Tolak and Itching: What Users Say

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

For Actinic Keratosis "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."

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

For Actinic Keratosis "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."

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

For Actinic Keratosis "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."

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

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."

• Sue...
• March 22, 2023

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."

• Sue...
• March 22, 2023

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."

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

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

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."

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

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."

• Gar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2025

For Actinic Keratosis "I'm very new to this medication, presently on day #7. I have all the familiar symptoms: redness, itchiness, stinging, etc. I will be evaluated in 5 weeks by the dermatologist after completing the 2-week Tolak regimen. If I can avoid any more cancer surgeries on my face and ears, and there have been several, the inconvenience that this medication produces will be well worth tolerating the uncomfortable symptoms of this medication. I can only hope and pray that this medicine will kill any cancer cells lurking below the outer skin's surface. Keep your children safe from this dreaded condition by limiting sun exposure and using a sunscreen of 30 or more when spending time outdoors. Lying on the beach and baking under the sun will not bode well in the later years. I'm speaking from experience! I've rated this medicine a 5 because I'm just in the beginning stages of trying to arrest the pre-cancer symptoms and won't know the outcome for several more weeks/months."

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

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."