I've got a couple of spots on my head that haven't been resolved by liquid nitrogen or pdt. A childhood of playing outdoors in east Texas without wearing sunscreen most of the time is paying dividends. My dermatologist said to go for 4 weeks. Did a lot of research and it sounds like I'm in for some uncomfortable days ahead. Best advice I could find was to keep the skin moisturized once it starts to get dry, cracked, and ugly.

Anyone else go through a cycle of Efudex? Thoughts, advice?

I had it prescribed over two years ago. I still haven't used it. I know, I'm a bad patient. I have been thinking about it recently though. I plan to try using it this winter.

I remember my dermatologist telling me that it takes 28 treatments. He didn't care how I did it. Said once a day for 28 days, twice a day for 14 days, every weekend for 14 weeks… whatever I wanted. Did yours say anything like that or was it pretty strict regimen?

I prob just need to do it.

She said basically use it as long as I can stand it. She said she's prescribing it for twice a day for 28 days but it's ok to miss a treatment here and there but 28 days is the target. I put a chart on the bathroom counter to mark every time I use it. Nothing so far but based on my research it takes a couple weeks until things start to get uncomfortable, then you keep using it another two weeks, then you stop using and heal for the next two weeks. She said to use Aquafor once the skin starts to get really dry.

If you have a severe reaction your Dr. can prescribe a topical steroid to help speed up the resolution of symptoms.

I've completed 7 days of treatment (14 applications) and I figured I'd provide an update. I've been following the directions to the T, applications twice a day, washing my face and scalp before each application, tracking each application as well. Been applying moisturizer an hour after the ointment has been applied.

Starting to see some areas of redness on my forehead, nose, and cheeks, but nothing crazy. Some minor discomfort, nothing major, hasn't impacted sleep or anything else of my day to day. No reaction yet on the top of my scalp but my dermatologist said the skin on different parts of the body reacts at different rates so it probably takes longer. I'll probably be pretty red come Thanksgiving but I really don't care. By the time we hit Christmas I should be getting close to healed up, which was what I was shooting for.

Excellent!

Two weeks in now, still applying twice a day. Redness and sensitivity has increased. Feels like a sunburn for the most part. Been applying moisturizer a couple times a day to help since the skin feels very dry. Glad I'm halfway through. I ordered some lidocaine cream today since I'm starting to feel an itch on the way.

6 days to go, counting down the days. Skin is definitely more red and sensitive as the days go by. I'm still not in pain, just very uncomfortable. I've been able to sleep. Haven't had to use he lidocaine ointment I bought or ask the doctor for a topical steroid. Aquafor is a life saver. I can't use my normal moisturizer, it burns real bad because the skin is so sensitive and the red areas are pretty dry and crackly feeling. No pain from the Aquafor, it really helps with the discomfort.

The biggest drawback is that I'm very embarrassed at how I look right now. Luckily I work from home, but I really don't like to go anywhere right now. When I do I have my hoodie up and put on a face mask to cover as much up as I can. My wife says it's not that bad, but I disagree, I just want to hide. They are throwing my SIL a surprise 50th birthday party next weekend, I'm just going to stay home and watch the kid. That's going to be my last day applying the ointment, Saturday is day 28 of 28. This stuff is supposed to be really effective but it's no joke.

Physics professor my freshman year of college did it. I want to say he started half way through the fall. Face was back to normal by the spring semester.

Didn't sleep real well last night, woke up and the face was hurting a good bit. Washing my face has gotten pretty painful, just straight up water is bothersome. Still took care of business this morning, washed the face, and applied the medicine. Of the 56 total applications I have 5 left, ready to be done with this stuff, ugh. I almost didn't put on the medicine this morning, but I've crossed the 90% threshold.

I know something in it is working, I had a couple spots on my face gradually get darker and then disappear. Those weren't even the area that I started this because of. That part I guess I won't really know how well it worked until I'm completely healed. It's a bit of a mental beat down as well as physical, the persistent discomfort and the way I look are wearing on me.