Efudex and Itching: 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."

• for...
• May 14, 2015

For Keratosis "I am now into my 15th day of using the Efudix cream, and I look scary. I was told by my skin specialist to do my whole face, and as directed, have done so. I am a 51-year-old woman that grew up on the coast and never thought anything of it. After having a melanoma removed last year, the ugliness, pain, and itchiness of this treatment is far better than an alternative outcome. Like others, I googled pictures and was horrified, but I remember the outcome will be beautiful. I would do it again in a heartbeat."

• 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."

• 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!"

• Gds...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2019

For Actinic Keratosis "Growing up at the Jersey Shore and summers spent at FL beaches, I fell in love with the warmth of the sun and a healthy tan. At 55, the sun made my chest bubble up and my legs reverse tan. It is no surprise that I had actinic keratosis multiplying fast. I was prescribed Efudex 5% for my chest, neck, and face. I had no idea it was topical chemo. What? I googled everything Efudex, bought Aveeno, vanicream, Aquaphor, asked for anxiety meds for my mounting fears, and took a personal leave from work. It's Day 13, saw Dr., I'm done. I did look beat up. In the afternoon, insane itching... tap tap. Many more dead lesions surface and crust up. I'm using cortisone and Aquaphor on the corners and for lesions around my lips. I will be doing this for years to come, peeling back the many layers of damage. It has not been as bad as it was for others. It's uncomfortable yet tolerable and much better than the alternative - the knife or cancer. Oddly, I feel healthier and fortunate to be given this chance."

• urp...
• July 12, 2009

For Keratosis "Efudex works great but is very painful and itchy after about two weeks. I tried many creams to relieve the symptoms between applications of Efudex. One cream that REALLY helped was Traumeel. What a sanity saver. Just thought I would pass this on for others to get some relief. I hope it can help you too."

• fro...
• November 19, 2009

For Keratosis "This is my second time around with Efudex. I swear by it for effectiveness. Side effects are bad: breaking out looks unsightly, itching makes you feel like you want to scratch off your skin. The best relief I have found is Tylenol for pain and Calendula Cream (Marigold Cream) for the relief of irritated skin. That's keeping me sane and I am on week 4 overall: 16 days using medication the remainder trying to overcome side effects. Good luck to everyone. I still have more to go..."

• Nin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "I had a very tiny split on the side of my nose that wouldn’t heal. It was BCC. It was surgically removed. One of the most horrible experiences, emotionally. I used Efudex a year ago for a spot that appeared on my chest. It worked well, although painful and itchy. I am now using it on my forehead, nose, and upper lip area. I was shocked at how many spots appeared! Extremely painful when touched, but otherwise just a little itchy on occasion. I am grateful for all the comments here... it gives me courage to keep going. Week 2..."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2018

For Keratosis "I have been using Efudex now for two weeks. I have been putting my regular moisturizer on every day, and my skin stays soft. I use pure shea butter. I am having a little itching, but it's not bad. I thought users might try shea butter to help keep the area moist."

• Jof...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 27, 2019

For Keratosis "Treatment with Efudex on both arms for keratosis caused damage, had a bad reaction creating an auto-immunity situation; still being treated by a dermatologist after 12 months. Itching unbearable on arms, bleeding after scratching and left with a watery mess. Relief from ice packs helps and then moisturizing. Treatment from Prednisolone, Cyclosporin lasts for a few weeks and then I break out again. Been around this way 6 times now! Efudex: seek all the info you can before treatment."

• whe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "I was prescribed Efudex for basal carcinoma on my leg. Used twice a day for 3 weeks. Excellent result. Now 6 weeks on and just left with a red area which I assume will fade with time. I was also told to treat AK on my face, used cream once a day for 4 weeks (stopped 3 days short). As with other comments made, I was not informed by the doctor that I would look absolutely monstrous. Immediate reddening of the entire face, followed by scabbing. Still at the scabbing stage. I could get a part in a horror movie. The cream seemed to migrate towards my eyes where I had not applied it. Would I have used Efudix if I had known what I would look like - probably wouldn’t have had the courage as people stare when I am out and about. Determined to continue with my life as normal. Think it’s better than it turning into cancer at a later stage. I await the results with bated breath, although I think this may be many months away."

• 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."

• Did...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2020

For Skin Cancer "Being a white Aussie girl who loved being outside, my skin was a mess. I’m now 58. I’ve used Efudex several years ago with great success. Started again due to scaly patches on my face that never went away. These reacted instantly and then disappeared. After having a break, I started using it on pigmentations on my face. These too reacted, interestingly, I started getting reactions on places I didn’t put the cream. So I started putting the cream there too. My face is a mess, very itchy, sore. I certainly wouldn’t recommend using this on large areas at a time due to the uncomfortableness of the process. I know it will be worth it, so I will continue on. I have some lumps on my head, once my face is done, I will be doing my scalp."

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2019

For Keratosis "Been using Efudex for 3 weeks now, applying it nightly on a small spot on the left cheek. The area of skin has 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 minutes 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 Sudocrem, hope it helps!"

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

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."

• Lou...
• March 31, 2017

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."

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

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."

• 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."

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

For Keratosis "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."

• Itc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2020

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "I'm 69 and using Efudex for the second time. Just as in 2008, I have been recommended for 21 days of Efudex cream, 2 applications per day, followed by 21 days of twice a day applications of Desonide 0.05%. I am applying the cream broadly on my forehead back to my receded hairline, my sideburn area, and my nose. After the first week, most areas turned blotchy red and grew increasingly sore and itchy. I have experienced mild stomach upset, and my face feels hot. It started to affect my ability to sleep around day 16. Almost packed it in on day 19 but read these posts and decided to persevere for 3 more days. It worked very well back in 2008, and I'm looking forward to the ordeal ending and getting similarly good results."

• Sni...
• October 22, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "My GP saw some actinic keratosis on my head and said I should mention this at my appointment with a dermatologist. I am using fluorouracil 5%. The regime was 4 weeks once a day, followed by 3 weeks of healing, followed by 4 weeks. The 2nd treatment is to reveal and fix any actinic keratosis missed in the first. I have nearly finished the all treatment on my head - I am bald. I am 78 years old. The treatment on the head was itchy and, at the end, painful - the 2nd treatment did not show any remaining AKs. I could see that some of the 'rash' raised by the drug extended to my face, so I started a treatment there. This was more painful - particularly around the mouth and cheeks as these move if you smile or speak. I am in the healing phase now and will start a second treatment in 2 weeks. COVID has meant that my scary face has not scared the neighborhood! This was free on the NHS (National Health Service UK) - they are great."

• 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."

• Red...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2018

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "Just got done using this for a superficial basal cell on my nose. Week 1 wasn't bad, just a little redness and irritation at the end. By the end of week 2, it was red and very itchy. I can't say it was ever very 'painful,' just uncomfortable and irritated. It has felt like something crawling across my face/nose since the end of week 2, and itchy. Lots of trouble getting to sleep because of this. 2 weeks once a day, 3 weeks twice a day. It's still red and very itchy, and I'm told it will be for another week or two. Now I wait for follow-up."

• 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."