I have been applying Fluorouracil Cream for about 3 weeks to my scalp and forehead. It is dry, flaking, and itches. How do i know when to stop applying?
How to know when to stop applying Fluorouracil Cream USP 5%?
Question posted by Ravenvail66 on 23 Oct 2011
Last updated on 26 December 2021 by ptrjoyce
20 Answers
ptrjoyce
26 Dec 2021
I am on day 12 using Fluorouracil on my forearms and hands. I am a swollen, weeping scabby mess. Sleep is difficult because I wake up itching and burning. I have to wash my pajamas and sheets daily because of the weeping. Long sleeves are extremely irritating and they get messy because of the weeping. My doctor's office is closed until after the holidays so I am on my own. I'm seriously considering skipping the last two days of application. Anybody else experience this?
katread
8 Nov 2020
Same here I have been applying for 3 weeks, red and dry and patches of red bloody marks and it itches really bad... not sure if this is a sign to stop or not..what did you do?
eedx2
7 Sep 2019
It is what ever your Doctor told you. Even if your skin gets raw and irritated, if you still have a week or so to go you still have to apply the cream to make sure you wipe out those bad cells.
Confidant1
7 Sep 2019
Ok,
Three weeks to four weeks, twice daily, and I would recommend that If you have a lot of dealing with the general public and it's your face we're are talking about , do It In sections or you will be In for a very bumpy ride, I mean this stuff Is mean It goes Into attack mode and I'm not kidding, can be painful, Itching, burning crusting, oozing, last but not least scarring from scratching due to severe itching so take self control and keep fingers off of your face or you will be visiting a plastic surgeon.
Oh, and one other thing If your face Is In very bad condition you may have to treat two or three times, your doctor should be able to help with that. Good luck
WaPa59
25 March 2019
To kaylaesq. Since you are 75, that means you were born around 1943. Coppertone came out in 1944. So, your excuse for not using sunscreen because it hadn't been invented yet is bogus but nice try. Tell yourself whatever you need to in order to be able to sleep at night.
As far as the Efudex cream goes, it depends on what you're testing. If it's just actinic keratoses, then it's usually twice a day for 2 weeks. For basal cell, it's twice a day for 4 weeks. If you only apply it once a day, then it's usually 4 weeks and 8 weeks respectively.
Efudex doesn't treat melanoma not does any "black salve". Melanoma must be surgically removed.
Finally, most people will eventually see open sores, oozing, weeping, crusting along with of course redness and even swelling. When new sores stop showing up, that is usually the time to stop the cream. And that is usually at 2 weeks if applying twice a day. HOWEVER, if you are treating basal cell, you MUST continue using for another 2 weeks at least. Your doctor should have explained all this to you though.
momo11111111
7 Oct 2020
Coppertone was not a sunscreen. We called it, and Sea and Ski, suntan lotion. They had an SPF of around 2. We did have zinc, but it was thick and white and usually just used on the nose of lifeguards.
dannmad
8 Feb 2019
I have a question about the cream... I have a tiny spot on my nose. (Doctor diagnosed it as actinic keratosis) if I apply the cream just to the small area, will the redness stay localized or will it spread to my whole nose and beyond? Just trying to prepare myself in what to expect.
hirlrng
13 Feb 2019
The cream will spread beyond where you put it. Not a lot, but it will spread. Keep in mind that only damaged skin will react to the cream. Healthy skin remains largely unaffected.
DougieB
3 Dec 2018
Today is day 21 and I can't wait to see the dermatologist later today! Have been treating my face from forehead to lower cheeks with one application a day.. My analogy is that of tapping your thumb with a hammer everyday for 21 days. At first you don't really notice it but with repeated applications, everyday seemed worse than the previous. For me the burning and itching at times is unbearable. Night times are definitely the worst. Hoping the dermatologist will tell me I can stop any further application today. Last night I was so uncomfortable that I applied a thin film of Vaseline over the treated area. It was very soothing and eased the itching burning and dry tight sensation. Up till this point I had just been suffering. The thought of having to repeat this treatment would definitely cause me to pause. Hoping this treatment has eliminated the half a dozen spots that were of concern on my cheeks and forehead.
I have a second malignant melanoma to remove and have used black salve very effectively for the removal of the melanoma as well as several other basal cell carcinomas. Thanks for all of those who have posted their experience as it helped me survive my own Efedu treatment.
spanky101
16 Nov 2018
I've been using this cream for two plus months, was told to use it until my sore was gone (just red).
