methotrexate and sunlight

salamander
salamander Member Posts: 1,906
edited 6. Apr 2010, 15:53 in Living with Arthritis archive
Another post about Mtx I'm afraid! Has anyone been told to keep out of the sun whilst on it? A friend told me I should and sat in the sun yesterday afternoon for an hour and my skin is peeling on my face today. Googled it and it says to stay out but imagine that is for higher doses, I am on a tiny dose of 7.5mg.
Would be interested to hear your views.
Sally

Comments

  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    My skin goes freckly and patchy in the sun and I am told it is the MTX.It has only happened since starting MTX.I now try to sit under a tree/shade if out.

    elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • wibberley
    wibberley Member Posts: 421
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I'm on sulpha and the same thing happens to me. Doc says it's similar to the liver spots some women get in pregnancy.

    He said to wear factor 50 on my hands and face - I really must remember to add that to my shopping list. This was quite a few weeks ago but the sun hasn't been seen since and I'd forgotten about it!

    Lois x
  • livinglegend
    livinglegend Member Posts: 1,425
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Macmillan Cancer Support have a good article on the side effects of MTX.

    Sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. During treatment with methotrexate and for several months afterwards, you will be more sensitive to the sun and your skin may burn more easily than normal. You can still go out in the sun, but always wear a high protection suncream and protective clothing.
    http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertreatment/Treatmenttypes/Chemotherapy/Individualdrugs/Methotrexate.aspx

    Joseph 8)
    Josephm0310.gif
  • snowball
    snowball Member Posts: 3,465
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I'm on mtx and my rheumy nurse told me to allways wear at least a factor 40 even when the sun wasn't out.

    Julie
    ((((hugs)))) n xxxxx to ya all
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    thanks everyone. My nurse didn't tell me anything!!
  • cthornley
    cthornley Member Posts: 627
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Sally
    yep you can experience more sensitivity to the sun...i've always been very careful because i'm naturally pale (and interesting) :wink:
    The problem with continually wearing suncream can be its greasy texture/ the white tint it gives skin esp higher factors and sometimes overpowering smell so as well as wearing suncream when properly spending time in the sun good tips for the everyday are:
    wear a good face cream/ moisturiser with a SPF in it and
    try one of the new sunlotions which are clear they don't stain your clothes (esp important if you wear a lot of black suits like me)
    after a while you get used to it and it means that you actually are doing your skin a lot of good...good skin keeps you looking younger I believe :wink:
    Chrissie
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Chrissie, thanks for your tips. I do try to wear sunscreen when it is hotter but not usually at this time of year but will do from now on.
  • wallysatt
    wallysatt Member Posts: 87
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi.

    When I was on methotrexate I was really sick if I'd been in the sun. If the sun was shining on me through a window, for example a car window, I would be really sick. I used to have biology on a Friday morning at school and the sun used to shine really bright into the classroom and it made me feel horrible.

    I'm fair anyway so I have to be careful; when I’m out in the sun I put cream on at least once in the morning and when I'm on holiday I put on factor 50 when I need it.

    Sally.
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    wallysatt wrote:
    Hi.

    When I was on methotrexate I was really sick if I'd been in the sun. If the sun was shining on me through a window, for example a car window, I would be really sick. I used to have biology on a Friday morning at school and the sun used to shine really bright into the classroom and it made me feel horrible.

    I'm fair anyway so I have to be careful; when I’m out in the sun I put cream on at least once in the morning and when I'm on holiday I put on factor 50 when I need it.

    Sally.

    Hi Sally! I have been using high factor in the summer but don't bother this time of year, my mistake! Will take more care. Why doesn't the leaflet say something about it I wonder?
    Sally
  • wallysatt
    wallysatt Member Posts: 87
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    ooo another Sally!

    I thought it told you in the information you get with the tablets. I'm sure I was made aware of it. I'll ask my Mum, she'll probably remember more about when I started on it.

    Sally.
  • katekelly
    katekelly Member Posts: 975
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I have what some people would call an 'olive' complexion and before my RA started I could sit in the sum all day long and just toast -I'm ashamed to say even used to smother myself in olive oil to quicken things up!!! That was in the late 70's and people were generally unaware of skin cancer-brown was healthy!!
    I found when I was mtx I would feel sick and burn easily. I have been on anti-TNF for about 5 years now without mtx but I find I burn relitively easy now. I have just got back from 12 days in Florida and it wasn't until the last day I felt confident to go without sunscreen (hubby and little girl covered in factor 50+!!) and guess what -I burn't! So I don't know if it's because of the meds I have taken in the past or could it be the steroids I have taken for nearly 15 years thinning my skin? I don't know. But really having lost a family member to skin cancer I really should know better!! :(:(

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