Tolak for Actinic Keratosis User Reviews

• Ber...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2023

"My first 3 days, there was little evidence of use. I've now applied for 12 straight days, and I'm very red and blotchy, with some signs of flakiness. I've been living with a burning sensation on my face, but it was so bad last night I couldn't sleep. I'm struggling to make 14 nights, but hope my dermatologist says I don't have to keep applying... I don't think I can keep going!"

• Has...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2019

"Instructed by my dermo to apply cream mornings each day for 4 weeks - wash face at night with a gentle cleanser. Today is day #19, so I am well into my 3rd week. Results are dramatic. I do look like a zombie from Michael Jackson's Thriller video, but apparently that is a good thing - it's working. Lots of red splotches including my neck, which I included besides my face. First signs of scabbing, which is the next phase. Can't wait. I just hope that things clear up quickly after day #28. Not much fun, especially in public, but most likely worth the aggravation."

• Neu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2017

"I have used Efudex for years on my severely sun-worshipped skin. I could never tolerate more than 7-10 days and never got great success. I tried Tolak once, with much better success. The mode of delivery, inactive ingredients, or something made a big difference, and I tolerated it almost 4 weeks. 1X a day app and something about it makes side effects milder, yet results better. I ended up getting much better results than I ever got with Efudex. I see some people here are discouraged that they don't get inflamed as soon as they do with Efudex, but the milder reaction allowed me to stay with it much longer. I did get a severe reaction after the 3rd week, but excellent results. Will use again... no more Efudex for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2023

"I successfully completed the 4 weeks on Tolak cream. My face became extremely unsightly, but I just dealt with it by staying inside. My upper lip was the worst and the only area that caused pain. It was definitely tolerable but extremely unsightly. I'm now in the healing phase and my results are AMAZING! I'm disabled and spend a lot of time inside. I will say...this would be difficult if you have to engage with the public."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2024

"I was scared to use this TOLAK cream. I am fair, freckled, and 60. I noticed red spots changing on my face. Doctors and 2 dermatologists convinced me to do it (took 6 years). My bathroom looks like a pharmacy. I was ready for whatever was going to happen. I have Aquafor, Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, Cerave Facial moisturizer with SPF 30, Tylenol, and Benadryl, and I cut off the fingers of plastic gloves to use for the application of Tolak. Yes, a little over the top, but I felt ready. Eight weeks prior to treatment, I got my skin as healthy as I could. I went to a Medical Esthetician and did the 8 weeks cleaning/moisturizing steps (faithfully). Everything on YouTube, internet talks about Effudex, not Tolak. I carried on. Those YouTube videos were helpful. I took photos and watched my progress. Day 1-5 - not much change (felt dizzy at times); Day 5-10 a lot redder (itchy/prickly feeling - crease at nose painful - avoid putting cream there); Day 12-17 redder/scaly/burning in one spot."

• Kal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2022

"This is day 27, the last of 4 weeks of use of the cream, putting it on in the evening after washing and drying the affected areas. In the first 2 weeks, nothing much happened, some redness, a little soreness in one or two places. I felt a little dizzy on a couple of occasions. In the third week, the spots began to become apparent, and flakes of stiff dry skin began to peel away from the worst areas. In this last week, the redness has increased, the spots have gone darker and darker, and some scabs have formed. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be peak horror according to the literature that I was given with the prescription. After that, it should start to subside. Right now, when I look in the mirror, I see an unfamiliar walk-on part from a rubbish zombie film, and it feels as if I have a layer of stiff chili-based lacquer painted on my face and forehead. Whenever I've been outside, I've worn a broad-brimmed bush hat to shade my face from the sun."

• Aus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2024

"Started to see red blotches at about day 4 on my face and head (scalp, forehead, and nose). By day 13, all areas are now raised, red, itchy, and painful. Trouble is, I am writing this at 5 a.m. in the morning. Yes, the pain and itching will not allow me any sleep. If I can't sleep, I reckon I will only get in another 2 days (14 in total), instead of the 4 weeks. Will call the doctor and see if I can get anything to enable some hours of sleep. I have used this cream on a couple of spots before with great results, but this extensive all-over treatment may be too much."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2018

"I've been using fluorouracil for 10 days. After the 1st application to my entire face, I started to see red spots, and lots of them! I'm using the 4% cream. There is very mild itching. My doctor said to use 1x per week for 4 weeks at night, and it's okay to apply moisturizer topped with zinc oxide sunscreen in the morning after washing my face. I don't expect to have problems with this med. I'm a redhead with fair skin."

• Blu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2018

"Used this once daily for two weeks on my cheek. After the last day, I was out in December sun for approximately an hour in LA, with sunscreen. However, days later, I developed swelling and then large blisters, which healed with large scabs. Thankfully, when they fell off, I was left with only red skin, with a few blood spots under the skin. All healed over in three weeks. Unfortunately, this experience has left me weary of using it again."

• Ten...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2020

"Used for 7 days, but on day 5, got nausea, headache, general ill feeling, blazing hot face. Ice packs ineffective in relieving the heat and pain. Was in bed most of 2 days. Had to stop treatment, felt very ill. Was told it was probably ineffective in treating the condition since the spots didn't get crusted."

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

"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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2022

"I was having dry spots on my face that didn’t go away with any amount of cream/treatment. My dermatologist prescribed Tolak… 2 weeks use applying a thin layer to the entire face at night. I have just completed my 2 weeks. Areas on my face and forehead show up red, blotchy and are beginning to scab up. I feel it is working. Plan to do it again in about 6 months."

• Sue...
• March 22, 2023

"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."

• Ski...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2017

"Used it for 4 days and no results whatsoever. Typical 5% fluorouracil creams show at least redness. Tolak has shown none. More so, the formulation of it is horrible in that there are little white clumps right out of the tube that make application difficult. The manufacturer offers hugely discounted coupons. You're better off buying the generic for better results."

• tgi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2023

"2014 Efudex treatment face (ex-Lifeguard, pontoon sailor, swimmer, beach) side effects were only facial itching, minor pains, nothing to write home about. 2023 Tolak (age 74 now) side effects were 95% presented, no blood in painful diarrhea but herniated disk presented w/no other suspects. Prior to 3rd-week treatment, pillows looked like a bloody crime scene, even though applications were the first thing in A.M. No more golf but walking 2 mi mostly OK as well as other exercises. Doc review of effects OK'd an early quit-date but by then could see the end of the tunnel and got all 4 weeks in. Writing this one week past treatment 'curing zone': some healing progress face, diarrhea gone, herniated disk pains vacillate, arrhythmia comes/goes, daily headache diminished, etc. Too early to judge if all the bad skin spots will peel off."

• I...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2022

"Using Tolak for 3 weeks, I have red spots, almost bloody looking. It does get a little crusty, and at every time I shower, the crust falls off, and I wait another day to dry out. I keep you posted about the outcome, Ani."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2024

"Doctor said to apply once per week and then up the dosage slowly, but after the second week and a morning/evening application, things really started to break out. This works much faster than Efudex. Now I apply every few days and wait for the pain breakouts to ease up before continuing. Eventually, some areas stop reacting, while others will need further application. I suggest it is wiser to work on one region only at a time rather than do your entire face and scalp."

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

"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?"

• Sah...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2016

"I have used this cream for 5 days for pre-cancerous spots. Nothing is happening so far."