Final answer:
Taking antibiotics or antihistamines increases skin sensitivity to UV radiation, raising the risk of severe sunburn and skin cancer when sunbathing or using tanning beds.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a person consumes antibiotics, antihistamines, or other drugs, their skin's sensitivity to UV radiation can increase. This means that if they visit a tanning parlor or sunbathe, they are more likely to experience skin damage, such as sunburn, or more severe consequences like an increased risk for skin cancer.
UV-B and UV-C radiation are known for their capacity to cause sunburn. Excessive exposure to these types of UV rays can lead to distorted DNA helices in skin cells, which may result in mutations and potentially form cancerous cells. A tan, while often perceived as healthy, is a sign of skin damage, as it is the body's defensive response to UV exposure, producing pigments to shield living cells from further harm.
The risk of skin damage is further compounded when one uses substances that cause photosensitivity, which is a heightened sensitivity to UV light. Such substances can include certain medications like antibiotics and antihistamines, among others. These can lead to unexpected and potentially severe sunburns, immunosuppression, and increase the risk of developing skin cancer.