When I was a child, I was naturally very tan—not just during the warmer months either. Year-round, my skin was an olive gold, becoming even darker in the summer. I also tanned extremely fast. During the summer, my siblings and I had an above-ground pool we’d spend hours in, and after just 10 minutes, we’d compare tan lines.
I’ve talked before about how I started medication at a very early age, but I didn’t start to see changes in my skin until I was about 13.
It seemed like it happened overnight: I went from my normal skin color to a blue—gray and sickly pale. It wasn’t even like I had a “pale” skin tone—I was just simply colorless.
I didn’t know until recently that even my father noticed. He recalled how my skin had become gray and ashy, losing all color. I hadn’t realized how noticeable it was to those around me.
Frustrated that I could no longer tan, I started spray tanning regularly when I was 14 (and I still do). Often, I feel like I don’t recognize the pale, bluish reflection in the mirror when I don’t have a fake tan. But I thought—this can’t just be me, right?
I’m part of various groups that discuss psychiatric medications, and multiple times I’ve asked fellow members (who have been on long-term prescriptions) if they’ve noticed any changes in their skin. I wasn’t shocked—but a bit relieved—to find out that I wasn’t alone. The posts were filled with comments—some just a “yes,” others more detailed. One person mentioned how their veins had become more visible over the years as their skin lost color. Another said they had also lost the ability to tan. Many were surprised but felt reassured knowing they weren’t the only ones experiencing this.
I haven’t found much information online about psychiatric medication causing an overall loss of skin color (particularly with long-term use), but there is plenty of evidence that psychiatric drugs can affect the skin.
Many cause sun sensitivity or photosensitivity—I started to notice this about seven years ago, when I got a sunburn for the first time even while using sunscreen. After that, it only got worse. Just sitting in the car on a sunny day would irritate my skin.
Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation can also be caused by specific medications, along with other skin conditions, such as marks or discoloration.
Unrelated to skin color—but still relevant—is the increased risk of acne on certain medications.
I’m still hoping to find out more about why this happened to me and others. When I’ve talked to my doctors—especially those in mental health—they haven’t had any answers. Because so much hasn’t been studied long-term or thoroughly enough in the psychiatric field, there just aren’t many answers. Many side effects and long-term effects are still only assumed.
I’ll conclude this post by saying this: don’t let this scare you. One side effect—even if common—is not a guarantee that it will happen to everyone. And if this has happened to you, I’d be interested in talking.
Not having my natural skin tone has affected my mental health deeply, and I know it has for others as well.
Talya's life 