Fluorouracil topical and Burning: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Car...
• July 17, 2016

For Skin Cancer "Tolak 4%. I used it for three weeks every night. Also used hydrocortisone 2.5 every morning. Treating my chest-this had been so, so painful for me. Couldn't wear clothes. The itching and burning at times were so unbearable. I avoid moving, it hurts so bad. Applying Vaseline from the fridge gave me about 2 seconds of relief. I'm in the 4th week, and my chest is still burning and itching so bad. Hard to eat, hard to sleep. I hope this agony was necessary and worth doing."

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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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."

• Pal...
• May 12, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "I used fluorouracil cream for the first time in 2018 for AK spots on my face. I applied a.m. and p.m. for 1 week. By the last day, my face burnt so bad I would almost cry when washing my face. I had more spots than I thought. I was told the cream would only affect areas that needed treatment, and I agree. The main spot I was treating didn’t completely go away, so the dermatologist told me to apply again this past December (2019). I was dreading it, and the dermatologist said the second treatment wouldn’t be as bad. I didn’t get as red or flaky, and the pain was pretty much nonexistent (except for the areas that I didn’t really get the first time). So, if you have to treat the same area again, it’s not going to be as bad as the first time. I have never really tanned, even though I tried really hard... grew up without sunscreen, slathered baby oil and iodine on, and used tanning beds for years after they first came out. Only in my 20s did I realize I needed to use sunscreen because I hated being burnt."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2023

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "On day 12 of applying Tolak on my nose once daily. It took a few days for the redness and swelling to appear, but then BAM! Much better experience with this cream than others I tried. On day 7, I started to experience mild headaches and nausea, but they are bearable. The burning and itching are also tolerable - nose is starting to crust over. Hopefully, will leave good results, and the nausea and headaches stay at a minimum."

• Bre...
• March 25, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "First I used this on my chest once a day for 2 weeks. After the first 10 days, I had red lesions all over, but I continued for the full 14 days. It itched like crazy, hurt when I washed it so that the washcloth felt like a Brillo pad, water felt like fire. After completing treatment, my chest cleared up. Now I am using it on my entire face. On day 12, burning, itching looks awful. I have had 2 Mohs surgeries on my face, 2 surgeries on my chest, and one on my arm, this has all been in 7 months' time. Hoping my face clears soon. I will have to have a laser treatment on last month's surgery to help the scar out on my face, and I will have to have corrective surgery next to my eye from 1st month's to loosen the tension of the skin. All worth it in the end."

• Sue...
• March 22, 2023

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "Stopped applying Tolak yesterday. Now burning and itching in affected areas. Some scabbing and very red blotches too. The burning and itching is extremely uncomfortable. I hope the results in a few weeks will be worth it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2018

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "I'm on day 8 of a 2-week treatment. After reading about the pain and suffering people go through, I decided to do a 5 cm patch at a time. Started with the left temple to cheekbone area, which was already red patchy spots. By day four, I had 2 very red burned patches on my cheekbone. Wash (gently) before applying each time. Make sure to wait 20 mins. I have been experiencing fatigue and headaches, of course burning at the affected site. Hanging in there. Hope it's worth it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "I live in Hawaii, and all the sun caught up with me. Since I'm on quarantine, I decided this is the best time to deal with this. My dermatologist prescribed fluorouracil to be applied twice a day. I've actually been putting it on once in the morning, once after I work out/shower, and then at night before bed. I checked in with my dermatologist, and she said to stick to the twice a day. I welcome that change as it's starting to burn and sting. At first, it was just irritating - the cream felt heavy and sticky on my face, but now it burns. I'm only in one week, I guess it gets worse before it gets better. Ugh."

• My...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2021

For Actinic Keratosis "I started with the fluorouracil cream on Sunday afternoon. I washed my face with water and put it on again at night. I felt really tired and sick on Monday, so I stayed in bed but applied it again as directed. By Tuesday, I couldn’t stand it anymore and washed it off and didn’t apply it again. It’s Wednesday, and my face is tight and burning, and my eyes hurt, and I have a headache. To me, the pain and feeling sick and tired aren’t worth it. The VA has scheduled me an appointment to have cryotherapy, and I’m okay with that. I will never use this stuff again, and I give anyone who can do it for an extended period of time a bravo soul!"

• geb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2021

Fluorouracil topical for Keratosis "This is my second time using the Carac! I have light skin and very light blue eyes. As a child, if we went to the beach, I would always get blisters on my shoulders. So that's how delicate my skin is. I also love the beach and raised my children on Cape Cod in Mass. So the beach was in walking distance and we loved it. I was always under an umbrella. But between swimming laps and skiing all over the USA, the sun has done its damage. The first time I was in my 40s, and it was really hard because I was a hairdresser and could not take a lot of time off work. But I saved my vacation time for the last two weeks. Now I am in my 70s and in the FL hot sun and started a week ago with Carac, and wow... My skin looks like it was burnt by fire. But I know in 3 weeks I will have gotten rid of all the red spots that would have taken a lot more money and my time running back and forth to the DR to have him burn off two or three spots and say, see you in a month... HAPPY IN FL. THANK YOU CARAC... MY TUBS LASTED FOREVER!"

