Fluorouracil topical User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• In...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 8, 2020

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "I spent years in the sun, scuba diving and hiking in Mexico and Arizona. For years, I've constantly had to use lip balm because my lips were so dry. I tried many products, and they never worked. My lips would crack and peel all the time. Just recently, I got diagnosed with actinic cheilitis. I have been prescribed Efudex 5% once a day for 3 to 4 weeks. I am at Week 2 and experiencing severe, almost unbearable burning pain because of deep sores with massive amounts of oozing and crusting and now bleeding, tightness, and severe dryness. I will try to endure another week, but I think I would rather have surgery any day than this."

• Dog...
• January 28, 2020

For Skin Cancer "Age 70, male, excessive sun exposure. The dermatologist suggested 'Blue Light' on my face, but after the painful experience with this same treatment on my arms, I chose to use fluorouracil. I applied it for two weeks to my face, neck, and ears. On day 13, I went to the dermatologist with fears of open sore infection, plus I could barely open my mouth to eat. I was prescribed a topical antibiotic, a topical steroid, and Benadryl to reduce swelling, and an OTC product called CeraVe Healing Ointment. The CeraVe provided immediate comfort and relief from my misery and allowed me my first decent night's sleep in over a week. I started by applying CeraVe twice a day and then saw even greater benefit by applying every three hours or so. Aquaphor did not work as well as CeraVe for me. I have been restricted from sunlight and leave home only after the sun sets totally (no twilight) to run errands. Looking forward to healthy skin again and daylight hours."

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2011

Fluorouracil topical for Skin Cancer "Efudex successfully combated skin abnormalities that my doctor had cancer concerns about. I used Efudex for ten days and then stopped because of blistering; they were small, but covered my face. It's been almost two months after my treatment and I still have an unsightly, coarse rash. The steroid cream I used five days afterwards eased the appearance of the rash, but because of concerns over skin thinning, I could not continue with the cream."

• TR1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2019

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "Used for 4 weeks to treat what the physician thought might be an AK (actinic keratosis) - a very tiny dry, scaly spot above my upper lip. Efudex was easy to use, not painful, just a gnarly scab that took weeks to fall off. Once gone, the skin was smooth but red. The red spot was 3X larger than the AK being treated (now the size of a pencil eraser). Hoping the redness will heal in time. Finished treatment two months ago, but the smooth red splotch remains. It looks far worse than the tiny dry spot I had before I began treatment. Regret using Efudex."

• Tma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "I used Fu-5 cream on my face recently for sun-damaged skin. I had several bad sunburns 40 years ago in my teens. This product has wiped out most of that old damage! Scaly, red, and/or brown spots are about 90 percent gone. Applied twice a day for 2 weeks (28 applications). Here's how it goes: wash face, dry, and apply a thin layer. Nothing happens the first few days. Days 4 - 7, dark spots and redness should appear only on the damaged areas. Beware, days 8 to 14 can be holy hell with stinging, soreness, inflamed, red, raw skin...looked like a horror movie monster. Took Aleve and used pure aloe vera gel for relief. Don't use ANY other lotions and do stay out of the sun that second week. Third week healing starts, but expect lots of peeling and crazy itching (Neosporin helps). Week 4, WOW, the new improved skin shows...just a bit of redness that will fade over time. End results were well worth the pain. I recommend only doing one side of your face at a time - makes it easier to sleep."

• Tjd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2017

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "I had a small spot on my nose. Used this twice a day for 14 days. The spot became very red and got scabby where the precancer is on the skin. After 14 days, I stopped treatment. Now in the healing process. Using Vaseline twice a day. Scabs are showing, coming off on their own. DON'T PEEL. The area is very red but becoming less so a bit. I hear it takes a few weeks for the redness to subside. So far, so good. Not too much discomfort. I did get depressed doing this though, as it's my face and I didn't want to go in public."

• WJC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2020

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "I used Fluoroplex about 15 years ago on my chest and face, they were both a mess for 5-6 weeks, but the treatment is worth it. I started seeing the same damage on my chest and face, and my doctor prescribed Efudex 5%. It works the same, and when I spread it on the chest, little red spots started showing, then more and more. I look like my chest has the measles. Some are large spots that swell and ooze. It is very itchy with prickly pain, now in the third week, hard to sleep. I'm going to stop at the week's end for a full 4 weeks. I also treated some specific spots on the side of my face, but it just got very red, turned blackish, I stopped that at 3 weeks, and it is healing nicely with the help of Vaseline. I have not had any side effects with vomiting or headaches, as others have reported. Once my chest starts healing, I'm going to try some additional spots on my face. It is not pleasant, but what chemo treatment would be? The alternative is surgery."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2018

For Keratosis "I used Fluorouracil for 2 weeks, twice a day (morning and night) over most of the face. I just put a drop on 4 points of the face, then rubbed it in. I covered a few areas that gave me trouble and a few dark liver spots. I almost stopped because I started to look pretty bad, with sores and red blotches. I looked here for answers but could not find anything. After two weeks, I stopped and started using nothing but good dermatology soap and Luberderm. That was 2 weeks ago. I look much better than I did before starting the treatment. Now, at 6 weeks, I'm very pleased. Don't get scared and don't stop! Two weeks, twice a day. You'll like the results. Good luck!"

