Fluorouracil topical and Itching: What Users Say

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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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."

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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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."

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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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..."

• day...
• December 29, 2009

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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."

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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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."

• Sun...
• February 23, 2014

For Keratosis "I was a 'beach baby', dropped off at the beach although high school us girls would plaster ourselves with baby oil and sun in our hair, spent time in sun tanning beds to get that California tan, but here I am 56 years old going through treatment. Like everyone here, yes it is itchy and unsightly to be seen in public. Feels like falling on asphalt scraped on your face, but it gets better. I finished treatment worried I was going to be left with a pinkish red scar across my forehead but from the time it started drying out and became itchy and rough like a bad sunburn I used Neosporin 'cream' with pain medication on it during the day and at night used Neosporin gel and little by little the pinkness is going away and it's only been a week!"

• cow...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2019

For Skin Cancer "I am on day 14. I am doing my whole face at once. Luckily, I work from home because it looks terrible. I refuse to go out in public, that is why I am doing the treatment in January. I did not realize how much damage was on my face until I started the treatment. I started out by putting it all over my face, then, once it attacked the 'bad' spots, I just put it on the areas needed (which is my whole forehead, nose, and some of my cheeks and chin). My skin feels tight and really dry, with some scabbing. Very slight burning, no pain. After 14 days, it feels like it is taking forever, and it does not look as though it will heal anytime soon. So, be prepared for a long process."

• tex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2013

For Keratosis "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."

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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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!"

• Tma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "I used Fu-5 cream on my face recently for sun-damaged skin. I had several bad sunburns 40 years ago in my teens. This product has wiped out most of that old damage! Scaly, red, and/or brown spots are about 90 percent gone. Applied twice a day for 2 weeks (28 applications). Here's how it goes: wash face, dry, and apply a thin layer. Nothing happens the first few days. Days 4 - 7, dark spots and redness should appear only on the damaged areas. Beware, days 8 to 14 can be holy hell with stinging, soreness, inflamed, red, raw skin...looked like a horror movie monster. Took Aleve and used pure aloe vera gel for relief. Don't use ANY other lotions and do stay out of the sun that second week. Third week healing starts, but expect lots of peeling and crazy itching (Neosporin helps). Week 4, WOW, the new improved skin shows...just a bit of redness that will fade over time. End results were well worth the pain. I recommend only doing one side of your face at a time - makes it easier to sleep."

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

Fluorouracil topical 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

Fluorouracil topical 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."

• Jul...
• October 17, 2016

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "21-day treatment. This stuff is brutal, but it works. Make sure you give yourself a full two months for treatment and recovery. This treatment is lengthy, and there is a process to it. Try to plan your treatment in the winter or fall months, when it's cooler. Believe me, you will not want to go outside. Your face will be unsightly, and you will become sensitive to the sun. Use the medicine at night and Aquaphor during the day, or at least two hours after you apply the cream. Cool the cream in the refrigerator for a bit for instant relief. You WILL get itchy. I used a Q-tip dipped in Aquaphor to gently relieve the itch. Be careful around the crevices by your nose. You don't want cream to accumulate there. Hang in there."