In the 2009 guidelines from the BMLA, the use of non-essential aesthetic
lasers was contraindicated in patients receiving medication that causes whole-body photosensitisation as well as those causing local light sensitisation. Following this and anecdotal advice, many
laser centres refuse to treat patients who are on known photosensitive medication. Therefore, specific patient cohorts that would benefit from
laser therapy are being denied because of medications, such as long-term
antibiotics for chronic facial
acne. This article reviews the published literature on
lasers and photosensitive medications, the mechanisms of photosensitivity and the role of
laser in its production. The aim is to analyse the available evidence regarding adverse reactions to
laser treatment related to photosensitive medication. A PubMed review of published article titles and abstracts was performed using the search term
Laser with each of the following terms individually: photosensitive, photosensitiser,
photosensitizer,
phototoxicity,
photoallergy, complications, case-report,
tetracycline,
minocycline,
amiodarone,
nitrofurantoin and medication. Four publications were identified, none of which reported any complication in the use of
laser in patients taking photosensitising medication. As there are no published accounts of adverse effects of
laser in patients with photosensitive medication, we performed a review of the mechanism of photosensitivity by compiling a list of photosensitive medication and the peak wavelength of radiation required to activate the
drug. We recommend a national database of drugs and the wavelengths causing photosensitive reactions of each which a
laser department can access prior to treatment.