User Reviews for Carac topical

After reading reviews here stating that treatment is awful and painful I was scared witless to start the carac treatment. It was prescribed to me for AK lesions on my chest and I was to use it once daily at night time. I am happy to report that the treatment went fast and was no where near as bad as half of these reviews state. After week one, I did start breaking out with red bumps. By the end of week 2, I had LOTS of bumps that covered about a 4 inch wide area of my chest and some of them were starting to open. While it was uncomfortable, it was not by any means painful. By the end of week 3 some of theopen patches would bleed upon using the cream, but it still wasn't that bad. I never had trouble sleeping at night. It was, however, very unsightly just like the doctor will tell you. I made sure that I wore shirts that covered the entire area during treatment. I stopped the treatment a week ago and my doctor prescribed a steroid cream to put on the area twice daily. I've only been using the cream for 3 days and already it is half way cleared up. It's not even uncomfortable any more, just very itchy. Read More Read Less

I am beginning my week 2 of treatment. (twice a day for 21 days)....I am a red head with fair skin. My doctor wanted me to do a "mardi gras" mask to start and do my neck and chest in the winter. I am beginning to flake and get redder by the day. It hurts and is very tender to touch. I am choosing to go to a once a day every other day just to lessen the pain. I go back to work in 2 weeks....it sounds like at the height of ugliness....I hate not being able to be out in the sun, but I guess that is what got me here...:( Read More Read Less

I am on day six in using rx. My cheek was in question, but I had an idea there were problems where my reading glasses sat on my nose. I am already on fire. The areas around my nose are the most painful. I have found several spots that hadn't reared their ugly heads yet. Moisturizer in the AM helps with pain and tightness. Any lotion should work or Vaseline. Can't wait for what I have coming. I was a sun goddess and am paying for it now. I think it would be less painful to go in and have these places frozen off instead of the pain and eye swelling an just feeling blah. Will keep you postedRead More Read Less

i am on week 4 of 6 week therapy.started reacting on day 3.it i have it on multiple areas of my body.right now i'm treating face,chest, arms and a couple of spots onlegs for now.very painful.skin is raw right now.have had to skip a day or 2 because of the pain.hope that means it's working.

A f/u to my previous comment; (day 18 of 28 listed below)...I completed the 28 days & am glad I did because "lots of changes" occured in the 4th week...It is/was a very difficult process however I'm glad I completed it. I am now on day 4 post cream & my face continues to peel & crack however redness is beginning to go away. I am eager for complete healing. I definitely recommend the full 28 days of treatment if that is a Dr.'s order...

My dermatologist prescribed treatment of forearms and back of hands due to continuous AK, basil cell, and finally a melanoma (different areas of course). I'm on day 8 since discontinuing treatment and experience continued peeling. Also appears that I've begun to have a rash and some new spots that look like poison ivy. Perhaps it is since I worked in the garden yesterday. Hope I can say it's been worth it once this is over. Must keep arms covered, very unsightly!

I am a 58 year old male. I just went through a 5 week treatment regimen of Carac cream. The first 3 weeks, even the first 4 weeks were tolerable but near the end of the 4th week I started to have open bloody sores. Normal treatment is 3-4 weeks but my doctor wanted me to go 6 weeks if I could. After precisely 5 weeks I could no longer tolerate it. Almost my entire face was bleeding and burning. I could not sleep at night. I had to take drugs to get to sleep and still could not lie down on a pillow. I could not stand anything touching my face. Showering was a like being engulfed in flames. I bled all over my pillow, etc. Finally I just had to stop to let myself heal. It has been 9 days since I stopped and most of the scabs are gone from my face but it was only in the last 2 days that most of them were removed. I hope the results are worth it. The pain and suffering was great. Read More Read Less

Where to start...for me the experience was awful. ot until about day 8 or 9; so I thought I had bucked the system. But once it got awful, it got geometrically worse. Pain, cracking, burning; and this is my FACE we're talking about! But I had done my homework, knew what to expect; and I work from home. So I soldiered on. Only my friends at the post office saw me (I had to mail out orders!) and I mostly stayed at home through the course.

Day 18 of 28 day tx. for my entire face. My first 'hot spot' was noted on day 4. By day 12 I chose to work from home due to unsightliness & concern for increased risk of infection; I.e.(peeling/cracking/exposed areas). I clearly could see the progress by this point, however today I'm debating to d/c early due to extreme irritation such as burning, itching, dryness, inflammation around eyes, unsightly appearance & several days of minimal sleep. I am pleased with the 'new skin' that has replaced sloughed spots butI wish I had clearer M.D. direction re knowing when enough is enough, rather than leaving it up to my own tolerance & discretion; I.e. if no new hot spots appear, is the tx. complete?? Will there be additional damage by applying cream to all the new, healthy skin? I will write again in a couple days with my decision. I am very pleased/grateful that this type of tx. is available for my face.Read More Read Less

Beginning week two, already have sunburn effect with redened skin,some flaking, ears are very sensitive now, even the pillow contact is uncomfortable. Sense of skin pulling or tightness. No reason not to continue with treatment. Will return and report next week

