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NextImg:Most people ‘have no idea’ that these 4 common medications can increase their risk of skin cancer

You don’t want to go from brrrr to burn.

Much of the US is getting its first taste of spring after an unusually brutal winter. But before you head outside to soak in the sunshine, you may want to check your medicine cabinet or purse.

A dermatology specialist warns that certain medications can increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and raise the risk of skin cancer.

Dr. Emily Alfonsi, medical director of Shade Skin in Australia, sheds light on four types of medications that can cause photosensitivity and shares four tips to protect yourself if you’re on these drugs. Shade Skin

“Most people have no idea that their medication could be making them more sensitive to the sun,” Dr. Emily Alfonsi, medical director of Shade Skin in Australia, told The Post.

“They might notice they’re burning faster or developing unusual rashes, but they don’t immediately connect it to their medication,” Alfonsi added.

Alfonsi’s patients have had second-degree sunburns with blistering, unexplained rashes or dark patches of skin due to sunlight exposure. Getty Images

Alfonsi said she’s seen patients develop second-degree sunburns with blistering, unexplained rashes or dark patches of skin, even in indirect sunlight.

Photosensitivity is the culprit — it’s an exaggerated reaction to UV light. The body absorbs UV radiation, chemically changing medicine in the skin and potentially leading to rashes, blisters, swelling, peeling, burning, itching or long-lasting hyperpigmentation.

“For people on photosensitizing medications, a few minutes in the sun without protection can have serious consequences,” Alfonsi said.

She sheds light on four types of medications that can cause photosensitivity and shares four tips to protect yourself if you’re on these drugs. While sunscreen is effective, Alfonsi said, “it’s not a free pass to stay in the sun all day.”

The body absorbs UV radiation, chemically changing medicine in the skin and potentially leading to skin issues. Getty Images

Alfonsi said tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones, used for bacterial infections, can cause severe sunburns even after brief UV exposure.

Doxycycline and minocycline are tetracyclines, while fluoroquinolones include ciprofloxacin (brand name: Cipro) and levofloxacin (Levaquin).

Diuretics — also known as “water pills,” which help the body eliminate excess salt and water — treat high blood pressure and fluid retention.

Studies have suggested a link between diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide and an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common skin cancer in the US.

Researchers suggest long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can cause sun sensitivity. Getty Images

Medications like azathioprine, commonly used in transplant patients to prevent organ rejection and to reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, can weaken the skin’s natural defenses against UV damage.

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NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen (brand name: Aleve) reduce pain, inflammation and fever.

Researchers say long-term use can cause sun sensitivity.

“Prevention is key,” Alfonsi said. “If you’re taking a medication that increases sun sensitivity, a few extra precautions can significantly reduce your risk of long-term skin damage and skin cancer.”