• Anonymous
• February 13, 2009

Fluorouracil topical for Skin Cancer "I have had great success with Carac treating pre-cancerous condition on my entire face area. The results were astounding! I am currently one week from finishing treatment on both forearm areas and looks like the results will be similar."

• Lou...
• March 31, 2017

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "I used Efudex for 20 days. Got all the bearable symptoms of rash, redness, and sore skin. It took about 2 months for the redness to go completely. The main long-lasting side effect I have is that it's been six months, and I still have permanently very greasy, greasy skin on my nose and cheeks where I applied it. TIP: make sure you are not prone to rosacea before using it. I didn't know I was prone, but the Efudex triggered the adult rosacea I never knew I had. (Rosacea is like acne, it comes and goes but only in the place where I used the Efudex. It's embarrassing, and I don't like going in public during flare-ups.) I wouldn't recommend this treatment at all. It might be okay on small 2 cm spot treatments on the body, NOT THE FACE. Beware."

• Thi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2018

Fluorouracil topical for Keratosis "I have used this cream 3 times and will use it a 4th this winter. I'm 53 and have light hair and blue eyes, so as you can imagine, I have light skin. I have had keratosis pop up on my face a few times and several brown spots over the years. This cream has done an AMAZING JOB! I use it once a week for 7 days. My face looked terrible on days 10-21 because it turned red, then all the spots you don't see turned brown in addition to all the other brown spots disappearing. I've had no side effects other than you look embarrassing and people ask what happened to you. But the end result is worth it."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 14, 2014

Fluorouracil topical for Keratosis "Fluorouracil 5% used on the lower lip vermillion border for over a year. Two biopsies confirmed actinic keratosis. After application once a day for 4 days, the lip would swell and ulcerate, then heal over 5 days. The lesion would return on day 6. I repeated this over and over for one year. Now I am going to participate in a study for Solaraze Gel. I will report findings in three months."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2013

For Keratosis "Same as everyone else...very uncomfortable and hard to look at. Dr. says many people go too far by continuing application of cream after 15 days. Stop. My dermatologist prescribed a steroid cream to relieve swelling and quicken the healing process. San Diego born and raised and growing up without sunscreen, there is a lot of sun damage that will be gone."

• Joe...
• April 18, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "Asked to use 5% fluorouracil cream by my derm, but I have always refused them. I have had Mohs surgery and a few PDT treatments over the past 15 years. Due to COVID-19, I am working from home and can take the time. My derm prescribed 5% at 2 times per day for 14 days. Applied to my entire face and forehead (minus the eyes, mouth, and chin). Day 4 - pain intense, made it difficult to smile, eat, or sleep. Face and forehead red, the skin weeps, burns, and is turning a deeper maroon color. At night I get chills but keep praying that I will make it through. Day 9 now, many areas have blended together around my nose and cheeks as well as some areas on my forehead and temples. The pain is difficult to handle, but not impossible. We are tougher than we think! It is important that I do this for myself and my family. I love them more than I hate the pain. You can do it too! Praying for strength for all of you who are about to join this battle and for those who are in treatment trying to tough it out. You can do it!"

• Jul...
• October 17, 2016

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "21-day treatment. This stuff is brutal, but it works. Make sure you give yourself a full two months for treatment and recovery. This treatment is lengthy, and there is a process to it. Try to plan your treatment in the winter or fall months, when it's cooler. Believe me, you will not want to go outside. Your face will be unsightly, and you will become sensitive to the sun. Use the medicine at night and Aquaphor during the day, or at least two hours after you apply the cream. Cool the cream in the refrigerator for a bit for instant relief. You WILL get itchy. I used a Q-tip dipped in Aquaphor to gently relieve the itch. Be careful around the crevices by your nose. You don't want cream to accumulate there. Hang in there."

• Pan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 19, 2015

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "I have been using Carac for over 10 years. After reading the recent comments, I was in shock on the prescribed treatment cycles and application. Carac cream has removed many points of keratosis on my face. Also, it has eliminated several basal cell carcinoma. What works best for me, from experience, is, on keratosis, 2 to 3 times a week, before bedtime, on specific areas. For BCC, a regimen of daily for 5 days only, 10 to 15 days without (allows time for skin recovery) and proceed as needed, bedtime. All under recommendation from one of the nation's top dermatologists. The whole face for 14-18 days, that is completely unheard of. I hope this helps."

• Sla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2016

For Actinic Keratosis "I had extensive AKs for the past 10 years on my forehead, scalp, temples, face, and hands. Regular liquid nitrogen treatments removed those that were visible. They would return, and other unseen AKs would appear. I wanted more effective treatment, so I did almost 3 weeks of heavy applications of fluorouracil 5%, 2x/day. The burning, blistering, cracking, stinging, and swelling are most impressive. After nearly 3 weeks, my derm said I was done, and it would take 2 weeks to improve a lot, and 4 to be all better. He was right. My skin is great now, looks good, and no AKs! It's miserable getting there, but less cancer risk - why wouldn't you do it?"

