Carac and Redness: What Users Say

• day...
• December 29, 2009

For Keratosis "I am on day 14 of using Carac. My face is extremely red, tight, itchy, and a little sore, but I've had serious eczema in the past and this isn't nearly as bad as that was. It took about a week to show up on my forehead, but then a couple more days they started intensifying on my cheeks, chin, and sides of my face. It is a little unsightly, but once I explained to people what was going on and that it wasn't permanent or contagious, they seemed to relax. I tried Vaseline for moisturizing, but that seems too greasy. Products with zinc oxide in them seem to give me relief and protect me from the sun as well. Please do not spend ANY time in the sun when using this. The doctor told me it could permanently make your skin darker in those areas!"

• Anonymous
• September 29, 2010

For Keratosis "I just finished a 14-day usage of Carac, as prescribed by my skin doctor. After the first two days, my skin started to turn red, by the 7th it started to flake, and the areas that I needed to apply it to (cheeks, temples, and forehead) turned dark red, like a bad sunburn. Days 8-14 were the worst as to pain on these areas when showering in lukewarm water or washing from the sink bowl, either way I could feel a burning sensation, as well as light bleeding at some areas on the next-to-last day. Flaking of the skin and an itchy feeling now that treatment is done. I wonder how long before my skin color returns to normal. Would I do this again? Yes."

• MHe...
• November 7, 2009

For Skin Cancer "I have used Carac for 4 weeks. After the 1st week, I began seeing flakiness, redness, burning, and itching. Taking a warm shower was painful, being in a car with the heat on was painful. But I've gotten through it. Layers and layers of skin have peeled off. Underneath, my skin is as soft as a baby's bottom and clear. Compared to having these lesions continually burned off, this short-term uncomfortable condition was a better method."

• isl...
• August 4, 2015

For Keratosis "62-year-old blonde with blue eyes and fair skin. Spent 50 years in CA and HI getting sunburned. Now... paying the price. I have used Efudex and Carac cream treatments, both burn like crazy, peeling several layers, and red, red, red. I did my whole face at one time but had to stop after 18 days applying once a day. Had blisters and bleeding, crying quite a bit. It took two months after stopping the treatment for the pinkness to disappear. Using SPF 50 every day now under my makeup. Get lots of compliments on how young my skin looks."

• So...
• January 1, 2015

For Skin Cancer "This is the 2nd time using this cream...more for a pre-cancerous treatment. I used it only on my nose 8 years ago. I am 10 days in on using Carac cream for my whole face. I thought there would be only a few areas but I have a lot of sun damage all over my face. Nothing on my nose (already treated), forehead less because I had bangs most of my life. During the day I use powder foundation to cover most of the dark red blotches so I can look normal. At night I take NyQuil to sleep. So far I can tolerate it all."

• Ret...
• March 27, 2015

For Keratosis "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 Q-tip."

• Ski...
• December 26, 2011

For Keratosis "Was using Efudex which had harsh side effects (redness, swelling). Doc then switched me to Carac - in the same chemical class as Efudex but milder, yet very effective for me."