Treatment FAQ

what does treatment results on arms with 5 fluorouracil cream look like

by Lupe Gleason Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Fluorouracil cream frequently results in a mild to a severe stinging or burning sensation, depending on the sensitivity of the skin, the severity of the sun damage and how long it has been used for. After five to ten days of treatment, the sun-damaged parts of treated skin become red, scaly and tender.

Full Answer

What is fluorouracil 5% cream?

Feb 25, 2018 · Yes. My dermatologist prescribed 5% fluorouracil for me twice a day for 7 days. By day three the area I applied it to (entire nose, and upper cheek areas stretching out 1-2 inches from my nose) was turning red. By the fourth day I was unsightly red.

Is fluorouracil cream better than laser skin resurfacing?

Firstly, my treatment was for sun damage (actinic keratosis, typical for my light complexion) on my forehead and scalp, the worst at the front." Erosion. The treatment consisted of applying the Efudex, twice a day for 4 weeks, or until there was "erosion" or "edema" or scabbing and discharge.

How is fluorouracil cream used to treat leprosy?

Using Efudex cannot be succinctly described, and no one can predict the results each subsequent treatment will produce. One Efudex user chronicled his experience and documented his Efudex journey through photos. He, unlike many others with whom I have talked, was duly warned by his doctor that the results during treatment could be quite horrendous.

How do you follow up after fluorouracil cream?

post-treatment for Fluorouracil 5% cream. nannym. my husband had precancerous growth removed and then went through a 2 week/twice a day flourouracil 5% cream treatment. The treatment worked according to the doctor and he gave my husband triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment USP 0.1% use twice a day. HE said it would quickly relieve the irritation ...

What does skin look like after fluorouracil treatment?

After five to ten days of treatment, the sun-damaged parts of treated skin become red, scaly and tender. As treatment is continued, sores and crusts may appear. These raw areas result from the destruction of defective skin cells.

How do you know if fluorouracil cream is working?

During the first few weeks of treatment, the skin lesions and surrounding areas will feel irritated and look red, swollen, and scaly. This is a sign that fluorouracil is working.May 15, 2016

How do you know if Efudex has worked?

The area of abnormal skin becomes very red and inflamed; this may progress to erosions and scabbing, followed by healing. This process shows the Efudix is working. After stopping treatment, your skin will need to heal and the treated area may remain red for a while.

Can Efudex be used on arms?

The treatment protocol requires applying the cream twice a day to the entire facial area that the doctor recommends. If the hands or the arms are involved, the cream may even have to be put on three or four times a day there. After a few days, redness, ulceration, and crusting will be noted.Mar 19, 2014

How do you know when to stop applying fluorouracil?

After continued application, the damaged skin becomes painful and inflamed with a beefy-red appearance with erosions and crusting. At this point, the medication should be stopped.May 15, 2010

What does the erosion stage of Efudex look like?

What does it look like? 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.Sep 1, 2020

What happens if you stop using Efudex too soon?

The treated skin will then flake away. Some redness of the skin will continue for some time after Efudix is stopped. Scarring is not expected.

Can I stop Efudex after 2 weeks?

After 2-4 weeks your skin will be red, crusty, and uncomfortable; this is what we want to happen. In some cases, such as for lesions on the backs of the hands, the body, or for basal cell carcinoma, it might take longer to get to this stage (4-6 weeks). The cream can then be stopped, to allow healing.

What is the erosion stage of fluorouracil treatment?

Efudex: Apply cream or solution twice daily in an amount sufficient to cover the lesions until inflammatory response reaches erosion stage (generally between 2-4 weeks).Dec 19, 2020

How do you know when to stop Efudex?

Stop efudix if you experience a severe reaction (shortness of breath; swelling of your lips,face, or tongue; hives). Contact us if you have any problems during treatment. Any lesions that fail to resolve with efudix treatment should be re-examined.

How long does it take for redness to go away after fluorouracil treatment?

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.

What is a good moisturizer to use after fluorouracil treatment?

Wash with a gentle cleanser like Cetaphil or Dove during treatment, and you may moisturize each day with Cetaphil or Eucerin lotion.

When to use fluorouracil cream?

Due to interaction with sunlight, it is best to use fluorouracil cream during the winter months. Treated skin should normally be very carefully protected from the sun; stay indoors during the middle part of the day. If the treated area is inadvertently exposed to the sun, the reaction to fluorouracil is more vigorous than normal.

How long does it take for fluorouracil to burn?

After five to ten days of treatment, the sun-damaged parts of treated skin become red, scaly and tender.

What is the best cream for actinic keratosis?

