Side Effects of Carac or Efudex

I'm so excited!! Mr dr said I did well and can stop the Carac now. He gave me a rx for a steroid cream called Westcort, to apply twice a day. He also said to continue to use vaseline or aquaphor to moisturize. When I asked him what other moisturizer he recommended (that's not so greasy looking), he said Moisturelle. When I looked on the shelf for it, it was by the body lotions. I'm not so sure that's the best choice in this situation. Paleface, you mentioned that you use Oil of Olay no oil. I didn't see the "no Oil" on any of the Oil of Olay products at CVS. Also, does it come with sunscreen, or do you put on a separate sunscreen after your moisturizer? Sarla, I think you said you use Nutrogena moisturizer. Do you get it with the sunscreen it it, or do you apply another sunscreen after that? I'm so looking forward to healing. Please if any of you have suggestions about moisurizers and sunscreen please let me know. Redcat, sounds like you're right behind me. We're really on the homestretch now!!!

Congrats Carol!

You must be so relieved to see the light at the end of the tunnel...

I am currently itching my way through day 10 of a 21 day cycle of Carac on my chest. Great gravy, it itches but if I scratch it, it hurts like heck...It is so bizarre how this stuff works. The area on my chest that is reacting the most is the area where my bathing suit didn't cover.  It looks like I was wearing a bathing suit when I put this stuff on. I am careful to spread it over my whole chest area as well but the reaction remains only in the area exposed to the sun...it looks, well freaky!

Anyway, hope everyone else in the middle of their treatment is hanging in. The rough times for me are just starting. I gotta think about it one day at a time.

Congratulations on your good news Carol!  I truly have not gotten a great moisturizer for this new skin, but the Oil of Olay I was using previously is it for now.  It says on the label "Olay complete- all day moisture lotion SPF 15 - light non-greasy - combination/oily".  But on the back it says 100% oil free in the text.  A coworker says she uses an Aveeno lotion with a high SPF on her pale child that is pretty "light" (not the elmers glue consistency so familiar to high SPF products - yuck).  My Olay was nice to switch to from the steriod cream as it did not sting - very important.  My next quest is to find a high SPF that I can use as an everyday treatment so I know I'm always covered.  I'll post if I find something I'm really happy with... someone suggested Mary Kay or some "face-specific" formulary...

  Today was my first day back at work.  It was a beautiful sunny afternoon when I came out at 4pm - and yeah I'm still paranoid, but I put up my umbrella to keep any rays off this new face as I made my way through the parking lot!!  I was sure the 15 had worn off through the day and I am determined to keep the AKs away this time!

Aceace wrote of throwing the tube away... I get the sentiment of NEVER doing this again... yet I am tempted by some old posts to save my 2/3 tube of Carac to spot treat my hands and arms... maybe next winter if it keeps that long... maybe...

Funny story- Yesterday I wore foundation and went to church.  Friends said I "looked great.. like I'd been on vacation and got a little tan!"  Ironic that I burned my entire face off killing effects of vacation sun, only to have the pink glow through the foundation look like I'd been sunning..  but then I thought about going back to work today after 4 weeks extended sick leave... looking like I'd been on vacation in the sun!  I couldn't do it, so I went bare faced to work/school so I still looked slightly tortured... to avoid any accusation (even in jest) that I'd been goldbricking!  Nothing like caving in to peer pressure, haha.  The staff was all so nice and welcoming and said I looked good... and would that redness stay or go away?  haha  Maybe I'll give it a couple of days, and then go with the makeup.  I notice it - the red face - steps up a notch when I am hustling about.  I understand what some have said about it glowing when they exercised.  I am planning to start my walking again at 6am - pre-sun and still chilly - so maybe it will be minimized.  (I'm outside Seattle - WHAT sun? haha)

Oh yeah, Redcat, I was so with you on the madness that takes you when your time is nearly over and you want to keep putting the stuff on any place that doesn't look completely toasted.  When you've put in so much time and enduring, the idea of not finishing it completely really grabs you.  There were a couple of places on my chin that I wanted to keep treating because they looked bumpy and like they were still eroding, but the derm said WHOA cuz to him it looked more like a skin reaction than eroding AKs.  Those areas still look a little bumpy but they are settling down.  There's a part of me that STILL thinks I should have chemo'd em! 

Paleface, I'm so glad that your first day at work went well. It's so good to hear about you being able to go on with life. I haven't been to the grocery store, church, or anywhere else (except work) for 3 weeks. I know people at work were tire of looking at this face. Last week everyone kept asking me "how much longer" and "when do you see the dr again?" I put on the steroid cream last night and it made my face really shiny (not the greasy shiny like with the aquaphor), dry shiny. 30 minutes later I tried Nutragena 15 SPF no oil moisturizer. It stung VERY badly. Maybe it's too early for that stuff. I don't have any olay at home, but I guess I'll stick with the Aquaphor for a couple of more days, then try Olay. Today is my first day post tx, and I knew from all the messages that I read not to expect it to get better for awhile, but it was hard not to do. I still had a hard time sleeping from the pain, burning and needle pokes, and of course my face still hurts as much as ever today. In fact, I have a few very small spots that are now bleeding. Looking forward to next week. Keep hanging in there everyone.