I finished my 28 day treatment!! Last time I reviewed this product I was on day 22. Day 22-28 were suprisingly the hardest! I was so tempted to stop for mostly for emotional reasoning, I was anxious for the end. Day 22-28 my face got the most red, ichy and dry it ever did during the whole 28 treatments. The things I'm most greatful for is the peace of mind, also the ability to use a moistuizer starting the third week. Advise I would give; Wash your face only once a day during treatment period. Wait 10 full minutes before putting on Carac Cream. put vasaline around your eyes and lips before applying cream. Don't put any product over carac no makeup,sunscreen,moisturizer, unless your doctor says you can. Funny story; My 11 year old niece was entering my house for a family party with a 5 year old fellow cousin who has not seen me in a while and the 5 year old took a little step back upon seeing my face as I greeted them. The 11 year old look at me with an expression of ooohhhh so sorry your hurting and quickly looks down at the 5 year old cousin and tells her "that's not her real face". oh out of the mouth of babes. ;-) 28 days is not a big deal. I went to work, entertained and went out. GLAD it's over. Glad I have less of a cancer scare and would do it again if I need to. Read More Read Less

I started my treatments on March 23. I am doing a 28 day treatment. I am on day 22. I wash my face once a day. I prefer night so I can go to sleep through the most ichy time of treatment. The first 4 days my skin did not have a reaction. Days 5-9 my skin started to get slightly irritated. Days 10-14 spots appeared and the skin in my T zone peeled. The irritation stepped up, but nothing more than an extrem dry ichy slightly burning feel. Day 15 my doctor said I was responding very well and I had a moderate reaction. She also gave me a moisturizer to use, that has alleviated my pain to almost nothing. Day 16-22 my face is red, peeling, dry, irritated, burning but it all goes away, when, I have waited my 2 hours+ and I can put on my moisturizer. All people respond differently so ask you doctor if moistuizer is an option for you otherwise it could impeed your success. I have 6 treatment days to do still. So far the biggest thing was dryness, and it looks terrible. It beats loosing a lip or nostral. Read More Read Less

I am on day 14 of a 28 day treatment. I apply Carac once a day all over my face. My face is very red, peeling and blotchy. I use a tinted moisturizer in the morning to help hide the color, but now its starting to just show through. I'm mostly concerned with how dry my skin is and how much worse it will get...??

I am on day 5 of a 2 week treatment. My face and scalp have become red and angry. My eyes have begun to itch. I have also noticed more burning and itching at the day 4 treatment. Look forward to the end of 2 weeks, mainly for the results which I believe will be rewarding considering the trauma my face and scalp have been going through. Onward through the fog...

I am on day 5 of 14 day t/x. After reading all other reviews I think I'll probably end up being miserable sometime next week. Don't know if its working other than where I have to put it (upper lip, nose and left cheek) spots are very red, my eyes are burning and its beginning to get very blotchy. I trust my physician - sure hope this does the trick and I promise I'll never go out without sun screen again. I'll check in next week with an update.

I have just completed week two for my face. I now look like I have a moderate case of acne, not too bad. I do feel a little self-concious but I believed that it would be much worse at this point. Some dryness and itching at night but no pain at all. Not looking forward to week three!

starting week 2-ugly-painful-burns with redness & swelling. treating almost entire face, so probably worse off than others. hope i can make the 4 weeks & end up with good results.

kI used Carac after many bouts w/basil and squamous cell. I applied to face neck chest and arms.The first week wasn't bad but by week 2 things were heating up. By week 3 I was on fire with major redness and swelling, my skin was so tight that I had to apply lotion to open my mouth to eat. Didn't sleep for 1 full week and was unable to go to work as clothing was painful. I finished the treatment everywere except for the face, Dr gave me steriods to discontinue treatment because of severity. In the end it did a great job of finding lots of bad cells and my skin looks great. I just had a squamous cell come up on my nose that I guess it was unable to remove.Read More Read Less

I have just completed week one of a four week program for my face and have seen no affects at all! I assume it will go downhill from here or I have no bad cells. I will post every week so others can tell how the Carac works week to week. So far so good.

Completed four-weeks of 1xdaily on the face. Reviewer who observed that week three is the worst was almost correct. First two weeks, nothing but a little redness and slight burning. Third week it started waking me up at night and had problems eating as skin was very tight. Week three it began flaking and peeling. Shaving with a blade was out of the question. Tried ice packs to keep the swelling down. Week four was very painful; redness started to turn purple and skin was constantly flaking and peeling. Gym workouts were the worst; sweat was like acid on my face. Decided to cut the four week treatment by two days. Have been off the drug for almost a week and this is the first day there has been no discomfort. Redness is greatly decreased but skin is still flaking and peeling. Still a bit of soreness where at creases around the mouth and edge of the eyes. Skin looks much much better than before medication. Some "questionable" discolored places are totally gone. Now looking for the world's best sunscreen as I'm certain I was the victim of name-brand stuff with little UVA protection. Recommend this product and the full 4-weeks.Read More Read Less