Stop using Efudex and call your doctor at once if you have: severe pain or swelling of treated skin; severe itching, burning, or irritation; new or worsening skin sores; fever, chills; or severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, vomiting. Before your skin begins to heal it will become red, dry, tender, and crusty.
What is the average recovery time after you stop using Efudex?
You will know you have reached the erosion phase of treatment when your skin begins to crack open and weep clear fluid. Depending upon the patient, some areas may even bleed slightly once the cream has fully absorbed and the skin has dried out.
How long does before fluorouracil start working?
Erosion is the end of your Efudex treatment. This is the point at which you and your doctor will together decide to cease application of the chemotherapy cream. Simply put, the cream has done all it can, and it’s time to begin healing. What does it look like? Since most Efudex users experience redness and irritation, I will start there.
Does Efudex have a recommended shelf life?
Erosion occurs when the skin begins to peel away and seeping occurs from beneath the surface of the irritated skin. Tips for healing phase Wait anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour after washing to apply any lotion or cream. The healing area is raw, tender, and any product will burn and sting excruciatingly. Anything burns when first applied.
How to treat skin after using fluorouracil?
When the entire area looks like it has reached the erosion phase, I stop. Your doctor will be able to tell you for certain if it looks like you are done.
I am including an article on the erosion phase and one on healing. They may come in handy in the coming days.
https://skincancer.net/life-with-skin-cancer/efudex-cream-how …
When should I stop using Efudex cream?
Can I stop Efudex after 2 weeks?
When should I stop fluorouracil?
How do you know if Efudex has worked?
Is 2 weeks long enough for fluorouracil?
What does the erosion stage of Efudex look like?
How many days should I use fluorouracil?
What does skin look like after fluorouracil treatment?
Does skin look better after Efudex?
How long does Efudex take to heal?
Does Efudix make you tired?
What is the erosion stage of Efudex?
What is the Efudex erosion stage? Erosion is the end of your Efudex treatment. This is the point at which you and your doctor will together decide to cease application of the chemotherapy cream. Simply put, the cream has done all it can, and it’s time to begin healing.
When does seeping occur in a patient with erosion?
Generally speaking, around the third or fourth week (patient instructions vary by case and doctor), seeping can occur.
When does seeping occur?
Generally speaking, around the third or fourth week (patient instructions vary by case and doctor), seeping can occur. Clear fluid will escape the dry irritated skin through tiny cracks and can make its way to the surface. The seeping is cool. I don’t mean that in the way we have all come to know “cool.”.
Is it better to sit still during erosion?
It’s during erosion that I feel much better sitting as still as possible. Erosion makes daily life and work activities difficult. During erosion and the first couple days of healing, just bending over sometimes made my chest feel as if it were splitting open - it wasn’t, but you could have fooled me.
Does Efudex cause redness?
Since most Efudex users experience redness and irritation, I will start there. Erosion, for me, means that the entire area I am treating is bright red but contains much darker spots where the actinic keratoses are most concentrated. These darker spots tend to pucker and may even begin to scab. Skin that has reached the erosion phase, in my experience, is no longer soft or supple looking. It appears stiff and hard - mask-like, if you will.
How to wash efudex?
Wash with water and mild soap in the shower and do not rub the area. Patting to wash and patting to dry is preferred. The ten minutes following a shower or washing are key. The skin tightens and throbs much more so during healing than during treatment as it craves the Efudex.
How to apply Efudex cream?
How to apply Efudex. I apply a small amount of the cream to a tissue and spread a very thin layer across the treatment area and wash my hands immediately afterward. Some use gloves, but I find that the tissue helps absorb any excess I may squeeze from the tube. It only takes a thin layer to do the work.
Can you sell your email address for Efudex?
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Is Efudex painful?
This is, without a doubt, the hallmark of Efudex. As the damaged skin is treated and precancerous cells surface, the skin can become unbearably painful.
Is Efudex good for sun damage?
Efudex, though highly unpleasant when sun damage is severe, can be maneuvered. Every user experiences a different mix of symptoms and varying results. Dermatologists and prescribing physicians do not always think to fully prepare patients for the possibilities. If you are prescribed Efudex, do your research. There seems to be more blogs, photo diaries, and forums out there asking questions about side effects than there are suggestions from actual physicians. Treatment with Efudex can seem overwhelming and insurmountable, but it is definitely doable with the right support and tips.
What is Efudex used for?
Efudex, a topical chemotherapy, is commonly prescribed by dermatologists to fight actinic keratoses, and with that prescription comes a plethora of questions. Some of the most frequent questions I have been asked as a regular Efudex user are, “What do you use to ease the pain and itching?” and “How do you cover the redness?”.
How long does it take for a pink skin peel to go away?
That area will remain red and tender for several weeks, and the overall pink tone may be present for a few months.
Is it bad to stop Efudex?
If you have seen photos of patients in the throes of Efudex treatment or watched videos of patients as they describe the pain and frustration of coping with side effects, you may find it difficult to believe that stopping treatment would be worse--it is. It is so much worse. As the skin grows accustomed to not receiving the cream, it begins to act out. The burning and itching magnify and, depending on the area being treated, it can become all but impossible to move freely without pain. Having a selection of products and procedures on hand in those critical hours after the last application is crucial for the patient’s well-being--both physically and mentally.
Can Efudex take the place of a support system?
No product can take the place of a support system unified by a common bond. Turning to fellow users of Efudex and asking their advice on the dos and don’ts is one of the most beneficial things I have ever done. When you can make a connection with people who have been there and are currently there, you will have made a connection for life. Don’t be afraid to ask if what you are doing has worked for someone else. Don’t hesitate to question the effectiveness of a product you are considering trying. If I have learned nothing else from treating skin cancer with Efudex, I have learned that someone else out there can answer my questions, and I am never wrong for asking.
Who provides instructions for Efudex?
Front Range Dermatology Associates provide a list of instructions for applying Efudex and hints for aftercare. In addition, their information sheet briefly mentions a few common symptoms. I am including the link to their instructions as means of comparing their suggestions to my journal of experiences.
How long does it take for a shower to stop stinging?
Larger areas are beginning to lift but too stiff to peel and will bleed if pulled. 10 minutes after shower skin pulls incredibly tight. Took about two hours after shower to stop stinging. First application of Vanicream two hours after shower stings. Later in the night applying doesn't hurt.
Answers
IMO that is a long time to use Efudex and a lot of applications. I've used it a lot but on the face it is truly grueling for me me. Nevertheless I have done it twice a day as you for two weeks and the recovery is fairly rapid - huge improvement within 1 week of stopping .
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How long does Efudex last?
Answer: Efudex. Some dermatologists prescribe this only for two weeks, others may recommend it for four or more weeks. It depends on the amount of precancerous changes that are noted and your extent of background photodamage, as well as the location of the damage such as the arms or face.
How long does it take for Efudex to work?
Answer: Efudex may work in 3 weeks. In my practice we typically use Efudex for 3-4 weeks depending upon how the patient tolerates it. It is not uncommon to stop treatment at 3 weeks and have great results.
How long does it take for efudex to work?
For basal cell, it's twice a day for 4 weeks. If you only apply it once a day, then it's usually 4 weeks and 8 weeks respectively. Efudex doesn't treat melanoma not does any "black salve". Melanoma must be surgically removed.
How long does it take for a sore to go away after using a cream?
When new sores stop showing up, that is usually the time to stop the cream. And that is usually at 2 weeks if applying twice a day.