Hi, there!  I hope everyone is doing well.  I have had a great little lull of looking repectable between doing the lip and doing the face.  There were 18 of us here at our house for Easter, I was able to do the grocery shopping, cooking, and even participated in the egg hunt in the yard, and went out to the Easter Parade.  I have been living it up!  Met 2 girlfriends for lunch -at a restaurant!- on Monday, and got my husband to take me out to dinner last night (Tuesday)!  Probably the last time for that, for a while. Today, Wednesday, Day 9, Carac to the face, the reality is setting in w/ new red blotchiness, some new brown spots, very light flaky peeling in a few areas.  I am totally fine w/ it (haha, we'll see if I am still saying that next week!) since I know what to expect thanks to you all.  You have no idea how much this forum has helped me- of course you do since we are all pretty much in the same boat!!  My forehead and cheeks seem to be reacting first.  I am sure the nose won't be far behind.  Actually, the very first place to react (days ago) was the place where my glasses rest.  I suppose that is because the Carac is trapped under the glasses all day , so it's getting more rx.  I am continuing to treat just the outer edge of lower lip (Day 35), and still getting a reaction of not too bad peeling and an occasional scab.  I must get back to working on taxes now...ugh.  Please, everyone, write in w/ your updates.  Thx a million!

Greetings from sunny Georgia!  I went to the dr today, and I'm right there with you, Carol...no more Carac.  I would suggest buying stock in Vaseline....I have little jars of it all around my house and in my car!  My dr also said that with the reaction I had, I should be VERY happy with my skin after I heal. 

My dr gave me 'Cloderm' steroid cream to use in the most inflamed areas for 5-6 days only, and said not to put Vaseline over it.  And he recommended Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Tough sunblock, SPF 70.  He said many patients are happy with it as a moisturizer too, even though its label says 'sunblock'.  He said not to use the sunblock yet.  I'm guessing my skin couldnt' handle it anyway...just Vaseline.  And, in case this might help someone....he said Aquafor is fine to use, but said some people do have more stinging with it than Vaseline...like we've found ourselves.  I'm sooo glad I saw the MD this time...much more info!  After the dr appt I went to the grocery store with my baseball hat on.  I checked myself out at the self checkout, then had to go sign my credit card slip.  I saw that the girl working there had freckles on her arm....and looked up....and yep...about 17 years old, redheaded with fair skin!  So...I warned her about protecting herself from the sun!!  This is a great opportunity for us to scare people into protecting themselves!

Carrie...I had a big reaction where my glasses sit too...in fact they bleed a little now, but I didnt' wear my regular glasses during the treatment...instead used reading glasses down on my nose.  I had a suspicious area there before I started the Carac, so wanted to be sure I zapped it really well.  He said that skin is just very sensitive, and I was 'well done' there.

Also...paleface...I had the same chin thing going on...on each side..not in the middle.  But doc said it was done too.  And...it IS ironic that tanned skin is associated with relaxing and vacationing!

After I left the store and put the groceries in the car, I was sweating just a little and it stung!  I think I'm just having a sting-y day today.  It doesn't want to stop stinging.  Maybe that sweat is trapped under the Vaseline.

I'm very happy to be as far along as I am.  I can't say that I feel better yet, in fact today is pretty uncomfortable (to be expected according to other users).  But it's manageable, and I'm looking forward to better days.

Hang in there everyone!

Hi everyone!  Day 2 post tx now, doesn't feel much different than yesterday, but I think it looks a little bit less red.  It's still very stingy!! 

Redcat, after you put the steroid cream on, how long do you wait before putting on the vaseline?  My dr said to wait only 30 minutes. Were you told anything different?  I don't want to reduce the effectiveness of the steroid cream. Does it sting really badly when you put yours on? 

Today I noticed a spot on the side of my nose that I never notice before.  I hope that it has been treated enough.  Has anyone ever heard of this stuff causing new AKs to raise to the surface, and then not be killed?  I know I need to wait much longer to really tell what will happen, but I'm just curious about any of your experiences.

Thinking of all of you, especially those of you in the beginning of your tx.  Don't get discouraged.  It will come to an end eventually.  Keep in touch.  Carol  

Carol,  My doc said wait 1 hour after applying the steroid cream before putting the Vaseline on.  It does sting...not terribly...but not fun.  I watch the clock....when my hour is up, I use the rinsed out baby wipes that someone mentioned earlier and kind of drape them over my face for about 15 minutes and VERY gently press and wipe to get the steroid cream off.  My dr warned me about not putting Vaseline on OVER the steroid cream...as it can cause acne...which someone else mentioned having a problem with post-Carac.  And at 50 yrs old...I don't need acne....

Are you using the steroid cream for 5-6 days....then stop?...just curious.

It's soooo nice to have someone ....all of you....in the same boat.

And I agree....you folks just getting started....this board is a great support!  I would never tell you to rely on anyone but your dr to get the answers to your questions, but there are zillions of helpful tips and coping strategies on this board!

Hi all. Now it's day 4 post tx.  Still not much change, other that slightly less red.  It's still very stingy, and more itchy. 

Redcat,  Funny thing, my dr didn't tell me how long to use the steroid cream, and I didn't even think to ask.  I guess I'll call his office today and talk to one of his nurses.  They are usually a lot more informative than the dr. anyway. My face still gets very hot and swollen right after I get out of the shower, and the cream really helps the swelling to go down.  So I think it would be a good idea to continue it for at least a couple of more days, but I'll see what they say. 

How is everybody doing?