User Reviews for Carac topical

I am a 35 year old female and my doctor prescribed Carac to be applied twice per day to my forehead and chest for two weeks. I am now four weeks in and am VERY happy with my results. The first week wasn't too bad. I started getting red spots, but could cover them up with foundation. The second week was worse. It was incredibly tender and I didn't dare put makeup on it. I started to scab, but it wasn't bloody, omg look at her face scab. My last day to apply the medication was on a Friday. That Sunday morning, I woke up and my entire face was swollen. The first healing week (week 3 for me) was by far the worst. My forehead was tender, bright red and peeling. My chest was in worse shape - scabs that just hurt. My doctor suggested I apply Cetaphil lotion and Aquaphor healing ointment, which helped. By the end of the third week, I would say I was almost completely healed. I was still pink and peeling a little, but could again cover my forehead with foundation and it wasn't as tender. Now, at the end of four weeks, I am still barely pink on both my forehead and chest and the skin is very, very smooth. It seemed to eliminate all my rough patches and my discoloration spots. I am very satified and will probably do the rest of my face next January!Read More Read Less

Just applied 8th day of 14 day treatment...I have actinic keratosis. I have pain around my eyes and mouth, thinking that even though I stay outside the boney area of my eyes....I must spread carac in those areas when I apply the Cera-Ve moisturizer 2 hours later. Been very careful to avoid my eye area but very red and sore in the crows feet and under the brow. It isn't pleasant...painful and dark red, purple around mouth a couple blotches on the right side of my face....must be from years of riding on the passenger side of the car. Looks pretty horrible but I'm getting married in June so I have a goal in mind...tired of the dry patches on my face that never seem to get better with moisturizer...just hope I can make to the 14th day.... Read More Read Less

Three years later and still suffering after two rounds of treatment on my lips. Used on my lips for four weeks, two months later biopsy showed actinic cheilitis so did another three weeks. I won't go into how painful the treatment was because my main complaint is the recurrent problems with my lips. I never had a problem with my lips until I went to the derm with one little rough spot. This led to me doing carac on my lips and I had reactions on both my lips. Severe! After healing from treatment, I have had frequent episodes of inflamed, sensitive, lumpy lips. Sometimes I have white spots right inside my lips where the carac ended. Of course, every time I go to my derm, they are fine. I've searched and searched online trying to find help and relief. My derm gave me 2.5% hydracortizone and that doesn't do anything. Also an antibiotic ointment, murpricin(sp). Doesn't help. Could it be fungal??? Never had lip fungus before carac. The white can be wiped off and is raw underneath. I am so depressed over this and don't know what to do. I feel like I rarely look normal any more. And all this since Carac. Read More Read Less

I initially used Carac 10 yrs ago in tandem w/ Aldara, today mostly use Carac alone as Aldara produces immune suppressive complaints. If Carac is overused (which I errantly did), it can lead to permanent scarring. If underused, the lesions will require retreating or a visit to the dermatologist to have the area frozen. The challenge in using Carac is knowing WHEN you have reached the END POINT, and stop treatment of a lesion. I feel the mfrs info for use could be better in detailing how to know when you reach the end point. Also, the end point is different for your arms & face v lips v scalp. Clearly more user info is needed.Read More Read Less

This is the 2nd time I've used the cream. This time I am on day 26 - I have 4 more days. It's on the side of my nose where my glasses sit. The pain is terrible when I wear my glasses (sometiems i wear contacts). I have to use a little dot bandaid but know I should not cover it. I CANNOT wait for the 4 days to be done, but I know it will work.

Itching burning and flaking of the skin

Just finished 21 days of Carac for 3 small areas on face. Want to discuss organic virgin coconut oil, recommended 1/20/12. Treatment symptoms (soreness, itching) weren't bad. After the 21 days I tried the organic virgin coconut oil instead of vaseline for the dryness. In my case the 3 areas itched and burned. I was extremely, extremely uncomfortable. My dermatologist's office returned my earlier call--asking about organic virgin coconut oil--too late that day (because I'd already put the coconut oil on the treated areas) saying not to use organic virgin coconut oil, it would cause burning. For me,it already had. Hours after washing the areas with mild soap and water, I happily applied vaseline. No problem. Read More Read Less

Does anyone know if treating face, neck and chest at same time is dangerous? On day two of seven with no side effects yet

Using carac on my entire chest every other day, will return to Dr. after two weeks. I've had six applications so far and just now getting uncomfortable, patchy red spots are starting to burn, itch, and ooze. Shower hitting it stings! So far not too bad, I guess I will find out in a couple of days how much longer I will be using it.

