Sun Protection for Medical Conditions
UV exposure can provoke or aggravate a number of skin conditions. If you have a skin condition, use products with a high SPF (greater than 15) and sufficient UVA protection. Try sunscreens with a high content of micropigments (like titanium dioxide) which do not penetrate the skin and do not trigger neither photo nor contact allergies.
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Medical Condition
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Skin Symptoms
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| Lupus |
Scaly rashes on both cheeks and bridge of the nose
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| Xeroderma Pigmentosum |
Severe sunburn after relatively short sun exposure, early freckle development, irregular dark spots, thin skin, blistering, premature skin aging
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| Herpes Simplex Recidivans |
Itching, tightness, clustered & crusted blisters frequently on the face (lips & nose)
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| Psoriasis |
Sharply defined red patches covered with silvery white scales
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| Rosacea / Couperose |
Facial redness often triggered by UV radiation
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| Albinism |
Congenital absence of the pigment melanin, affecting the whole body or parts of it.
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| Vitiligo |
Defined, pigment-less skin areas occurring roughly symmetrically on both sides of the body.
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Certain medications taken for conditions not related to a skin disorder can cause the skin to become more sun sensitive. Itchy hives may immediately appear on exposed parts of the body or you may experience a delayed reaction with hives spreading to even unexposed areas.
Potentially Photosensitizing Medications include:
- Antibiotics
- Anti-depressants
- Anti-diabetics
- Antihistamines
- Anti-hypertensives
- Contraceptives
- Cytostatics
- Diuretics
- Non-steroidal anti-rheumatics
- Psychopharmaceuticals
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