What is Fluorouracil 5% topical cream used for?
Fluorouracil cream and topical solution are used to treat actinic or solar keratoses (scaly or crusted lesions [skin areas] caused by years of too much exposure to sunlight).
What does fluorouracil do to normal skin?
5-FU cream is a treatment that selectively destroys sun-damaged cells in the skin whilst retaining the normal healthy skin cells. It has been in use for more than 50 years. 5-FU cream will induce inflammation in the skin. This will consist of redness, soreness, oozing, crusts and scabs.
What does your skin look like after using fluorouracil cream?
Fluorouracil may cause redness, soreness, scaling, and peeling of affected skin after 1 or 2 weeks of use. This effect may last for several weeks after you stop using the medicine and is to be expected. Sometimes a pink, smooth area is left when the skin treated with this medicine heals.
How long after applying fluorouracil Can I shower?
Do not wash the face for at least three hours after Efudex (or Carac) application.
Can you put Vaseline over fluorouracil?
Once you finish the medication, the area of skin treated will be red and raw. It generally takes about 3-4 weeks for all of the inflammation to resolve. You may use Vaseline or Eucerin cream to soothe the skin.
Can I use moisturizer with fluorouracil?
After using fluorouracil cream, wait 2 hours before applying sunscreen or moisturizer to the treated area. Do not use other skin products including creams, lotions, medications, or cosmetics unless instructed by your doctor to do so.
What are the side effects of fluorouracil 5% cream?
For some patients it is necessary to use the 5-fluorouracil 5% cream for 6-12 months (cycles) to obtain the best results. SIDE EFFECTS: When using 5-fluorouracil 5% cream, you may have mild irritation, such as redness, dryness, swelling, or a mild burning sensation.
How many days should I use fluorouracil cream?
Fluorouracil is a topical cream that used for treatment of pre-cancers called actinic keratosis. It is used for 2-6 weeks depending on the area being treated. Most patients use the cream twice a day for 4 weeks from start to finish. The treated areas may begin to get itchy, red, irritated, or sensitive by 10-14 days.
When to stop using fluorouracil?
Stop using fluorouracil topical and call your doctor at once if you have: severe pain or swelling of treated skin; severe itching, burning, or irritation; open skin sores; or.
How effective is fluorouracil?
The success rate of treating basal cell carcinoma with fluorouracil is approximately 90 percent to 93 percent. And unlike surgery, Efudex is not likely to leave scars or permanently discolor patches of skin.
