Which of the following is a contraindication to UV light therapy?

• A. Photosensitive Medications
• B. Hypertension
• C. Asthma
• D. Recent Sun Exposure

Answer: (A)

Photosensitivity increases the skin’s reaction to UV light, so medications that cause photosensitivity are a direct contraindication to UV therapy. When a patient takes drugs that make the skin more sensitive to light (such as certain antibiotics, antifungals, retinoids, or other photosensitizing agents), UV exposure can trigger exaggerated reactions like intense erythema, blistering, hyperpigmentation, or burns. Because the risk of severe skin damage is higher, UV therapy should not be used while those medications are active or until they’re discontinued or adjusted.

Hypertension and asthma don’t inherently change how the skin responds to UV, so they aren’t considered contraindications. Recent sun exposure is a precaution to avoid overexposure, and therapy might be delayed or adjusted if the skin has already been exposed to sunlight, but it’s not an absolute contraindication in the same way photosensitive medications are.