How much did the Efudex Cream 5%, 40g tube, cost you? I'm Canadian.
kaylaesq
26 July 2018
I'm 75 years old. I grew up in Texas near Houston and spent 4 years in San Francisco, all before the advent of sunscreen. Later I spent 30 years in Florida and started using sunscreen after about 8 years. Now I've spent the last 11 years in the mountains of Mexico and have put sunscreen on religiously every day, topped by a wide-brimmed hat.
I've been using Efudex for about 3 weeks on my whole face, which looks like I got hit by a truck. It doesn't hurt, but it does feel a little stiff. It is very unpleasant if I get hot, like just sitting in a room at 80 degrees F for a few hours at night. I don't go out at all because I don't want people to think I've got a contagious disease.
I used it on my neck and chest but had to stop after 9 days. The skin was so painful I couldn't touch it.
My dermatologist says I will probably have to do this twice a year, but that it shouldn't be so bad the next time. I send her photos every few days so she can keep up with my progress. I would really like to know what my skin should look like when I can stop applying the Efudex. Does anyone have a hard answer to this question?
Sharonloit
20 July 2018
You should speak to your medical professional as not everyone using the Fluorouracil cream is the same. I read that others used the cream for 2 weeks applying the cream twice a day. My doctor told me to use the cream for one month and apply it once a day. I finished my treatment 5 nights ago and my face is very red (skin looks almost leathery), blistered, weeping and tender. I haven’t experienced the pain that others have luckily but I’m so glad that I used the cream and would use it again if I had to.
I had a melanoma removed from my back last year and would much prefer to ensure it didn’t happen again. My daughter also had one removed from under her arm - it was the tiniest little freckle but turned out to be a “nodular melanoma”, one of the most aggressive you can get. It was very fast growing and she wasn’t aware it was there until her doctor did a skin check. When the initial surgery was done, the melanoma was found to be 2cm deep. After the wider margin and lymph nodes were removed, she was left with very little tissue, and the arm looked very ugly. A plastic surgeon tried to insert an implant but there was nothing to attach it to, so she can no longer wear anything sleeveless - but if that is the price she has to pay to not die, well worth it.
So, using the cream and having some discomfort is worth it as a melanoma isn’t a nice thing to deal with. Some advice I’d like to share - use it in winter as the risk of sunburn in summer is very high AND when you go outside, lather your face with sun cream and wear a hat, even in winter.
Yokeko
17 April 2018
You should be able to send your doctor pictures via your phone or email. Physicians should be suggesting this and if they don’t, just ask. I am now in recovery phase after 3 weeks using fluorouracil. I sent photos at two weeks and doctor said I needed another week. Said I had “slow reaction”. I sent photos at 21 days and she said I could stop. No need to wonder about when to stop as long as we use our tools! Hope this helps someone.
bkwhitis
24 Feb 2018
my dermatologist gave me this 17 years ago. twice a yr I do a complete face application 2x day for two weeks. by the end of the first week there are the red spots that are very tender and sensitive. The amounts vary each time. By the end of the third week the spots have dried and usually flake off. I haven't had to have any places burnt off with liquid oxygen since. Before the cream I had two places on my nose that had to be removed surgically and repaired by a plastic surgeon. The cream and short period of discomfort is a much more desirable alternative.
JosephDuRoss
26 Jan 2018
I have no idea. I just started using it 2 weeks ago. It is red and scaly and itchy. Do these red spots start to fall off and that is when you are done or do you just stop using the cream after about 3 weeks and then it heals or what?
Taildragger
7 Jan 2018
I felt compelled to jump in on this discussion. I've been in the sun my whole life. After a Doc visit, she had me apply 5% FL to the red (affected) areas of my face, twice a day for 14 days. I wasn't absolutely sure what was going to happen. After 1week, the areas that were treated turned very red. In a matter of a day or 2, the skin peeled, and a couple of blisters appeared. Shaving became impossible and sleeping on my side became extremely painful. I didn't think it could finish the 2 week treatment, but tougher it out.
The healing process started rapidly. Within another week, I saw improvements with each passing day, literally. It's been 5 weeks since my last application and the skin is now just red. It's more noticeable when I'm hot and not that noticeable normally. I'm due for a follow up doctor visit in 1 month. Oh, my wife has mentioned that my skin is much smoother since the treatment. A plus!
My suggestion is to consult your doctor. Everyone is different, so I don't believe there is a "canned answer".
buddygramma
7 Nov 2017
Question is "How do you response to someone else that is going through the beat up face". Do you look directly at them and see them and talk to them??? Or do you try not to look at them directly ??" That is exactly how most will react to you !! Go for it and know that it will be better shortly. God Bless us all. Buddygramma
PS if I use my fingertips and wash directly afterwards will my fingertips be effected with the burning?
Related topics
Further information
- Fluorouracil uses and safety info
- Fluorouracil prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Fluorouracil (detailed)
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.