Fluorouracil topical and Itching: What Users Say (Page 4)

• 1st...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2022

For Actinic Keratosis "62 yr. old male. This did work, but beware, for 'most' using this RX is very tough physically and is also mentally challenging. I had to treat my whole face, and after approx. days 5-6, my face began to get very red & tight, sores appeared all over, SEVERELY itch and started looking quite horrendous-which got progressively worse looking every day thereafter. I missed 3 weeks of work as I did not want to be seen/stared at by others as it's next to impossible to hide your face. The dermatologist did not say much, other than how to apply it.....I now know why!! The severe non-stop itching was the worst part for 'me'. Nothing I was told to use (anti-itch cream and Benadryl) gave me much relief. Sleep became hard to get (even though I was exhausted), felt nauseous at times, irritable, and loss of appetite. Back in my day, a sunburn was just a sunburn. You stayed out of the sun a day or two and then we'd be right back outside in the sun! I pray I never have to use this again!!!"

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2022

For Skin Cancer "I was given fluorouracil after diagnosis of a few solar keratosis on my chest, which for some time I thought was prickly heat. I had to use the cream for a month. I was shocked to see within a week how many angry spots appeared on my chest, far more than when I went to see the consultant. They were so red and very itchy at night, so much so it often kept me awake. However, after 2 to 3 weeks of using the cream, they started to crust and dry up. After I finished the cream, my chest was still red in parts, but now about a month after finishing you can’t see anything - this cream is amazing. Don’t stop the treatment, finish the full course even if it’s painful, it’s so worth it, but you mustn’t stop. I used Vaseline and bio oil after finishing to help redness - amazing cream."

• Mil...
• June 17, 2024

Fluorouracil topical for Keratosis "This is my 3rd time using Efudex cream. I have been told by my dermatologist to use Efudex cream 2 times a day for 2 weeks on lower lip, forehead (1 spot), between upper lip and nose (1 spot), and both hands. I have very fair pale skin. My skin reacted really quickly to the cream. In 5 days, my skin was red with blisters and itchy, very uncomfortable. Now I am on day 10 and my hands are swollen, itchy, with scabs, very dry, and uncomfortable. I am applying fresh aloe vera gel from my yard 2 to 3 times a day. I am not sure I can make it to 14 days. I will write to let you know the results."

• B H...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2021

For Actinic Keratosis "I’m on day 6 of recovering from 14 days of 2x per day treatment of my full face: forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and around lips. I’m a light-skinned Scotch-Irish complexion who has spent many summers near the equator on 4 continents and 4 winters in Siberia. The whole face lit up like a Christmas tree at about day 6 and then at day 8 or 9 with little blisters and sores that turned to scales over a lot of my forehead, cheeks, and chin. The last 3 days of applying Efudex were torture. I did this treatment in 2006, so I knew ahead of time that it would be rough, but now at age 68, the reaction was more widespread and intense. The worst were blisters on my lips. I used Tylenol during the day and hydrocodone on the worst nights for pain and applied Aquaphor salve during treatment and am now using aloe vera gel with itching and peeling. I have also taken Benadryl to help with itching, and last night I was able to sleep several hours. If doing this again, I would do parts of my face at a time."

• 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."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2023

Fluorouracil topical for Keratosis "Used on nose, cheeks, and chin every night for 18 nights when scabbing became apparent, so stopped using. From today, June 3, I can use Canestan steroid cream on the affected areas. Also using oatmeal cream, which is very mild. Areas are very red and unsightly with scabbing and some tightness. Redness and tightness have moved towards my eyes, and this is quite uncomfortable. Persevering. Can’t comment on the outcome as the process is still ongoing."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2025

For Skin Cancer "This is my 3rd time using fluorouracil. Applied to the left side of my face for 21 days, was supposed to be 30, but my dermatologist looked at me and said stop. It was all red and scabby, but the face looked good after about 2 weeks. This was about 3 years ago. Now I am doing both sides of my face and have been applying twice a day for 12 days, and my face is not to be seen in public. No sleep, and if I do, I wake up in a puddle of oozing stuff. Thrown out 4 pillowcases, 1 pillow cover, and 1 pillow. I did stop the cream and am dealing with what is hopefully the healing process. I have used Carac on my face years ago, and results were good. Have been on the skin cancer journey for 17 years now. Price you pay for all those years of sun and tanning beds. Best of luck to all on this cream."

• wil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2024

For Actinic Keratosis "Realize that this cream will cause eruption of your skin, yellow oozing pus areas (particularly if you ever knock off the blobs), extreme itching, and nerve endings causing electrical feelings. Definitely do NOT let the ooze drip into your eye if you are doing your brow ridge. I would suggest that you do small areas for 28 days, then move on rather than try to do a giant area of your face. Do not stop before the 28 days (you will definitely want to stop before 28 days, don't). Afterwards, it will take another 2 to 3 weeks to heal completely."

• 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."