Efudex and Burning: What Users Say

• BQa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2020

For Keratosis "I'm a 68-year-old male. This is the second time I have used this fabulous cream. Enjoy the results, YES! Enjoy the experience, NO! I applied the cream twice a day to my entire face for two weeks. After two further weeks, all of the scabbing has gone and my face has peeled. Still a few weeks to go before the worst of the redness goes. I must be honest - the pain was bad: Burning sensation, needle pricks, scabbing, and blood spots on my pillow. Sometimes it was so bad, I had to ease the pain with ice. But all of the pain described above was worth it. The cream detects the worst-affected areas - some I had no idea were damaged. It leaves the undamaged skin alone. This cream has reduced my number of visits to the seriously expensive dermatologist to almost zero. My skin feels and looks twenty years younger. I cannot recommend this cream enough. You should be thrilled with the results. But, as with most rewards in life, there is some serious pain involved."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2020

For Keratosis "I’m 52-year-old sun-loving female and started treatment of Efudex. I’m 3 weeks in and last dose on day 20. I didn’t react too badly to start at all. 3rd week in saw big changes as skin became more inflamed but very manageable. I was anxious with all the reviews I read but think it’s important to remind ones that everyone is different. The last day and night after finishing has been the most painful. I’m putting 1% hydrocortisone on in ointment form. Keeps area oily. Some benefits of COVID are mask-wearing. With hat, sunnies, and mask, I can go out and people don’t notice how hideous I look. Taking pain relievers to sleep. Itching, burning at night is worst. I’m a runner and I’ve continued all the way through but will see what the next few days bring."

• Ced...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "57-year-old male, brought up in South Africa, lived in Australia, and 30+ years in the military with sunny deployments. Previously suffered two SCCs and Bowen's disease. I'm on day 25 of Efudex treatment, stopped applying the cream after 21 days. My face is very red and itchy, it's amazing how the cream identifies areas of damage. It's been tough at times, sleepless nights with burning/itching. Strangely, when I stopped applying the cream I suffered from stomach acid, unsure if it's related. The biggest challenge is to persevere to the end. I use Aquaphor from Amazon to soothe the itching. Good luck to everyone!"

• Lar...
• March 5, 2013

For Keratosis "Used the product on my face for 6 weeks twice a day for two days every week. Depending on the extent of sun damage, the effects are dramatic and nasty looking. After the 2nd week, the treated area looks like a bad sunburn, it itches, peels, weeps, bleeds and burns. But the results after stopping for 3-4 weeks are very good."

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2020

For Keratosis "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 the corner of my eye, which swelled up. I used it 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 my nose as it's too painful."

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

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."

• mar...
• May 1, 2020

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."

• Dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "My dermatologist said to apply on the face twice daily for 10-12 days. Well, my skin is super sensitive. After 2 days, I was red, itching, and in pain, so I stopped at the end of day 5. I’m at day 9 and look like I have severe sunburn with scaling, peeling, oozing, and burning. I am hopeful I’m about to turn a corner toward clearing up. Argh! It worked great on my legs after 2 weeks of treatment. My facial skin, another story."

• Col...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2021

For Keratosis "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 Efudex 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."

• Pip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2021

For Actinic Keratosis "After my 11th basal cell carcinoma, my dermatologist found some actinic keratosis on my nose and above my upper lip. I have been using fluorouracil for seven days. Today is the first day the redness has really appeared, especially above my upper lip. My skin is starting to itch and burn, mild right now. I am supposed to apply once daily for two weeks, then take 2 to 3 weeks off, and apply again daily for two weeks. I had one basal cell carcinoma on my lower leg two years ago. I used the Aldara cream on that and did not like it at all. I had systemic side effects and burning, painful skin for 23 weeks. I am hoping this experience with fluorouracil will be better."

• Pip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2021

For Actinic Keratosis "After my 11th basal cell carcinoma, my dermatologist found some actinic keratosis on my nose and above my upper lip. I have been using fluorouracil for seven days. Today is the first day the redness has really appeared, especially above my upper lip. My skin is starting to itch and burn, mild right now. I am supposed to apply once daily for two weeks, then take 2 to 3 weeks off, and apply again daily for two weeks. I had one basal cell carcinoma on my lower leg two years ago. I used the Aldara cream on that and did not like it at all. I had systemic side effects and burning, painful skin for 23 weeks. I am hoping this experience with fluorouracil will be better."

• DCI...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2025

For Actinic Keratosis "Used nightly for 4 weeks as instructed by a dermatologist. Live in Scotland, so advised to only use on specific areas of actinic keratosis. Several areas on the forehead, under my eyes, and the entire nose where the sun would hit my face under my glasses/sunglasses, and a couple of spots on my right cheek which had shown signs of bleeding. Used a Q-tip to apply. 1st week itchy and burning. 2nd week redness and a more burning sensation, so I applied Tropic Skincare Tamanu balm during the day to keep skin moist, which helped hugely. 3rd week, skin redness spread to a wider area than I thought it was going to, and skin felt very tight. 4th week, I was glad I wore glasses as it hid a lot of the redness and crusting which started this week. I’m now two weeks post-treatment, and having used the Tamanu balm and castor oil on my face day and night, it is almost healed with only very slight redness remaining. Most areas appear smoother, though I may have to repeat on my nose. Would use again. Very pleased with results."