Talk Cancer

Question:

MTX makes you photosensitive to the extent that the sun’s UV rays kill skin cells which your body immediately tries to replace. Since MTX is a cancer chemo designed to combat rapid cell regeneration, you’ve got big problems. Well, with me it was a nasty itchy and painful rash like thing. I’m not aware of other RA drugs that are photosensitive, but that would likely be your problem rather than the RA itself.

Add NSAIDS to the list of drugs that can cause a photosensitive reaction–the Volaren I took always came with an "avoid prolonged sun exposure" warning.  I ignored it once and ended up with a similar nasty rash. Ebba To send E-mail, remove the xxxxx

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I love to sit in the sun like my old cat.. makes my RA feel better and definitely not worse Kate    Send in the clowns

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Hi Ya’ll.  Someone told me that I should stay out of the sun and

avoid tanning beds because it would make my RA worse.  I like to be outside in the summer time and was wondering if I should stay in or cover up.  (No lectures about skin cancer please…I promise I use sunscreen on my freckled body! Thanks for any info you all have. << Maybe somebody has information to the contrary, but I don’t think the sun will bother your RA one bit. If you are taking Methotrexate for your RA however, you will be very sorry. MTX makes you photosensitive to the extent that the sun’s UV rays kill skin cells which your body immediately tries to replace. Since MTX is a cancer chemo designed to combat rapid cell regeneration, you’ve got big problems. Well, with me it was a nasty itchy and painful rash like thing. I’m not aware of other RA drugs that are photosensitive, but that would likely be your problem rather than the RA itself. !^NavFont02F02F30007RGHHIF4DE21 !N3

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I had heard about that with sulfasalazine. All last summer I was worried about it for no reason.  I spent as much or more time in the sun than I ever have and never had a burn.  I never even used sunscreen except on my nose. —- The Skipper Skipper, Same here about MTX. I was paranoid. Never burned once. Course I am fairly dark skinned,(it’s that Italian in me!) not sure how a fairer person would do! Keep Smilin’ ~Krissy "The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that in which one has not laughed." Nicolas Chamfort

I’m about as blond and blue eyed as an Irish boy can be.  We’ll see how I do on MTX this summer.  Another month and it will be time to start working on my tan. —- The Skipper To reply remove "booger".

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i was stuck in the sun for an hour while on azulfidene. i literally could not get out of it, and didn’t realize until afterward that it was a problem. the exposed parts of my body developed a hive like itchy rash — VERY itchy — that lasted a couple of hours. i won’t do that again. diane

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Skipper, Same here about MTX. I was paranoid. Never burned once. Course I am fairly dark skinned,(it’s that Italian in me!) not sure how a fairer person would do! Keep Smilin’ ~Krissy

        I’m very fair/red skinned and never had trouble with increased burning while on MTX.  I did have trouble with Plaquenil though; I made the mistake of taking it during a Florida vacation, and now have permanent brown spots on my forearms and back.                 Leslie

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I had heard about that with sulfasalazine. All last summer I was worried about it for no reason.  I spent as much or more time in the sun than I ever have and never had a burn.  I never even used sunscreen except on my nose. —- The Skipper

Skipper, Same here about MTX. I was paranoid. Never burned once. Course I am fairly dark skinned,(it’s that Italian in me!) not sure how a fairer person would do! Keep Smilin’ ~Krissy "The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that  in which one has not laughed." Nicolas Chamfort

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Hi Ya’ll.  Someone told me that I should stay out of the sun and avoid tanning beds because it would make my RA worse.  I like to be outside in the summer time and was wondering if I should stay in or cover up.  (No lectures about skin cancer please…I promise I use sunscreen on my freckled body! Thanks for any info you all have.

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Hi Ya’ll.  Someone told me that I should stay out of the sun and avoid tanning beds because it would make my RA worse.  I like to be outside in the summer time and was wondering if I should stay in or cover up.  (No lectures about skin cancer please…I promise I use sunscreen on my freckled body! Thanks for any info you all have.

The only reason I know of to avoid the sun if you have RA is that a couple of the meds we take increase your sensitivity to the sun.  These include azulfidine and minocyclene.  Hats and sun screen usually handle the problem. Walt Hanks — Visit my website at http://www.itsnet.com/~wdhanks/WaltHP.html

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Never heard that before! Thank goodness since I plan to spend all summer by pool! Some meds, Minocin and MTX for example may cause photosensitivity in some people. Keep Smilin’(and soak up the rays!) ~Krissy "The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that in which one has not laughed." Nicolas Chamfort

I had heard about that with sulfasalazine. All last summer I was worried about it for no reason.  I spent as much or more time in the sun than I ever have and never had a burn.  I never even used sunscreen except on my nose. —- The Skipper To reply remove "booger".

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Hi Ya’ll.  Someone told me that I should stay out of the sun and avoid tanning beds because it would make my RA worse.  I like to be outside in the summer time and was wondering if I should stay in or cover up.  (No lectures about skin cancer please…I promise I use sunscreen on my freckled body!

Never heard that before! Thank goodness since I plan to spend all summer by pool! Some meds, Minocin and MTX for example may cause photosensitivity in some people. Keep Smilin’(and soak up the rays!) ~Krissy "The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that  in which one has not laughed." Nicolas Chamfort

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