The Skin Center 26081 Merit Circle Suite #109
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949- 582-7699
(949) 582-SKIN
Fax (949) 582-7691
Author: Dr. Alai
Diplomate, American Board of Dermatology
Assistant Clinical Professor University of California, Irvine
Efudex Program for sun damaged skin
Efudex ( fluorouracil)is a topical cream that has remained the GOLD STANDARD for treatment of pre-cancers called actinic keratosis. It is an optional treatment for fair skin individuals with multiple or recurrent actinic keratosis. It is particularly useful for those with a history of strong sun exposure or a personal or family history of skin cancer. Efudex is used for 2-6 weeks depending on the area being treated. It is a selective cream that attacks only pre-cancers and early basal cell cancers. Efudex acts like a private detective in that you trea
t an entire area and it selectively finds the damaged areas and treats them. If there is no skin damage, there is no reaction and no redness or irritation. If however, there is even invisible damage, it highlights these areas and treats them. It really isn’t as useful for more developed or advanced skin cancers and can’t clear these like pre-cancers. The goal of your therapy with Efudex is to be pro-active and potentially cut down on your total number of pre-cancers and future skin cancers.
Most patients use the cream twice a day for 4 weeks from start to finish. It is usually best to treat an area and not spot treat. Most patients choose to treat the entire face at once although a few prefer to treat one cheek or section at a time. The treated areas may begin to get itchy, red, irritated, or sensitive by 10-14 days. Once you finish the full 4 week treatment, the areas calm down over the next 1-3 weeks. There are multiple other treatment alternatives for patients who are unable or don’t wish to have Efudex treatment. These include freezing ( liquid nitrogen),
Photodynamic therapy or Blue Light ,Solaraze, Aldara, ALA/ laser treatments, facial peels, etc.
1. Only per your physician, begin Efudex cream twice a day to one area only.
Typical treatment area may include the face, ears, scalp, chest, back, shoulders, nose, arms, or back of the hands hands. It is important to limit the treatment area and do not treat more than one area at a time.
(The lower lip is a special area and very sensitive skin: treatment is usually only once a day to lower lip for 7-10 days)
2. Use a hat daily and avoid intense sun exposure. Recommended sunscreens are zinc or titanium based non-chemical sunscreens like Physicians Complex SPF 30 w/ zinc, Neutrogena SPF 30 sensitive skin w/ Titanium, Presun zinc sunscreen.
3. Stop any other irritating creams such as glycolic acic products, retin A, Tazorac, etc. to the area. You may use bland makeup/cover-up as long as it doesn’t sting or cause you discomfort.
4. Use a topical cortisone to help decrease itching or irritation while using Efudex.
Apply Locoid Lipocream, Cortaid, Desowen lotion, Desonide Lotion, or Hydrocortisone cream, two to three times a day only if needed for itching or irritation. Don’t need to use the cortisone cream if don’t have any irritating symptoms when using Efudex. Its best to apply the cortisone an hour or so after applying the Efudex, not with the Efudex.
5. Return for your half way re -check with your dermatologist in 10-14 days AFTER you start Efudex. (VERY IMPORTANT)
6. If you are having a lot of trouble and other side effects, stop the cream and then call us for a sooner appointment.
7. Do not use the cream in or around your eyes and inside lips. Do not use in crevices like corners of your mouth or the nasal folds. This can cause a rash and become very irritated.
8. Please read your Efudex brochure. Call for any questions (949) 582-7699.
SCALP: one of the most common areas for actinic keratosis in men.
Typical prescirption may use Efudex twice a day for 4 weeks for the scalp.
Chest: common area for actinic keratosis ( pre-cancers) especially in women.
Typical prescription from physician may use Efudex twice a day for 4 weeks.
Call to Schedule an appointment at (949) 582-SKIN Dr. Gary Cole and Dr. Nili Alai are Board-Certified Dermatologists.
For more information, please call (949) 582-7699 or visit the practice website at www.lagunaskincenter.com.
Information in this publication and site is not intended to serve as medical advice. Individuals may use the information as a guide to discuss their treatments with their own physicians. This site does not promote nor endorse the unauthorized practice of medicine by non-physicians or state licensed health care providers.
Medicine is a constantly changing science and not all therapies are clearly established. New research changes drug and treatment therapies daily. The authors, editors, and publisher of these articles have used their best efforts to provide information that is up-to-date and accurate and is generally accepted within medical standards at the time of publication. However, as medical science is constantly changing and human error is always possible, the authors, editors, and publisher or any other party involved with the publication of this article do not warrant the information in this article is accurate or complete, nor are they responsible for omissions or errors in the article or for the results of using this information. The reader should confirm the information in this article from other sources prior to use. In particular, all drug doses, indications, and contraindications should be confirmed in the package insert.
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