Post Efudex Treatment - The Easy Way

I've yet to do TX on face/forehead, so my experience is full arms/hands.  My derm actually is a researcher and uses Levulan with ultraviolet light treatments (aminolevulinic acid) and feels I will do better with that on face and is much more precise isolating the AKs and less post TX trauma. But again, have not started that.

My arms still as painful 13 days after last 5-FU application.  The hardest is washing/shower, but found Dove sensitive the best soap and then put on thick Palmer's Cocoa Butter and nerves really calm down.  During the day Betamethasone Dipropionate steroid cream also helps for a few hours. Ask your doc for the RX, and it has a petrolatum base - vaseline.

As for the erosion/scabs, I do gently rub off the loose areas, but doc strongly suggests not being aggresive until they are really ready because bacterial infection can readily take off and then you really can be in trouble  Again....I'm talking about large areas of skin on arms, not isolated face/scalp.

 Image of arm/hand with erosion:

http://i32.tinypic.com/18ndy0.jpg

Hang in there folks!  Whitey

You and your Dr. are right.  Not too aggressive of scrubbing is the key.

I went a little hard on one on that is under my eye and it's not healing as well as the rest of my face.  I don't think it will scar, it will just look bad longer.

Well, yesterday I almost quit...day 12 of 14 5-FU 2X's daily. 

 I was burning up.  Called my doctor and told him that I was using Vaseline.  He recommend that I try the Aquaphor instead.  Remembering what I read here I hesitated.  To make a long story short, we contacted Eucerin (Aquaphor) and the Pharmaceutical company to ease my mind.  Aquaphor is proven to be suitable for this treatment.  It does not interfere with treatment as long as you wait 3 hours before applying.  Efudex takes approximately 2-3 hours to be absorbed by the skin.

Vaseline doesn't allow the skin to breathe as it acts as a protectant.  Which in turn makes it more difficult to wash.  Some people fare well with this.  I didn't, even though I was completely removing it with soft facial cloths and water. 

After trying the Aquaphor Friday afternoon I won't use anything else.  It is much easier to wash off and didn't keep the heat in which was HORRIBLE.  I feel wonderful and will be able to finish my treatment even though the doc said I could quit yesterday if I was that uncomfortable. 

Two more applications for me. 

 My skin feels FANTASTIC!!

I am one HAPPY, HAPPY GIRL!!! 

I'm done with everything.  Small thin layers of dry skin are still evident but I no longer need the vaseline.  The redness has gone almost completely away and the swelling is minimal.  

I slept soundly last night without any lotions or vaseline and am washing my cheap pillowcases, sheets and t-shirts today with rubbing alcohol, then a hot water wash with Dawn dish soap.

 Should be the end of it.

That is good news!  Good luck with this second part - the healing!  I still have a long way to go - I am on day 11 of 30.  We will see if I make it.

Always, are you applying the Efudex twice daily for 30 days?

Jeff, how long ago did you discontinue the Efudex?

Just to cheer up some of you slogging through the long days.  I completed 3 weeks on my face and 5 weeks on my chest in August of 2007.  I began in June of 2007.  There is no trace of the treatment at this point, other than soft smooth skin with many fewer spots.

I also chose to drink water, exercise and use supplements.  I made sure I upped my Omega 3's (salmon every other day).  I also took Eleuthera (sp?) and Astragalus to help with some mild nausea and lack of appetitie.

Although my doc prescribed Steroids I went with Aquaphor instead.  I peeled for 2 weeks after stopping and then by 6 weeks post treatment I had little visible red.

 I used Iburofen and  Benadryl to help me sleep.  Both cut down on the itching, the ibuprofen cut the pain, the benadryl made me sleepy.

I 45 sun block everyday and a retinoid twice a week to continue turning over the old skin.

I'm a Fitzgerald Type II (low). I am so thankful I was able to finish, and now that it is over thankful I did it.

Traceybird,

thanks for the encouragement.    I have been feeling like giving up - it is nice to hear that things get a lot better.  We have seen some pretty gruesome  pictures which I hope the the exception and not the norm.  I certainly will use sunscreen from now on.  As my name says, I am outside a lot - I like to kayak, bike ride, hike etc.  I'll still do those things, but slather up!

Always in the sun

Spanky - I am doing 2 times/day for 30 days.  But will talkto the doctor tomorrow and ask about the length of time.  It seems like most of you guys are doing less time.  My condition did not seem real severe - so I am wondering about hte length of time.  I actual got the prescription back in late October.  The doctor suggested that I might want to wait until the holidays are over - then we went to Florida over the MLK weekend.  So I waited until 2/1 before I started.  So I haven't had a conversation with the doctor since October.  She didn't tell me anything.  She didn't even want to see my for two months following the treatment.  How about your doctor - when do you followup?

Always

Always...my dermatologist made certain that I was to see him on day 15 or immediately if I had problems during TX.  Please, please...call your doctor immediately and make an appointment to be seen. 

(the following was also posted to you on the FU-the dumb way thread)

  Well, I finished yesterday 14 days 5% Efudex twice daily.  Today I saw my dermatologist and his reaction was..."I'm so glad you did this".  He was also surprised at how red I was.

He froze several areas and prescribed Triamcinalone (trye-am-SIN-oh-lone) to apply now 3-4 times a day to reduce itching, inflamation and redness.  It feels wonderful!!!  After two applications I can see and feel the difference.  I'm aiming to be ready to "face" the world by Saturday.

My reaction to the Efudex was severe according to the doc.  I cannot imagine going longer than 14 days.  I almost quit on day 12 but managed to get through by giving myself a break that night and going back with it the next morning.

By the way, Aquaphor got me through the last 2 days.  It's lighter than Vaseline and easier to wash off.  I used Cetaphil cleanser, Olay sensitive skin cleansing cloths alternately.  I'm glad I use the cloths at night because it help remove the dry, flaking skin so the Efudex could do it's job on the underlying skin.

Good luck to you both...hang in there.  Everything you hear about nicer skin is true!!  I can see it already 1 day post treatment.

I'm a very happy girl!!