Sun sensitivity

[Fluffontoast]

Hi, I'm on Methotrexate and was out in the sun this afternoon for an hour but sat facing away from the sun and now my face is very red and hot. I've called 111 because I got back from hospital yesterday after emergency appendix removal so I will check with them if it's anything more serious like infection, just waiting for a call back. So I'm wondering if anyone else has caught the sun this easily on Mtx? I feel fine otherwise and have no other symptoms. Weird.

[welsh12]

I don't have a problem in the sun and take it but do wear sun screen and don't really sit in strong sunlight directly anymore

[Fluffontoast in reply to welsh12]

I normally avoid the sun too and was facing away from the sun so maybe its not sunburn.

[welsh12 in reply to Fluffontoast]

Yes seek advice some people are more sensitive to the sun on it though

[AgedCrone in reply to Fluffontoast]

One size doesn’t fit all with this question! Have you previously had to be careful in the sun? I can be in the sun with normal factor sun lotion protection ,& I had no problems at all on Mtx for years….but others who have always been sun sensitive seem to continue to have problems…& need to be extra careful. So loadsa Factor 50 or stay out of the sun seems to be the answer.

[Downtime]

Mxt seems to make the skin very sensitive in the sun. My face in particular gets very red but it doesn’t seem to me to be real sunburn, just a reaction. The red disappears fairly quickly unlike sunburn which would become sore for quite some time.

[Dobcross1]

Hi, I'm on MTX and have terrible problems with the skin on my face if I go in the sun, even if only for a few minutes. I now wear factor 50 and avoid the sun (I used to be a real sun worshipper!). Hope you get it sorted soon.

[TiggerMum]

Check the patient info leaflet in the box with your methotrexate. I’m sure I’ve read on mine that it makes you more sensitive to the sun. I burn easily and now I’m on it have to be even more careful. Hope it calms down soon.

[cathie]

Something similar happened to me about ten years ago am now off Mtx. After a week of tests at Dundee Ninewells the dermatologists told me that my reaction was connected to the perfume in skin products. Reaction between perfume and sunlight. Just one experience which might help!

[CagneysMum]

I think people’s reaction to the sun whilst taking methotrexate varies considerably. Personally I take no extra precautions than I did pre methotrexate and I’m completely fine but you should get medical advice 👍

[Fluffontoast]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I have an out of hours GP appt today to check if it's anything serious.

[purplecyclist in reply to Fluffontoast]

once you are felling better, let us know if it was a methotrexate thing, that would be interesting for future, many thanks and hope you feel better soon.

[Fluffontoast in reply to purplecyclist]

Hi Purple, I saw out of hours GP and he checked I'm OK. Not sunburn and it has gone down a bit today. I have also developed loud tinnitus. I have just come away from emergency appendectomy where they pumped me with antibiotics and I had a general anaesthetic so maybe one of those has caused this. Hopefully it will ease off over time. Just what I needed, more symptoms haha..

[StormySeas in reply to Fluffontoast]

You poor thing ☹️

Hope it all settles down soon X

[purplecyclist in reply to Fluffontoast]

Our bodies are amazing how mysteriously they work, whatever the cause of all these surprising symptoms I hope they start to settle down soon for you. Thanks for the update.

[Petertaffy]

I love being in the sun, can't drink I bathe in the sun at every opportunity and had no problems and I take Methotrexate too.

[KaysDad]

My skin does seem to be more sensitive to sun resulting in circular scaly patches on my legs and arms if exposed to sunlight - apparently called 'porokeratosis'. My face is even more susceptable, resulting in Solar Keratosis, two of which have ended in basal cell carcinoma. When I have discussed this with consultants or nurses, they all deny that Methotrexate can affect this - but the leaflet provided with the cream used to help clear these says that people on immune supressants have a higher risk of developing these problems and specifically mention Methotrexate and Rituximab, both of which I am on! I now take extra precaution with factor 50 sun cream and try to keep my arms and legs covered. However, the advantages for me from the use of Rituximab (& MTX) greatly outway these problems.

[Fluffontoast]

Thanks for the warning, I mostly use F50, but I'll be careful.

[KASHMIRI1]

Hi! I take mthx and was told to not sit in the sun and to always wear high factor sun screen. Which I always do if I am going outside for very long. It says on the leaflet inside the drug packet to avoid the sun. I am not sure how but it increases the strength of the suns rays.

[Happy5]

Yes, skin super sensitive when on MTX. I always avoided being in direct sunlight prior to being on MTX even more particular. Once forgot to put factor 50 on my face and did an hours gardening in in the sun . My face was very red used cold water treated is as you would a burn then put after sun on it. Face ok next day, but a reminder how sensitive skin is in the sun. I sit in the shade, as said use factor 50 , cover arms, wear a hat etc etc.