5% fluorouracil cream with 0.005% calcipotriol ointment has been reported to improve efficacy and reduce the number of days required for treatment of actinic keratoses compared to 5% fluorouracil cream alone.

How long does it take to cure actinic keratosis?

Afterwards, rinse the finger thoroughly with water (or use a glove or cotton bud to apply the cream). Treatment for actinic keratoses is continued for 2 to 4 weeks. Longer may be necessary for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in situ.

What is fluorouracil a pyrimidine?

Fluorouracil is a pyrimidine analogue that irreversibly binds within a cell to thymidylate synthetase. This prevents the incorporation uracil into nuclear RNA, which destroys abnormal cancer cells.

How long does chemowrap stay in place?

The chemowrap is left in place for 7 days, then removed. The treated skin is washed and gently scrubbed to remove loose skin and scabs. Fluorouracil treatment is repeated once weekly for 4 to 12 weeks. If treated areas become eroded, treatment is stopped and petroleum jelly is applied to the affected area.

Can you use petrolatum after stopping fluorouracil?

After you have been instructed to stop using the fluorouracil cream, you may be prescribed a specific moisturiser or mild topical steroid < to help to heal the treated area. If you have been given no specific instructions, apply plain white petrolatum thinly to raw and crusted areas at bedtime. Stop the petrolatum when the crusts and scabs have healed.

How long does it take for fluorouracil to fade?

Sometimes a pink, smooth area is left when the skin treated with this medicine heals. This area will usually fade after 1 to 2 months.

How long does it take for a pink spot to go away after taking a sulfate solution?

Sometimes a pink, smooth area is left when the skin treated with this medicine heals. This area will usually fade after 1 to 2 months. Do not stop using this medicine without first checking with your doctor. If the reaction is very uncomfortable, check with your doctor.

Can you use 5% cream on your hands?

The 5% cream is sometimes used on the hands. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. For skin cancer: Adults—Use the 5% cream on the affected areas of skin two times a day. Treatment may continue for several weeks. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. For topical solution dosage form:

How long does it take for skin cream to stop causing inflammation?

One person developed severe skin inflammation and quit using the skin cream after the first week, and most of the patients said they found the treatment at least "moderately" uncomfortable.

Does fluorouracil fade wrinkles?

June 15, 2009 -- The chemotherapy drug fluorouracil, used in a skin cream, may have potential for fading wrinkles.

Is fluorouracil cream better than laser skin resurfacing?

A fluorouracil cream would cost less than laser skin resurfacing but "may not, however, achieve the same degree of improvement," write Sachs and colleagues.

Society and culture

Mechanism of action

Medical uses

  • Fluorouracil cream is most often prescribed to clear up actinic keratoses and intraepidermal carcinoma (in situ squamous cell carcinoma). A full-face course has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) developing in the treated site during the following year. Fluorouracil is also occasionally used to treat the following skin conditions: I…
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Prevention

  • Fluorouracil cream is a powerful, destructive medication and must be used exactly as directed. Keep it locked up so other people cannot mistakenly use it to treat a rash. Due to interaction with sunlight, it is best to use fluorouracil cream during the winter months. Treated skin should normally be very carefully protected from the sun; stay indoors during the middle part of the day…
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Treatment

  • Pretreatment with cryotherapy or keratolytics, such as urea cream or glycolic acid lotion, is useful to minimise scaling and permit optimum absorption of the active ingredient, 5-FU. Fluorouracil cream is applied once or twice a day after washing with plain water. A tiny amount of the cream should be gently rubbed into all of the treatment areas with a fingertip. It is important to apply it …
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Symptoms

  • Fluorouracil cream frequently results in a mild to a severe stinging or burning sensation, depending on the sensitivity of the skin, the severity of the sun damage and how long it has been used for. After five to ten days of treatment, the sun-damaged parts of treated skin become red, scaly and tender. As treatment is continued, sores and crusts ma...
See more on dermnetnz.org

Contraindications

  • Fluorouracil cream must not be used during pregnancy because it has been shown to cause birth deformities. It is classified as Category D. It should also be avoided during breastfeeding, to minimise the chance of excretion in breast milk and subsequent risk to the nursing infant. Avoid putting fluorouracil cream in the eyes; it is not normally used on eyelids. Keep it off the lips, unle…
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Prognosis

  • When treatment is stopped the skin heals rapidly. It takes two to four weeks for healthy new skin to replace the sun-damaged skin destroyed by the fluorouracil cream. After healing, the treated areas are often redder than normal and may feel more sensitive; this redness and sensitivity will gradually fade over a few weeks. Occasionally it persists for several months.
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Risks

  • The following complications may occasionally occur during fluorouracil cream treatment. The following complications may follow fluorouracil cream treatment:
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