Carac - How Much To Use And Suggestions????

Sorry - But I inadvertenly posted my message under "Re: Side Effects of Carac..etc"

I'm re-posting it here, and apologize for the duplicate.  Unfortunately, I didn't read the instructions thoroughly!!

 Repeat of other message:

I'm excited to have found this board!   I started Carac on my arms last night.  My doctor is having me do it 2 hrs before bedtime every day for FIVE weeks.  I'm to use moisturizer, but when I start "erupting", I'm to use NO moisturizer and NO makeup! (The latter applies, of course, to when I do the three week treatment on my face in early November).  

The instructions have me a bit baffled, however.  My dermatologist told me to dampen a finger under the tap, put a "pea-sized" glop of Carac on the finger, and rub it over the entire upper part of my arm, from wrist to above my elbow a bit, (to where AK's end).   The problem is that the Carac almost disappears the minute I apply it, and it feels as if it is not covering the whole area.  At the Carac company website, it speaks of putting a "thin layer" of Carac over the entire area being treated.

Can anyone describe how much you have been told to you use on your arms?   Your face and ears?   Your suggestions on how to determine if you've used the right amount would be appreciated.

 In reading some of the posts, I see that people use Vaseline, etc.  What is that for?   The only use for Vaseline I was given by the doc is to use a line of it on my lips to keep the Carac off of them, and a line of it underneath my eyebrown since I have a couple of AK's in my eyebrow that need Carac.  The Vaseline, of course, will keep the Carac from going into my eye.

 I wish I'd heard about using Retin-A to soften the arms prior to beginning.  When I used Carac on an area right above my lip awhile back, I had to use Retin-A to get the Carac to work.  Hopefully, I am not wasting my time with the Carac since I didn't use the Retin A on my arms!  Guess time will tell.

 Thanks to all of you who have posted, and in advance to anyone who can help with the dosage, etc.

You might want to check back with your doctor as a "pea size" amount for your arm sounds a little small.  I had to do my entire chest and I used about a dime size on each side of my chest.  My doctor did not tell me about the drop of water first. I used laytex gloves to keep it off my hands. 

I did not use vaseline, but used Aquafor.  You will find your skin gets so dry if feels like it will split open with any movement. This will help with the dryness. 

Good Luck. I am 4 weeks post carac and still red and bumpy. Now on a steroid cream to help reduce the imflamation.  next round will start in a few weeks.

Thanks - I appreciate your comments.  Do you use the Aquaphor in between.  For instance, I use Carac at night a couple of hours before bed.  So I would use the Aquaphor during the daytime?

 I will try to call my doc again.  Dermatologists are at a premium here, and although mine is extremely proficient, she is very difficult to get ahold of.  We'll give it the old try again tomorrow.

 Are you having to do another round of Carac on the same place?  Yuk!

I used Carac in the morning and then would use Aquafor 2 hours after I put on the Carac.  Clothes would stick to the Aquafor so I did not use it at night for fear it would make the sheets stick to me. 

The other thing that helped with the pain is ice packs wrapped in a pillow case.  I also used dove extra sensative disposable wash clothes as there is just enough weave on them to help with the dead skin and it wasn't too harsh.

Good luck getting ahold of the doctor!  Maybe a nurse in the office would be able to answer the question for you.

Best,

Lisa

Thanks, Lisa.    I have called my doctor and left a voice mail for the nurse.  Hopefully I'll hear this week.

 Good luck to you.

 Corky

Hello,

I just finished 4 weeks of Carac on my chest and I agree that at first it's hard to tell how much to use. But if you put a pea or dime size it is fine.  When it is applied your skin will feel a little different. Just dry.It doesn't have to be thick, you'll waste it if you put it on too thick just make sure you are consistent with the area you cover  It takes about a week for it to start showing up so don't get discouraged.  Then all of the sudden it will flare up and then the itching starts.  I agree that the Aguafor helps but I really only used it after I stopped treatment and it helped it heal faster.  Two weeks post treatment I still have slight redness but the skin is so soft and looks sooo much better. It was worth it! Hang in there. I'm in my second week with treatments on my back and they are really starting to show up and get red. I suggest staying the course the full 4 weeks (once a day). If you've come this far don't stop now!

Good luck to all!

Ponytail