Side Effects of Carac or Efudex

Yeah, a months worth of applications 0.5% Carac. My arms were pretty weathered for my fair complexion so it took a lot longer to see the initial effects (8-10 days) vs. my face (4-5 days). I liked the idea mentioned about Retin A to soften up the skin prior to starting treatment. If I had to do my arms again, I'd ask my doctor about that one before treatment. I'd also do both arms at once as recommended - arms are easy to cover up. Go for it and good luck - get it over with before the holidays.

Hi, thanks everyone for your replies. My script looks like it's for 1.5 carac, I'm going to start in Oct after a short vacation and get it done before the holidays. Thanks for all the suggestions and I'm going to a skin cancer lecture at Northwestern Hosp in Chicago tomorrow, if there's anything new to share I'll post it. I needed all the encouragement you gave, Thanks, Bonnie

Hi Kathy
I have not been checking the messages, so I missed your reply. I am glad you got onto the website, it helped me, as I was still going throught the treatment, it was very useful. I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I was supposed to do my arms about 5 or 6 years ago and I couldn't get the courage to do it. So what do I do, I do the face first. I am now going to do my arms, but I will have to wait till next year around April, because here in Australia we are coming into Summer, and our summers are notoriously hot. Maybe by then I will have forgotten all the pain I went through. By the way my face is getting better by the day. I have been taking a photo every day and the difference is unbelievable. It is still very red
(I like the idea of wearing red, I will have to do that) but the flaking is getting less and less. Good luck to all
Cazza

Boy that takes some huevos to do your face first!! I've got 10 days of Carac applications to go on my face and I'm literally countin' the days. Hopefully the healing is quick and I'll be good to go at Thanksgiving (a few have already told me I'm good to go for Halloween!!). By the looks of the peeling and scabbing, I feel like my skin is as thin as tissue paper. I found Lubriderm to be the best moisturizer; most of the others I've tried sting. I put the Carac on at 6AM before I head to work and then try and hold out as many hours as possible(the minimum's 2 hours, right?) before applying moisturizer. Fortunately I work in an out-of-the-way cubicle with minimal interaction. By the evening I'm a "10" on the frightening scale but I wash up in the AM and start all over. Can't wait; I'm countin' the days...

Hello again Bbcoach. Yes, you are in the the throes of the worse time for this treatment. It is, truly, a scary thing. But, trust me, this too shall pass...and you'll be so pleased w/your skin. And safer from problems associated w/skin lesions. 10 days will go by quickly and, in fact, your symptoms should start to lessen just a little bit. Did this occur when you did your arms? Can you tell if the reaction is similar or greater on your face? I've been told that this is so as facial skin is thinner; less tough, than the skin on arms. Don't forget to try Vaseline pet. jelly; it is so easy and cheap and does not sting at all. You are right; 2 hours minimum before putting anything else on after applying Carac. My dermatologist, whom I just returned from seeing, says that Carac is the next generation of this particular type of treatment, and the delivery system is superior to prior brand names. I am pleased to hear this. So, carry on and, you'll see; you're going to be just fine. I did my face first and today, I start my arms...kathy

Thanks for the support Kathy. Yeah, my arms were a cakewalk compared to my face. I've got spotty redness on my forehead, intense redness on temples and cheeks. I assume the skin is so thin on the top of my cheeks (just below where glasses would rest) that it's scabbed up to about the area of a nickel. I'll have to try the vaseline - I've been using lubriderm as mentioned. Ya start with a fresh slate in the morning and before anything goes on my face it feels tight like a high-end Beverly Hills facelift!! As for my arms, they scabbed up wherever I had an AK but is wasn't overly noticable - like a mild case of measles. At least with my face I've got the routine down now and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Once again, thanks for the tips and support and good luck finishing out your treatment!

Hi, you mentioned you were starting your arms. I'm also starting my arms on Mon. My script was for .5 not 1.5 like I thought. I'm suppose to use it twice a day. My Dr. recommended using Aquaphor for the dry skin. I'll be anxious to see how you're doing (although I realize we're all different) since you'll only be a few days ahead of me. Please keep me posted, this web site has helped me so much to get the courage to this. Good luck!!! Bonnie

Hi to all. Bonnie, don't be afraid and go ahead..day three of my arms and I can see changes. Little bit of reddening of spots which were either freckles or AK's. BTW, your Carac prescription of .5 is actually 5% and is the only strength of Carac. It is the best product out there and is the next generation of these topical treatments. Apparently, the delivery system in Carac is a cut above and more accurately pinpoints the active ingredient towards faster growing cells...so says my research and my Dr. So, I'm glad for that!! You'll be able to moisturize and cover your arms more easily than your face. Aquaphor is great...I had some of that & it was really gentle. If you haven't yet, check out the link Cazza gave us... www.topicalchemo.com This is really informative and shows the worse part of the procedure, but also shows that the after math is great. We are lucky to have this option; just think of the opposite..lots of freezing or just plain bad luck. Keep positive and, soon; you'll be finished and healed and looking better than ever..arms or face! kathy

Hi Kathy, how are you doing? I didn't start my arms, was sick over the weekend, am starting the end of the week. Any hints? You're so good at sharing information. Thanks, Bonnie

Hi Bonnie. Don't be afraid to start the treatment on your arms. I am now on day 8 and it is just as Bbcoach described it; kind of like having the measles. Just little reddened spots at this point; some are already falling off (ugh!) but it isn't painful at all. I treated my arms w/Retin A 0.04 Gel before starting Carac, as my Dr. suggested. She said a minimum of 2 weeks; I probably did a few more days than that. My reaction to Carac started w/in 3 days and I think that is due to using the Retin A first. I'm glad to be doing this, too. If you visited Cazza's web discovery www.topicalchemo.com , you'll see how facial reactions can be. Arms are so much easier. The sooner you start, the better. Just be sure not to expose any areas to sun which are being treated w/Carac or efudex. Take care and go for it!!Kathy