• ras...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2019

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "Had to stop using Efudix on my face after 2 weeks and 2 days because of pain, dizziness, and mouth sores. My face was a fright, bright red all over as the cream seemed to creep when used. One week later, the rash has settled and the pain has subsided, but I fear it will be weeks before I return to my normal look. I have dry, flaky scabs on my face where scabs were not evident before Efudix. I regret using this cream on my face. My chest looks like I have been blasted with both barrels of a shotgun. Red welts everywhere as I dressed the whole area with Efudix as advised by my doctor. Not really painful, but starting to itch. I am 3 weeks into this area, I feel I could stop now, but will give it a few more days. The jury is still out."

• Spo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2018

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "I was misdiagnosed by a dermatologist as having A.K. when actually I had eczema. Efudex turned my arm into a raw, ulcerated, painful, itchy, oozing mess. Unable to sleep. Application was for two weeks only, then discontinued. After recovering from the treatment, the eczema was still there. I changed doctors. One application of a medium-strength corticosteroid, itching gone, healing started. Please get multiple opinions about the disease you have and the treatment options before being told to use Efudex."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2015

Fluorouracil topical for Skin Cancer "Like many other topical creams for skin cancer, it has a burning effect. Dryness, then flaking on the areas applied. It helps when the flaking has stopped and your skin has had time to repair the dead drying, and sometimes a bit of bleeding in my cases. But seems to get rid of the skin cancer. So for about a week, you will look a little scaly, best used before or after any family photos."

• Has...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2019

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "Instructed by my dermo to apply cream mornings each day for 4 weeks - wash face at night with a gentle cleanser. Today is day #19, so I am well into my 3rd week. Results are dramatic. I do look like a zombie from Michael Jackson's Thriller video, but apparently that is a good thing - it's working. Lots of red splotches including my neck, which I included besides my face. First signs of scabbing, which is the next phase. Can't wait. I just hope that things clear up quickly after day #28. Not much fun, especially in public, but most likely worth the aggravation."

• Ben...
• December 16, 2019

For Keratosis "Fluorouracil does what it says, it destroys abnormal cells by making the top layer of the skin peel eventually. The treatment will sometimes make you look very red, and sometimes the skin oozes (be careful around the eyes, that skin is fragile). My recovery after stopping the two-week application was pretty swift. I used Aquaphor and Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50. Probably doing it just before Thanksgiving, if you plan to have holiday pics, is not the best time, however, as of December 15th, my face looks almost normal again, and the area is smooth, wiping out the precancerous cells. It is amazing, one day you just look normal again. Before, you can be a bit apprehensive, wondering if it will ever heal. I did not follow my dermatologist's orders exactly and skipped some of the second daily doses over two weeks. Still worked fine, I stopped at day 14. This treatment works, do take care of the area after for quick recovery."

• Blu...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 8, 2019

For Keratosis "My Derm Dr. prescribed fluorouracil 5 years ago to use on a dark skin spot I was worried about. Used once a day for three weeks prior to anything happening. I increased the area to my entire cheek. After three weeks, the skin started turning red and I continued to use it until it started to blister. I stopped using it, but it continued to progress and the area became one big bloody mess like a skinned knee. In the end, a month later, the scab is gone and the skin is fresh and new. Five years later, I started using it again and this time on one side of my face. Interestingly, the previously treated area is unaffected and new areas all scabbed over. I'm into my 4th round on this side of my face and now most of the unaffected area is getting red and starting to dig out more damaged cells. I'm getting good at knowing when to stop applying, and when the first scab appears, I stop and the cream continues to peel the entire area. I look like I came off a motorcycle now, but know once it heals it will look great."

• mar...
• May 1, 2020

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "I grew up in Canberra, Australia. Sunburn every year, never wore a hat, didn't know about sunburn cream. I started using Efudex when I was 38. I'm on my fourth facial using it. I can last 16 days at the most. I would be so painful if I used it for 28 days. I know it's time to stop when it is so itchy that I don't get a single minute of sleep at night. I have to stay at home for 3 or 4 weeks - I scare too many people otherwise. Before bed, I have to take mild sleeping tablets (Restavit) and ibuprofen. I used to use Lucas Pawpaw ointment at night, but it's too thick and itchy. I use Dermeze treatment ointment. Lucas' is good for recovery. I have to wash the Efudex off before I go to sleep - otherwise, I can feel its horrible burning all night. If I accidentally touch the treated spot and then rub my eyes, they get swollen for days. I hate the treatment (0/10) - torturers could use it. But I love the results (10/10). My skin feels so good for 4 years."

• Deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2018

Fluorouracil topical for Skin Cancer "I was prescribed Efudex for squamous carcinoma. Was told to do both arms from elbow to fingers. One at a time, of course. I'm just over three weeks of using it, and it has not worked at all. Doctor can't understand why."