Precautions
Stop using Carac and call your doctor at once if you have: 1 severe pain or swelling of treated skin; 2 severe itching, burning, or irritation; 3 open skin sores; or 4 shedding of dead skin.
When should I stop using Carac?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Do not take by mouth. Topical medicine is for use only on the skin. Clean the area where you will apply Carac. Rinse well and dry the area with a towel and wait ten minutes before applying the medication.
How should I take Carac?
Treatment with Carac (fluorouracil) cream for 1, 2, or 4 weeks is compared to treatment with vehicle cream. Outcomes from 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment with vehicle cream are pooled because duration of treatment with vehicle had no substantive effect on clearance.
How long does it take for Carac cream to work?
Avoid contact with your eyes, nostrils, and mouth. Wash your hands as soon as you finish putting the Carac (fluorouracil) on your skin. A moisturizer/sunscreen may be applied 2 hours after Carac (fluorouracil) has been applied. Do not use any other skin products including creams, lotions, medications or cosmetics –unless instructed by your doctor.
What should I avoid while using Carac (fluorouracil)?
What should I put on my face after fluorouracil treatment?
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 long does it take your face to heal after using fluorouracil?
This usually takes about 2 to 4 weeks. However, the lesions may not be completely healed until 1 or 2 months after you stop using fluorouracil. If you are using fluorouracil to treat basal cell carcinoma, you should continue using it until the lesions are gone.
When do you stop using carac cream?
Carac (fluorouracil) should be applied up to 4 weeks as tolerated. Continued treatment up to 4 weeks results in greater lesion reduction. Local irritation is not markedly increased by extending treatment from 2 to 4 weeks, and is generally resolved within 2 weeks of cessation of treatment.
What to expect after using fluorouracil?
Skin irritation, burning, redness, dryness, pain, swelling, tenderness, or changes in skin color may occur at the site of application. Eye irritation (such as stinging, watering), trouble sleeping, irritability, temporary hair loss, or abnormal taste in the mouth may also occur.
What does your skin look like after using fluorouracil cream?
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.
Is 2 weeks long enough for fluorouracil?
Adults—Apply to the affected area 2 times a day for 2 to 4 weeks.
What is the erosion stage of fluorouracil treatment?
The skin began to separate and would bleed when it dried after applying Efudex. This is called the erosion phase. In addition to the cracking, some areas of skin turned darker and peeled leaving open, oozing spots. At this stage, wearing any clothing across the area of treatment becomes almost impossible.
Does fluorouracil cause scarring?
Scarring. Most people using this drug get skin reactions where this drug is used. These reactions include burning, dryness, irritation, redness, pain, and swelling. Irritation may last for 2 weeks or longer after you stop using this drug.
How long does it take for fluorouracil cream to start working?
Complete healing of the inflammation generally takes one to two months. In addition to treating clinically visible lesions, fluorouracil can also treat subclinical lesions6 that may have become clinically visible in the future.
How do you know when to stop 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.
What is a good moisturizer to use after Efudex treatment?
You may apply Aquaphor, Vaseline, or over-the-counter Hydrocortisone ointment to the area treated after applying Efudex.
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.
How to report fluorouracil side effects in Canada?
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345. Precautions. Before using fluorouracil, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to flucytosine; or to capecitabine; or if you have any other allergies.
What is fluorouracil used for?
This medication is used on the skin to treat pre-cancerous and cancerous skin growths. Fluorouracil belongs to a class of medications known as anti-metabolites. It works by blocking the growth of abnormal cells that cause the skin condition.
Can you stop taking a medicine before checking with your doctor?
Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use.
Can you put gauze on your eyes?
Check with your doctor whether you may cover the treated area loosely with gauze. Avoid applying this medication in or around the eyes or eyelids. Also, do not apply this medication inside the nose or mouth. If you do get the medication in these areas, rinse with plenty of water.
How Carac Is Given
As a topical cream or solution, a thin coating is applied to the affected skin lesions, treatment may continue over several weeks.
Side Effects
Important things to remember about the side effects of fluorouracil (cream):
Precautions
Before starting fluorouracil (cream) treatment, make sure you tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking (including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, herbal remedies, etc).
Monitoring and Testing
You will be checked regularly by your doctor while you are taking fluorouracil (cream), to monitor side effects and check your response to therapy.
How Carac Works
Cancerous tumors are characterized by cell division, which is no longer controlled as it is in normal tissue. "Normal" cells stop dividing when they come into contact with like cells, a mechanism known as contact inhibition. Cancerous cells lose this ability.
What to do if you have diarrhea while on Carac?
If you develop abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or chills while on Carac (fluorouracil) therapy, stop the medication and contact your physician and/or pharmacist. Report any side effects to the physician and/or pharmacist.
How long does it take to get rid of a car with Carac?
Treatment with Carac (fluorouracil) cream for 1, 2, or 4 weeks is compared to treatment with vehicle cream. Outcomes from 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment with vehicle cream are pooled because duration of treatment with vehicle had no substantive effect on clearance.
What is a carac?
Carac is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of Actinic (Solar) Keratoses and Superficial basal Cell Carcinoma. Carac may be used alone or with other medications. Carac belongs to a class of drugs called Dermatologics, Other; Antineoplastics, Topical.
How long does it take for Carac to work?
Carac (fluorouracil) should be applied up to 4 weeks as tolerated. Continued treatment up to 4 weeks results in greater lesion reduction. Local irritation is not markedly increased by extending treatment from 2 to 4 weeks, and is generally resolved within 2 weeks of cessation of treatment.
What are the side effects of Carac?
The most common side effects of Carac include: skin redness, followed by dryness, tenderness, and crusting, skin peeling or flaking, skin darkening or scarring, small blood vessels under the skin, mild rash, and. mild irritation where the medicine was applied.
Can you use carac cream on your eyes?
Carac (fluorouracil) cream should not be applied near the eyes, nostrils or mouth. Carac (fluorouracil) cream should be applied ten minutes after thoroughly washing, rinsing, and drying the entire area. Carac (fluorouracil) cream may be applied using the fingertips.
Can Carac pass through milk?
if you are nursing a baby. We do not know if Carac (fluorouracil) can pass to the baby through the milk. If you have dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme deficiency. The active ingredient in Carac, fluorouracil, can cause serious side effects in patients who are DPD enzyme deficient.
Most voted positive review
I am starting my second Carac treatment. The first was two years ago. Each treatment will last 2 weeks as prescribed by my dermatologist. After the two weeks, I will visit the Dr. to view the results and get the cool down cream (at least this is what I call it) to clear and smooth the skin.
Shared reviews and ratings
After 17 days my face was ravaged but it clearly removed many pre cancerous spots. But, almost immediately I began to lose my hair. It thinned drastically, and now 2 months later I have several very bald spots and very thin hair. It is horrible and I'm hoping that it comes back eventually.
How long does cryotherapy take?
As your skin heals, the damaged cells slough off, allowing new skin to appear. Cryotherapy is the most common treatment. It takes only a few minutes and can be done in your doctor's office. Side effects may include blisters, scarring, changes to skin texture, infection and changes in skin color of the affected area.
What are the side effects of photodynamic therapy?
Side effects may include redness, swelling and a burning sensation during therapy.
Can actinic keratosis be removed?
An actinic keratosis sometimes disappears on its own but might return after more sun exposure. It's hard to tell which actinic keratoses will develop into skin cancer, so they're usually removed as a precaution.
Answers
I've noticed that people post saying their Doctor recommended various ointments one being Aquaphor. I looked at the ingredients and it had alcohol in it and with the way my face felt I sure as hell wasn't going to put anything with alcohol on my raw face.
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