Efudex Treatment, How To Deal With Crusting?

Have been reading your messages and found them very reassuring as I had little knowledge of what to expect before starting 2 x's a day Efudex on my face on 25th June for numerous Keratosis.  The dermatologist I have been seeing has been away on summer vacation and others in her department say I must continue applying Efudex until I see her again on 12th August which will be 6 weeks of treatment!  When I questioned this on day 21 I was told "that's ok you can use it for 8 weeks no problem" 

I am scarlet from ear to ear with much puffiness and a great deal of crusting, I shower night and morning and am using soap and water to gently wash away the crusting and slimyness below, should I be doing this or should I be allowing the crustiness to build up by having a very quick wash?  

I am English and live in Qatar in the Middle East (a country not listed on Country of Residence and I could not log on, I have just inserted UAE, neighbouring country, and seem to have been successful, why didn't I think to try that before!). 

I had a bcc removed from my nose by plastic surgeon last December and since then my Derm has had me using Retin A over my entire face every night.   Efudex is not available in this country and she advised me to get hold of some if I could.  My daughter-in-law lives in the UAE and was able to buy 3 tubes of Efudex5% without a prescription (how shocking is that)which she sent me by post which arrived on the 25th June, the day I last saw my Derm and started applying Efudex that evening.  The only words of warning she gave me were 'It will ulcerate".  I have had peeling and now crusting everywhere but no ulceration (I imagine ulceration to be sort of craters in the skin with bleeding?) 

Thanks, be strong,and Good Luck to you all,

Hi Rosie,

I was going to suggest Cetaphil cleanser, it was the only thing that I could use during that crusting phase.  I never ulcerated in the three weeks I used Efudex on my face.  Now my chest was a different story but I hadn't used Retin-A there as I had on my face.  Maybe that's why you are not ulcerating

Cetaphil - if you can get someone to send it to you, or find it, is an ultra-mild cleanser that is more like a cream than a soap.  One day I got a little wash cloth and tried removing the crust and I can tell you I did not try that again.   

I finished 3 weeks on my face, followed by 5 (to be finished on Thursday this week) weeks on my chest.  I healed for 3 weeks on my face and began Retin-A immediately following that check up.  My skin hasn't looked this wonderful in years.  So I've put in 8 weeks total. Hopefully I haven't created some future heath nightmare  for myself by using it for so long, but I don't think so.

Aquaphor by Eucerin is another product I didn't want to be too far away from.  It has petrolatum, glycerin and lanolin.  I used that during the worst of the treatment.  Afterward I couldn't tolerate the steroid cream so I switched to Weleda Diaper Cream.  The white of the cream made me appear less red and the skin healed well.

 Good luck

Hi Tracy

Thanks for your helpful response, my husband will try to get Cetaphil this morning, if he fails will ask our daughter, who lives in UK, to add it to her list!.  Yesterday I asked her to send some Aquaphor as I had read on this site that it was good for reducing redness after Efudex (maybe your posting?) and I hope to receive some soon.  Our daughter-in-law is no longer living in the UAE so I am hoping that the 3 tubes of Efudex will be enough to treat my chest as well. I am halfwy through tube 2!

I also have to treat my chest, once my face is done and since June 25th have been applying retin A each evening, as directed by the Derm.  Did you start treatment on your chest immediately your face was done?   Hope it is going well for you and I am so glad to hear your face is looking so good.  I was pleased with the improvement to mine after 6 months of applying Retin A, but when I look at myself now find it hard to believe that I will ever look presentable again, so your worde are very reassuring!

I am counting the hours as I see my Derm for the first time since 25th June on Sunday 12th August.  I had no idea that I would have such a red face or for so long, I shall tell her that a little more information on what to expect would not have gone amiss.   

Why was 5 weeks required for your chest against only 3 for your face?  I may be wrong but I think my extended time is due to My Derm being out of the country and no one else wanting to take responsibility for me, I shall ask her when I see her on Sunday.  Thanks again for your help and Good Luck on Thursday. 

Hello,

I was initially started on three weeks with my chest, but at the 3 week check up he told me two more weeks.  My Doc said that it takes longer on the chest and  wasn't sure why.  I think the skin is a different texture?? Just a guess on my part though.  I have my last application tonight.

The redness will go slowly at first.  I'm 5 weeks out and it's all but disappeared.  I have heard of other people using Retin-A and Efudex at the same time.  Owwww that sounds painful!

I hope you can get some Aquaphor and Cetaphil soonest.