Sun Exposure: Risks, Benefits, and How It Affects Your Medications

When you step outside, your body starts making vitamin D, a hormone your skin produces when exposed to ultraviolet B rays from sunlight. Also known as the sunshine vitamin, it helps your bones stay strong, supports your immune system, and may even influence your mood. But too much sun exposure can damage your skin—and some medications make that damage worse.

That’s where photosensitivity, an abnormal reaction of the skin to sunlight triggered by certain drugs comes in. Over 85 medications, including common antibiotics like doxycycline, diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide, and even some NSAIDs, can make your skin burn faster, blister, or develop rashes under the sun. It’s not just about getting a bad sunburn—it’s about avoiding serious skin reactions that can land you in the doctor’s office. And if you’re taking medications that affect your immune system or your skin’s natural repair process, sun exposure isn’t just a nuisance—it’s a risk.

Then there’s the flip side: not getting enough sun. People who avoid sunlight entirely—whether from fear of skin cancer, living in northern climates, or because they’re on long-term steroid treatments—often end up with vitamin D deficiency, a condition linked to weakened bones, fatigue, and even higher risk of infections. This is especially common in older adults, people with darker skin, and those with chronic illnesses. Balancing safe sun exposure with protection isn’t about avoiding the sun altogether. It’s about knowing when and how to be outside, and what your meds might be doing to your skin’s response.

And it’s not just about your skin. Sun exposure can change how your body processes certain drugs. Heat and light can break down pills stored in hot cars or sunny bathrooms, making them less effective—or even dangerous. Some blood pressure meds and antidepressants can cause dizziness or low blood pressure when combined with heat and sun, increasing fall risk. If you’re managing a condition like lupus or psoriasis, sunlight might help or hurt depending on your treatment. Even your pill organizer can become a problem if it’s left on the windowsill.

The posts below give you real, practical advice on how to protect yourself without giving up the outdoors. You’ll find guides on spotting dangerous drug reactions to sunlight, understanding how sun exposure affects chronic conditions, and what to do if your meds make you more sensitive. You’ll also learn how to safely get enough vitamin D without risking your skin, and how to check if your current medications could be turning a sunny day into a health hazard. This isn’t about fear—it’s about awareness. Because the sun isn’t your enemy. But if you don’t know how it interacts with your body and your meds, it can become one.