The day after your last Efudex application, begin moisturizing all treated areas with either Vaseline or Aquaphor Healing Ointment (over the counter). Apply frequently every day to keep skin soft. The treated area can be pink for several months and is more susceptible to getting sun burned.
How should I care for my skin after using Efudex?
1 Don’t wash the treated area with soap. 2 Only rinse your skin with water and pat dry. 3 Don’t use your normal skin creams, lotions, or moisturizers. 4 Avoid spraying cologne/perfume on the skin. 5 Do not apply sunscreen - keep the area shielded from the sun. 6 Efudex should be the only product applied to the area being treated. More items...
What is Efudex cream?
Efudex, also known as Efudix, is one of several topical medications used by skin cancer patients. This particular cream is a topical chemotherapy applied to the skin in areas where sun damage has occurred.
What are the reviews of Efudex for keratosis?
User Reviews for Efudex to treat Keratosis Efudex has an average rating of 7.7 out of 10 from a total of 27 ratings for the treatment of Keratosis. 74% of users who reviewed this medication reported a positive effect, while 15% reported a negative effect.
Does stopping Efudex treatment make it worse?
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.
How do I speed up healing after Efudex?
The day after your last Efudex application, begin moisturizing all treated areas with either Vaseline or Aquaphor Healing Ointment (over the counter). Apply frequently every day to keep skin soft. The treated area can be pink for several months and is more susceptible to getting sun burned.
Can you use moisturizer with Efudex?
Can I use moisturiser as well? Moisturiser may be applied 20 minutes after applying the Efudix cream. Please wash or clean affected areas as normal, but avoid products which may sting or irritate your skin.
What should I put on my face after Efudix?
After stopping efudix, vaseline or a mild cortisone cream such as dermaid can be used to soothe the skin.
What moisturizer can I use with fluorouracil?
Wash with a gentle cleanser like Cetaphil or Dove during treatment, and you may moisturize each day with Cetaphil or Eucerin lotion.
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. Alternatively, we can give you a prescription cream to help things heal a little faster if you would like.
Can I use Aquaphor after fluorouracil?
One may use Aquaphor Healing ointment, 100% petrolatum or Vaniply Ointment to keep the areas moist and to alleviate discomfort. They may also be used during the healing process. Do not use topical antibiotics such as Neosporin or Polysporin.
Does skin look better after Efudex?
Patients getting such treatment have also reported softer, smoother, less wrinkled skin -- and now, a new study confirms those skin improvements. The study included 21 patients with actinic keratoses who applied a 5% fluorouracil skin cream called Efudex to their entire face twice daily for two weeks.
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.
Can I use cortisone cream after Efudex?
You may apply Aquaphor, Vaseline, or over-the-counter Hydrocortisone ointment to the area treated after applying Efudex. Do not apply prior to Efudex application.
Can I use moisturizer after 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. Tell your doctor right away if you get sunburned or have skin blisters/redness.
How do you know when Efudex has worked?
During treatment, the areas of your skin that have AKs and/or Bowen's disease will probably look and feel irritated. This is typical and should not cause you any concern. The redness, crusting, and peeling you see are signs that EFUDIX® is working to eliminate the abnormal cells.
What does Efudix ulceration look like?
When Efudix is applied to the skin, the following usually happens: a redness of the affected area (generally within 3 to 5 days) followed by blistering, peeling, and cracking (within 11 to 14 days) with occasional open sores and some discomfort.
Using Efudex for actinic keratoses
In 2014, when I was first prescribed Efudex for treatment of recurring actinic keratoses on my chest, I had very few questions because I assumed I was going to be applying a cream not unlike others I already used.
Skincare when using Efudex: Advice from my dermatologist
Before leaving the office with my prescription in hand, my dermatologist provided the following guidance:
Water, it is!
It all seemed very straightforward. Don’t use anything but water. That’s easier said than done when you are used to washing with cleansers, lotioning up, and going about your day. However, once I got used to the treatment phase and found support to help deal with the side effects, rinsing off and patting dry became my new normal.
Healing and avoiding makeup
Three years later, when my dermatologist prescribed Efudex for my face to treat what appeared to be two large precancers, I found out a little more about how long I would have to follow the water-only regimen. Following almost four weeks of applying the cream twice a day, I entered the erosion phase and began healing.
