANTIDEPRESSANTS
With more than 8 million people in the UK taking antidepressants, it’s important to know that some can affect the skin.
“These medicines, especially sertraline, can cause your skin to become more reactive to sunlight through phototoxic or photoallergic mechanisms,” says Thorrun.
This may lead to itching, redness, or rashes after even mild sun exposure.
Sertraline is part of a group of medications called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the UK.
They’re often the first treatment offered to help people struggling with low mood or anxiety.
4. STATINS
Over 7 million Britons are prescribed statins to manage cholesterol, a fatty substance in the blood that, when too high, can clog arteries and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Statins work by lowering cholesterol levels, helping to protect against these serious heart problems.
While increased sun sensitivity isn’t a typical side effect, some people may still experience it.
“It’s not very common but worth being aware of,” Thorrun advises.
“Always use sun protection regardless.”
5. HRT
Oestrogen, on the whole, tends to be good for the skin, Thorrun says.
“It makes the skin thicker and stronger and therefore less likely to get burnt,” she explains.
So the fact that the new study by researchers at Lund University suggests oestrogen, found in HRT, can increase the risk of burning and cancer is a bit counterintuitive, she says.
However, this is not the first study to suggest a link.
For example, a large Finnish study published in 2017 found that women using hormone therapy had a slightly higher risk of developing melanoma, particularly with longer use of oestrogen-only treatments.
Similarly, a 2022 meta-analysis of over 2.6 million women showed a modest increase in melanoma risk linked to menopausal hormone therapy, especially with oestrogen medicines.
How to stay safe
Last summer, a cancer charity begged Brits to do more to protect themselves from the sun as the number of melanoma skin-cancer cases in the UK reached an all-time high.
Cancer Research UK predicted there will be a record 20,800 cases diagnosed in 2024, up from a yearly average of 19,300 between 2020 and 2022.
Its analysis shows rates between 2009 and 2019 – from 21 to 28 cases per 100,000 people.
Can you spot the cancerous moles from the harmless ones?
IF you've spotted a new mole or lingering mark on your skin, don't be too quick to dismiss it.
It’s important to know what your skin looks like normally, to helps you notice any unusual changes.
The ABCDE rule can be followed to assess the health of a mole.
If your mole falls into the following, it’s worth getting checked:
- Asymmetrical – melanomas usually have two very different halves and are an irregular shape
- Border – melanomas usually have a notched or ragged border
- Colours – melanomas will usually be a mix of two or more colours
- Diameter – most melanomas are usually larger than 6mm in diameter
- Enlargement or elevation – a mole that changes size over time is more likely to be a melanoma
Most melanomas don’t give you symptoms like pain or itching.
Meanwhile, some non-cancerous moles or abnormal patches of skin can be itchy.
So having some of these changes on their own doesn’t mean you definitely have melanoma, but you should still get it checked out.
There are two main types of skin cancer – non melanoma skin cancer and melanoma skin cancer.
Non-melanoma skin cancer includes:
- Basal cell skin cancer – this is also called basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell skin cancer – this is also called squamous cell carcinoma
There are a few different types of melanoma too:
- Superficial spreading melanoma
- Nodular melanoma
- Lentigo maligna melanoma
Find out more about distinguishing moles here.
The rise in diagnoses is due partly to a growing aging population and an increase in awareness of the signs of skin cancer.
Melanomas are a serious type of skin cancer, strongly linked to sun exposure.
At first, they usually appear as new moles on the skin – or changes to existing moles.
If left unchecked, these moles can grow and transform, often becoming darker, and morph into something far more sinister.
It can quickly spread to other parts of the body, including vital organs like the brain, making it even harder to treat and much more deadly.
“The best advice is to always wear sunscreen, especially when you’re out in the sun – no matter the season. I recommend SPF 30 or higher,” Thorrun says.
“Use clothing and hats to cover your skin when you can.”
“And try to avoid the strongest sun between 11am and 3pm,” she adds.
If you are worried always check patient information leaflets or speak to a pharmacist for guidance.
“Don’t just stop taking prescribed medicines,” Thorrun says. “Always speak to your healthcare professional if any concerns.”