ah thank you! i think it must be the xanax because i was not wearing any makeup and use soap with no known toxins (some random organic thing from whole foods with almost no ingredients). it doesn't hurt like a sunburn is supposed to, thankfully. i hope it doesn't last.
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
I can understand your concern for the sudden appearance of red irregular bordered sunspot on the cheek. I have seen the photograph and from the symptoms, it looks like phototoxic reaction to cosmetics. It could also have been a photosensitive reaction to Xanax because alprazolam has a side effect of photosensitivity in some patients which comprise mainly of females. In fact in a report, out of the patients reporting photosensitivity with Xanax, around 84% were females.
It is a change in the skin which is usually observed within minutes to hours following exposure to the offending substance which is sunlight (UVA+UVB). Such a reaction can occur to cosmetics, toiletries (soaps), and topical applications or oral intake of certain drugs. In phototoxic reactions, the drug or ingredients of cosmetics may become activated by exposure to sunlight and cause damage to the skin. The skin's appearance resembles sunburn, and the process is generally has a fast onset. Irritations due to cosmetic ingredients may be induced by excessive concentrations i.e. that the specific threshold dose has been exceeded. This can be true for sodium lauryl sulfate often used in face wash an soaps.
Most of the time the effect if not permanent and the rash should subside in a few days. Yet some people have show the effect to last for many years.
First of all, you need to limit your sun exposure when you are taking Xanax. You should wear long sleeved cotton clothes and apply sun screen with a minimum spf of 30 atleast half an hour before going out in the sun. Avoid using any lotions and creams over the face for the meantime.
Wash your face with a mild cleanser with moisturizing properties like Cetaphil. Pat your face dry. Then apply a good hypoallergenic moisturizer over the area and see if this improves. If the symptoms still persist then you can apply calamine or a mild steroid cream after consulting your doctor.
Hope that this information helps and hope that you will get better soon.
Wishing you good health.