Here comes the concealer
Even though I looked forward to getting back to normal, using my usual products, and wearing makeup again, I had become more than accustomed to going without all of it. The focus was on healing. Makeup was the last thing on my mind by this point. Watching my skin make almost daily dramatic changes for the better, was far more satisfying.
You don't have to face it all alone
I don’t want you to go into treatment blind. Hopefully, you have a dermatologist who covers all the bases for you before you leave the office. If you don’t, reach out to us. You will have questions about products and when it is safe to use them.
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How to treat efudex?
These are two types of topical creams that doctors usually prescribe on the first and second days of healing after your Efudex treatment has been stopped 1. Mix and apply the two creams on the affected area two to three times daily, but preferably once after waking up and another one in the evening . During this time, expect your skin to crack and bleed and sting, and expect your eyes to swell.
How long does it take for Efudex to heal?
After the period of treatment, which usually lasts two to four weeks, you need another one to two months of healing.
Can you use cosmetics on basal cell skin cancer?
Local treatments other than surgery for basal and squamous cell skin cancers. Tips. During the healing process, never use any cosmetics or other skin products. If ever you forget an application of the creams, simply resume application as prescribed by your doctor without increasing or doubling the dose.
Nolene's Efudex story
"Sharing my Efudex story has helped many other s reduce Efudex pain by using Damask Rose Day Creme during and after the treatment. Ever since discovering this wonderful cream I still use it and many other Simplicité products - my skin has certainly never been better." Nolene Wood
Pain and discomfort while using Efudex
Unless you have used Efudex yourself or known someone going through the treatment it's difficult to understand the sort of pain and discomfort you experience over the entire period of using it.
Simplicité Damask Rose Day Creme relieves pain of Efudex
Robin told me that Simplicité Damask Rose Day Creme was soothing and highly nutritive so would help. She said she would post me the product. I received it next morning and immediately applied some to my face.
In weeks 3 and 4 the cream stung for a couple of minutes at first
By the time I got to weeks 3 and 4 of the Efudex treatment my skin was very, very raw so the Damask Rose Cream really stung for about two minutes at first.
Dermatologist approved post-Efudex help
When I went for my next dermatologist checkup appointment at the three-week point, I showed him what I was using instead of Vaseline. He checked the ingredients listed on the jar and said it was fine to keep on with what I was doing as the Damask Rose Day Creme didn’t contain anything that would hinder Efudex treatment. I continued with the Efudex for just over four weeks of treatment and towards the end I was applying the Damask Rose Day Creme three to four times through the day to relieve the pain and discomfort..
What to use after Efudex treatment
When I finished the Efudex treatment my skin was red and raw. It improved dramatically each day as I continued to use Damask Rose Day Creme.
Skeptical doctor: Damask Rose Day Creme "really works" for pain relief during Efudex
"The day had arrived where I was going to embark again on undergoing Efudex skin treatment for sun damage to my skin from years of childhood sun cream neglect. Anyone who has gone through Efudex skin therapy would tell you it's not one of life’s greatest experiences with significant skin pain developing after about 10 days."
During treatment
Over the last four years, I have experienced basically the same array of side effects whether I have treated my face, my chest, or spot treated smaller pinpointed areas identified by my dermatologist as problematic.
An arsenal at your fingertips
My go-to products for the 3-5 days following my last application are fairly simple to find and easy to use. I use these whether I have treated my face, chest, or small areas.
Toning down the redness
Once peeling has taken place, the skin beneath is new and, if treatment was successful, free of actinic keratoses. That area will remain red and tender for several weeks, and the overall pink tone may be present for a few months.
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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.
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.
What is fluorouracil cream?
September 27, 2017. reactions. Efudex, or fluorouracil, has been an important part of my life for the last four years. Efudex, also known as Efudix, is one of several topical medications used by skin cancer patients. This particular cream is a topical chemotherapy applied to the skin in areas where sun damage has occurred.
What is the best medicine for itching and burning?
Cold packs applied throughout the day help with the continuing itching, burning, and pain. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be alternated to help with pain and inflammation. Resist the urge to peel the skin. The skin will begin to erode away, dry, and peel.
How long to wait after washing to apply lotion?
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.
Can you sell your email address for Efudex?
By providing your email address, you are agreeing to our privacy policy. We never sell or share your email address.
Is Efudex bad 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.
Answers
I was told to apply nothing other than sunscreen 2 hours after applying efudex if I was going out. Other people have been told differently though, so you should consult your dermatologist. I personally could not have imagined wearing makeup during my treatment.
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