extreme sun sensitivity

I am on Premarin .625. I can not say that I have had an issues with it at all except for extreme sensitivity to the sun.

About 3 weeks after the surgery, I returned to the tanning bed. Within 5 minutes I thought my skin was going to burn off. The itching was out of control, too. Needless to say, I am not going back to the tanning bed.

However, I do have a life. Not being able to go out in the sun is really hindering it.

Last Saturday I was outside for a few minutes when my skin turned really red and started itching. I moved to the shade and managed to stay for the rest of the ball game.

On Wednesday I went to water aerobics at 8 am. By the time the class ended at 9, I was blood red and covered in hives- even the bottom of my feet.

I called the pharmacist and she said that all of the hormones are now saying they cause sun sensitivity.

Has anyone else has issues like this? Any suggestions?

Snappy,
Unfortunately estrogen can cause one to be more sensitive to the sun. I know that I freckle alot more now than I did before the hysterectomy. I also have to make sure that I wear sunscreen.

Here's a few threads about this issue:

Premarin and the sun
Hrt and the tanning bed

Hi!

I find that I am more sun sensitive now that I'm using hormone therapy. It doesn't take much exposure for me to burn, and I used to not burn easily. So, sunscreen is a necessary part of being outside. It sounds like you had a very bad reaction. I think it would be a good idea to let your doctor know about the hives. I've never had that happen - sounds painful!

s

My friend owns a tanning salon and for 5 years I worked there helping out.
I can tell you this, any meds that have hormones can make extreme sun sensitivity and is solely based on the individual. For instance, there were girls on the BCP that had sensitivity to the sun. We had signs posted in every room with the list of medications that caused this. Antibiotics did as well.....

as far as the itch, this is normal, we called it the 'tanners itch'... everyone I knew felt this when they first started tanning. I do every year when I tan to try and get a little color for summer. Woman tended to itch hugely around their boobs. It sometimes would drive you nuts. I would be at work and have to take a peek around me to see if anyone was watching.. lol

As far as hives go... I always stressed to everyone that tanned.. that although they claim the beds are cleaned after each use.. to make sure you re clean them. also, some of those disinfectants that we cleaned the beds with would cause skin irratation to others. That also could be a problem.

Certain tanning lotions can also cause hives, especially those lotions that have a tingle factor in them. Some skin is more sensitive then others.

Bottom line, everyone is different with tanning, I tried to educate new people coming to tan on the different expectations and what it could be.

I called the doctor and am waiting on a call back- living in the south in summer and not being able to go outside is going to be very hard. I can not even ride in my husband's car with the t-tops off.

Tried aerobics again this morning, didn't take the pill in advance, and wore # 30 sunscreen and I made it longer before the itching started. I only took ne benadryl and it is helping.

This is so furstrating.

I know that on my bottle of Premarin, it has a sticker warning to avoid direct exposure to the sun. I am very fair anyways, but still managed to get burned and developed a heat rash on my back the other week, with a 15 sunblock on. I guess I will now be looking into the higher number sunblocks! Oh well - what can you do?