How long does antibiotic sun-sensitivity last?

[OnionPatch]

I finished taking doxycyline for a sinus infection about three weeks ago. During the time I took it, I forgot about sun-sensitivity and went into the sun. I got a nasty rash on my face. But it cleared up and I finished taking them. Two weeks later, last weekend, I went into the sun and got the rash back again! I hadn't taken the antibiotics for two weeks but the rash is exactly the same so I think there must still be some of the drug in my system. How freakin long does this last? I need some sunshine!!

Note: I know this isn't a chronic thing, but the health forum seemed to be mostly about health as related to politics, so I wasn't sure where to post this.

[Warpy]

1. The half life is only about 18 hours or so

so after 2 weeks, something else might be going on.

If it happens again and isn't a typical sunburn redness, check with your doctor.

Until then, wear a big hat.

[OnionPatch]

2. Thanks. It's starting to go away.

The rash was spotty, exactly like the first one, which the doctor had examined and determined was photo-sensitivity. That same day, she recommended that I nix the antibiotics and start taking olive leaf extract. I was stunned and pleasantly surprised. She's just a regular ENT and I didn't expect her to recommend herbals. I've been taking them, but I'm guessing olive leaf doesn't cause the same reaction in the sun. :shrug:

[sandnsea]

3. I had that a few years ago

It took quite a long time, several months iirc, for all the sun-sensitivity to go away. For a while I wondered whether I would ever be able to go in the sun again. But I'm okay now. Be sure and tell your doctor.

[OnionPatch]

4. I thought I should update. The rash was not sun-sensitivity.

I assumed it was because the timing was right. But then I kept getting the rash.

Last week I discovered the cause of the rash. My daughter was in the bathtub playing (she's 8 years old) and she offered me a "muffin." I looked and saw that she had Head and Shoulders shampoo squirted all over my Buf-Puf facial sponge so that it looked like green frosting! I asked her how long she had been playing the muffin game and it was right when the rash on my face started! Apparently, the shampoo from my daughter's game was lingering in the sponge, and I was scrubbing it into my face every few days! She probably didn't rinse it out well, if at all, after her game and here I was thinking it was clean since the last time I used it. Yikes.

I replaced the sponge, lectured my daughter, and the rash cleared up immediately and completely. So I guess the doxycyline wasn't the culprit after all. :blush: