Fluorouracil topical for Keratosis User Reviews (Page 2)

• Zakatan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2017

Efudex (fluorouracil) "Have applied for three weeks once a day. Increased to twice this last week. MY face is quite red and sore and I am amazed at how many spots have come out. Will continue for a few more days. This site has encouraged me. I wasn't sure whether to keep going."

• Red...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2015

"In week 3 of Efudex treatment and my skin is still raw and peeling, though less than at day 14. I applied it twice daily for two weeks; I personally could not have gone one more day past day 14. The first week was not too bad without much noticeable effect. Week 2 was a different story. My skin, especially on my lower forehead, nose, and cheek area adjacent to my nose, became extremely red and raw, like a severe sunburn. Also behind my ears and in the folds of my neck. I found it difficult both physically and mentally to apply more cream to those areas because of the pain. My doctor says everything looks excellent. Applying a prescribed cortisone cream now, but fading is very slow. Best I can offer is hang in there."

• TJ Fly
• September 5, 2015

"This was well worth doing. I initially did my face, and a year later, I am back doing my scalp to finish the process - should have done it all at once. It completely removed all brown spots and left my skin looking 15 years younger. It took three weeks before my skin started 'smoldering,' but it wasn't more painful than a sunburn. Looked very red, and I worked from home for about a week. This worked beyond my dermatologist's and my best-case scenario. Awesome!"

• Madpeg
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2019

Efudex (fluorouracil) "Been using Efudex for 3 weeks now applying it nightly on a small spot on the left cheek, the area of skin been scaly now really red and has spread to double the size , I have stopped applying it as the soreness has gone and will wait a month to see if it clears , the treatment gave me a funny taste , dicky tummy and terrible itching on my back for ten mins after a bath or shower , scored 5 at the moment because my cheek looks a mess with the redness but hope it will clear over the coming weeks , applying sudacrem hope it helps !"

• Lindy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2020

Efudex (fluorouracil) "I am a 70 year old woman originally from Britain..used efudex on chin, side of nose and cheek. Went up a little too close to corner of my eye which swelled up. I used twice a day for 15 days which was enough to bear. Big crusty scab on chin. Very sore itchy and burning. Can't do the other side of nose as too painful."

• texsam
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2013

"I am on day 6 of a 21-day prescription, and am finally seeing and feeling the redness, tight skin, and itching all over my face. I am very worried about what I will look like at the end of August when school starts (first day of school will be 8 days after treatment stops); I am a teacher and don't want to scare off my new students. I am thankful for the relief suggestions posted here, and I am also thankful that I did not procrastinate and I am getting this taken care of. I have seen many people with parts of their faces - ears, noses - removed due to cancers, so I think of the 'after' to get me emotionally strong enough to bear these next few weeks. Thanks for sharing your experiences."

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

Efudex (fluorouracil) "Flouroracil 5% used on lower lip vermillion border for over a year. Two biopsies confirmed actinic keratosis. After application once a day for 4 days, lip would swell and ulcerate, then heal over 5 days.....lesion would return on day 6. Repeated this over and over for one year. Now going to participate in a study for Solaraze Gel. Will report findings in three months."

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

Carac (fluorouracil) "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 day 10-21 because it turned red, then all the spots you don't see, turn brown in addition to ALL the other brown spots disappear. I've had no side effects other than you look embarrassing and people ask what happen to you? But the end result is worth it"

• John
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2018

"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 cover a few area's 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
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2013

"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."

• afoben
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2012

Efudex (fluorouracil) "Be careful not to exceed time period recommended otherwise there will be extreme redness and pain. On the whole it seems to work but I have still got red skin after a few days without using it. Doctor recommended following with Eumovate but I'm not too happy with results."

• Blubau
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 8, 2019

"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 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 was fresh and new. Five years later I started using again and this time 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 a I can off a motorcycle now, but know once it heals it will look great"

• Benji
• December 16, 2019

"Fluorouracil does what it says it destroys abnormal cells by making to 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 Dec 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 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."

• Sunse...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2020

Efudex (fluorouracil) "Dermatologist prescribed efudex for keratosis 1 week on and 3 weeks off x 4 to treat my face but said not to apply on chin. After a few days freckles appeared and by day 7 today my skin feels quite irritated, itchy and a slight sting - especially the sides of my nose. One spot above my eyebrow has bled slightly last night and tonight after washing my face. My dermatologist said I could continue to wear foundation but to wait 15 mins after applying cream."

• Lynn
• October 24, 2019

"I started on this cream and used it 8 days on my chest. Then I started breaking out in a rash and itching terribly all over my body. My eye got irritated and swelled up. I stopped using it on 8th day was suppose use for two weeks. It's 8 weeks now since I used it and I'm still itching and have new break outs daily. My doctor called in a steroid cream and the side effects on it was rash and itching so I don't know if this new rash is from that medicine or the Flourouracil cream... I hope someone reads these reviews before using this.."

• JBano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2018

"This is my second application in 5 years. The first time was tough with the redness, itchiness, peeling. It was worth it to see how much potential cancer spots came to the surface and eventually flaked away. Really what is 30 days or so of some suffering to potentially save your life. It can be costly but I got the generic cream."

• bekku
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 14, 2013

"I have used this product for a couple of years. My regimen is to use it for 4-6 weeks, then give my skin a break. I repeat the process about every 3 months. It took me a long time to damage my skin in the sun, I don't expect it to clear up over night."

• Retired
• March 27, 2015

Carac (fluorouracil) "Keratosis on my scalp is an ongoing problem...Carac proved to be a great treatment to remove these unsightly pre-cancerous growths...On it for a two week treatment period...No pain, just some small patches of redness...The only problem I have with this medicine is the outrageous cost for a tiny tube. Be certain to wash hands immediately if you apply it that way, or even better use a cue tip."

• All...
• January 17, 2018

"Dr. told me about fluorouracil. She also showed me photos of people, this helped me mentally. I completed my 14 days. I had bright red areas on face, spots on face & chest. Crusty skin spots that cracked, everything hurt. My chest was worst with blistering & drainage. Worst thing happen- somehow I got cream on my lip. I believe it came from the pillow. My lip blistered & was swelled. I found using Vit.E liquid was helpful in relief for lip. I am using A&D on red area, crusty spots & chest. Feels great. I covered my pillow w/ silky pj top. This really helps me sleep better. What gave me encouragement was the other remarks & knowing the "norm""

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2020

"1st time I used efudex was 10 years ago and it was very effective but oh so painful. Years later while at the derm. I was told of a new and better was to treat skin cancers. Using Efudex in combination with vitamin D will give you better results than Efudex by itself. Treatment is used for 5-7 days only and there is NO PAIN!!"

• proac...
• October 15, 2011

"The first treatment was rough, but since then its easier every time and I only need treatments about every five years now. It takes a week longer to work on the body. Time your treatments for when you can keep your body covered and minimize public exposure. I like to start in early October so I'm presentable by the holidays. Do a different area every year until you're clear, e.g. arms and legs, trunk, and face and hands. Do the hands with the face because you can't hide them when you're in public, so you might as well do them both at a time when you can minimize your exposure to people. While doing the body, be careful of migration of the medicine to the face on your sheets and by touching your face. You will look younger."

• Anonymous
• February 12, 2012

"I am on day 12. It is very painful I can't imagine continuing to apply the cream for full 14 day treatment. Although after reading this forum I will continue as it sounds normal to feel pain at this point. I have heard the reaction is stronger between 2 to 4 weeks so I'm anxious thinking this could only get worse. Any help on that subject would be appreciated. I can apply the cream for 2 more days if I know that it can only get better. It seems weird to apply cream to such irritated areas thinking I'm just gonna make it worse. I have had stomach surgery and given birth to 2 children and this is almost more painful. I am confident the results will be worth it in the end though. My doctor prescribed a steroid cream. "

• JimL
• January 13, 2012

"I am a 56 year old male, on Day 6 of the fluorouracil 5% topical treatment on my face and bald head. No problems so far; skin is getting a little red and splotchy, but not too noticeable yet. Just wanted to thank everyone for their comments - very, very helpful and comforting to hear about the problems and possible solutions, and the successes. Thank you!! Very helpful and comforting."

• ColinK
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2021

Efudex (fluorouracil) "I’m a 73 year old throat cancer survivor who never wore a hat or sunscreen but loved the beach and golf. I’m paying for that now after just finishing three weeks of Efudix to whole face. It was tough getting through radiation/ chemo with tonsil cancer and this is short of that discomfort but nevertheless challenging with the itching, burning and soreness. Hiding under a hat and mask means I can go out without scaring the children. The biggest problem has been finding relief as the flaking and scabbing picks up speed in the week after treatment. I tried all of the recommended solutions I found on the net but none really helped me enough to sleep more than an hour or two at a time. In desperation I went to an Amcal chemist and asked for some Famigel which I know works with burning from cancer treatments. He didn’t have any but the pharmacist recommended a cooling, soothing, hydrating gel called Solosite. It worked and I am so so happy now."

• Rasun...
• May 10, 2015

Fluoroplex (fluorouracil) "My doctor gave me this cream to use on precancerous spots on my face. She told me I could try on other spots as well. I have a large number of keratosi (plural?) on the tops of my thighs. I decided to try it out on them. It has only been a few days and they are almost completely gone!"