• For...
• December 5, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "I've had a 'remarkable' reaction to this fluorouracil cream. It burned through multi-layers of skin in the center of my face - and like a 'T' across my forehead. Once I stopped using the cream, I tried several things to relieve the pain I was still having due to the peeling. Without question, the 'Bacitracin Plus' (with pain relief) (in the RED package) is the best of all. It has a topical analgesic in it, called 'Pramoxine HCl'. The manufacturer used to include Lidocaine, but has discontinued that in favor of Pramoxine. I now apply it to all of the affected area in small circles gently - and give it about 3 minutes to fully work. You'll need to apply it about every four hours - while awake - as newer, drier, flakier skin surfaces."

• Rid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2021

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "Currently on week two applying to my face. I have used the cream on my hands before with good results. This time, my face is constantly burning and stinging, and I cannot get more than an hour or two of sleep before it wakes me up. I am constantly sick at my stomach. I look like a monster, but that doesn't bother me. As with a prior poster, though I didn't apply to my eyes (or near them), it feels like it has gotten into them (very gritty and sore). I'm only applying twice a week per doctor's orders, but he wants me to go 6 months. That's not gonna happen - I'm finished with this. I get lesions cut out 3-4 times per year - I think I prefer that to what I'm experiencing now. I cannot imagine going forward with this treatment - maybe I'm more sensitive than most. The doc said it would be like a bad sunburn, but as one who has experienced more bad sunburns than 99% of the population, I'm calling rubbish on that. With a bad sunburn, it feels better on Day 2, with this, it just keeps getting worse."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 15, 2023

For Skin Cancer "Using once per day on the chest area for precancer treatment. This is my 3rd round in approximately a 6-year time span. Am on week 2 of 3. The itch and burn stage becomes almost unbearable, have been taking ibuprofen for about 4 days. Woke up at 3:40 a.m. Could not sleep due to itch and pain. It’s now 5:30 a.m. and have an ice pack on top of two layers of a t-shirt. Wearing high neck shirts doubled. Wear some of the lower cut t-shirts backward to keep the upper chest covered. Feel itchy in areas close to the application site also. Even feeling a little itchy on the lower cheek area from time to time. This will pass and it is totally worth it. One more week to go. Can do this. I apply one hour before bedtime per instruction from my dermatologist. Ice pack seems to be giving some relief. Hang in there. And please stay out of the sun. Tell your kids and grandkids to use sunscreen and not worship the sun. I didn’t listen as a teen. Wish I would have."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2025

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "I've been taking Tolak cream once a night for 20 days now. Very difficult, painful, itchy, burning. I'm hiding inside, started slowly, but now my face is totally crusted, swollen spots all over. So I reckon this means it's working as I watched some YouTube videos with people using Efudex (also fluorouracil 5). Now my dermatologist has said to stop using it or give it a break for a while. I have an appointment with her in 3 weeks. I'm just afraid it won't have got rid of it all as I was supposed to do 28 days. Any ideas?"

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2025

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "This is my 2nd time using Tolak. The first time was 3 years ago or so, and my ears lit up like firecrackers and scabbed and peeled, red spots/splotches on other areas. This time after day 4, I started seeing a reaction. I am now on day 11 (3 to go), and my cheeks and around my nose are RED, scaly, hot, and itchy. I have red spots around my chin, my scalp, and at my temples like measles. The itching is worse this time than last, not sure if it is based upon the area being larger this time (vs. the ears last time). I do wonder why my cheeks did not light up last time I used it, like this time. I am one that uses sunscreen with zinc oxide so no further damage on cheeks should have been done since last usage. The burning/itching usually starts about an hour after applying the Tolak cream. I then put on a petroleum jelly that was prescribed for it. It keeps the itching/burning down so I can sleep at night. I cover my pillow with a hand towel to keep the scabs/petroleum/leakage off of my pillows."

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2025

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "I am on day 15 of using Tolak and I plan on writing another update after 4 weeks of use and after 2 weeks of healing as that is not included by anyone here and it would be nice to know the aftermath. I have a red ring around my mouth/nose area, almost as if I kept a red solo cup suctioned to my face. I have other random spots and have been doing my chest as well. Some spots are red and swollen, others have scabs, and the areas around my nostrils seem to be the worst, crusting and pussy. Last night was the worst, itching and so tough not to rub off the layers of scabbing around my mouth. Today I have felt burning all day around my nose and I wear reading glasses all day for work and all night for homework. Needless to say, wearing glasses feels like I am rubbing my nose even more raw and when I finally take them off it feels so much better! That said, I am committed to doing this for the full four weeks, but given the pain I am in now, I will keep you posted."

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

Fluorouracil topical 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."

• Anonymous
• May 3, 2012

For Keratosis "I'm on day 18. Third day after stopping the cream. The first 14 days weren't so painful, mainly uncomfortable. Today there is more tightness, dryness, itchiness, and burning, but still tolerable."