Day 18 of 21 days. Using on forehead and temples. Started getting red spots after day 4. Not too painful until the start of third week. Some spots have turned dark brown, and now have a lot of peeling. Burning is irritating, but not too bad. I have not stopped going out in public and have not had a single comment or second glance. When I mentioned this to my friend (?) he told me "It's because people expect old people like you to look ugly." :-p

HAVE USED ONE FULL WEEK HAVE NOT SEEN MUCH REDNESS AND PEELING WILL KEEP USING UNTIL I RUN OUT

I've just finished 6wk treatment of carac on my face .. 2 seperate areas for precancer & cancer cells [1st nose then entire face] . I've been off for a week & healing continues. Dr. says about 18 cancer areas treated well. 2 problem areas remain & will be evaluated in 2 mo. I'm using organic virgn cocconut oil as a moisturise. Much easier & more comfortable to use than vasoline. Absobs better & helps against yeast inf. of skin. Also advised to use old remedy of casteroil pack. Helps rid toxins. Check at health stores. My skin is much improved p/ a couple of days.Read More Read Less

Another fair skinned, blue-eyed Southern California native who grew up enjoying too much time (baseball, sailing, swimming) outdoors. I also lived almost a decade along the equator in Southeast Asia in my 30s, so many regrets... This is my 3rd December, 3-4 week treatment, and I just finished the full 28 days. (Before I had bailed at around 21-24 days.) My results have been the same each time: not much until about Week 3 when the redness, heat, tenderness, swelling, and peeling start. It took 2 little tubes to do my whole face and neck. My totally dark red areas were my cheeks and the middle of forehead (with the worst reaction in the creases between my eyes and sides of my mustache). My daughter's makeup (and Aquaphor) were my salvations! Read More Read Less

6 week treatment om two seprate areas of my face 1.nose 2.whole face Pretty tough for a blue eyed irish blonde. 2 days left of treatment. I'v got red & purple peeling, cracked,& some bleeding. Ther skin itches & burns at the ssame time. Now it seems to be effecting my digestive system Today lots of crampning & some Diarrhea..I/m taking the day off..it's Christmas eve, but I think I'll stay home with my jar of vasoline..

My husband's dermatologist recommended this treatment for my husband's precancerous skin cells. The dermatologist said to do it every year, and each time the treatment would be easier and there would be fewer cancerous cells. He must be crazy. My husband used the treatment 3 years ago. It was a very difficult experience with a lot of pain, but not impossible. He last 25 of the 30 days he was supposed to last. He just finished another treatment that lasted 26 days and the experience was way worse this time. Instead of being easier, it was more difficult with worsening skin. And he has used sunscreen faithfully for the last 3 years. I have never in 20 years seen him so miserable and he is very tolerant of pain. He cannot sleep, he is thoroughly exhausted at all times. The pain at worst is a 9 or so, but a constant 8 over the last 4 days since he has stopped taking it. His life has stopped completely. I fail to see how this helps. If he does this again, will it be worse still?Read More Read Less

I used its older brother effudex over 10 years ago on my face and the results were deamatic with baby-like smoothness after the treatment was over. This time I'm using it on my scalp (bald) and forehead. It seems to be much more irritating this time around and the itching is drivimg me crazy. After my previous results I'm willing to finish the treaatment because I know the results will be worth it. It takes at least a month for the redness and swelling to go away!

I am using Carac in my upper chest 2/day for 2 weeks), on day 8 but will be using it I didn't think it was working until like day 6, I had more actinic keratoses that I thought. The areas are now red and scaly, not a pleasant site and it does tingle sometimes.SO for all those sunworshippers out there reading this, STOP NOW, beacuse what we are doing now, could have been prevented if we did not lie in the sun all day when we were in our 20's, and even our 40's.

Very painful but it works.

Hello, My whole right arm was covered with astinic kerotosis. I applied a even coat of carac cream from the knuckles to the elbow every evening, washing with non scent soap before, pat dry wait about 20 minutes than apply. Each week the cream was detroying the precancer and each week it got worse looking. In the middle of week 4, I stopped applying it as it was very ugly and thought it had done its job. Every month after the treatment it has cleared, it takes time, it took my arm about 7 months to clear up. It takes at least 15 grams per week for one arm, apply it even make sure you have enough and tough it out because it certainly worked for me. Read More Read Less

I have used this carac on my face and now my chest just above the breasts..however after the use this time I am left with my skin still red it has not gone back to normal can anyone help me???