Hydroxychloroquine and photosensitivity

[Poppyfields65]

I'm diagnosed UCTD and I've been taking Hydroxychloroquine for 7 months.

For people on this medication does your skin react quicker and/or more intensely to sun exposure even with factor 50 on?

[maggielee]

Hi I have been on hydroxy now for three years and as UV/sun triggered my rash & symptoms (SCLE & sjogren) I don't believe hydroxy makes it worse to be in the sun it is the development of the autoimmune or flares... I use 50factor & hide as much as I can from the light & cover-up. I still can get burning in my face when exposed to much.... It is very much an individual response and can vary from person to person. 😎 ml

[Hidden]

Hi there. I don’t know if this is relevant to you but when I first started Hydroxy I had been taking Methotrexate already and it was added in. I developed a very pronounced butterfly type rash on my face the day after taking my usual Methotrexate. It settled down again but 18 months later the same thing happened although I’d had to stop Methotrexate for other reasons. It then developed into hives all over my face and then one day my lips swelled and tongue started to swell and I stopped at GP’s urgent instructions and all settled down. This wasn’t due to light sensitivity in my case but light did make it worse.

I also had anaphylaxis triggered by light sensitivity when taking a different disease modifier called Sulfasalazine. I have Sjögren’s rather than Lupus.

[Poppyfields65 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your replies. Despite the time of the year and weaker sun Uv etc my face (cheeks and nose) despite having factor 50 on reacts quite quick and intensely whilst out walking for say 30 mins to an hour. It happened again last week when I forgot my hat but did have Sunsense Sensitive factor 50 on. The rash appeared a few hours after returning home and was gone by the morning but I was also unwell with flaring symptoms that evening and the week after..

I've read on medical sites that Hydroxychloroquine can react with the sun causing allergic reactions and I wonder if this is the cause of the rash on this occasion or whether it's just my normal photosensitivity.

I've read some posts on the forum here about people reacting to Hydroxychloroquine but it seems to be very severe as you say twitchytoes.

[Hidden in reply to Poppyfields65]

Well actually with Hydroxy mine started out as pretty mild and only became a full scale allergic response over a few days, having been hovering for about 3 months.