Efudex Day Twenty-One Update

June 3, 2013 - Update

I thought it was worthy of posting updated pictures post shower/exfoliation/moisturizing cream. I decided to try Cetaphil moisturizing cream instead of the Aquaphor ointment (I was tired of my hair sticking to my face all day and the greasy look). 

I was a little worried about applying a moisturizer after hearing online horror stories about the burning, but Cetaphil is non-comedogenic and fragrance free and I've used for many years on my legs after shaving and it never burned...so I took a chance. Immediately, it hydrated my skin and left my skin smooth (no burn). I'm guessing if I tried the Cetaphil cream a couple of days ago it might have been a different story, so be sure you are well into the healing phase before trying it or try a little area before applying all over.

Here's me before exfoliating and moisturizing:

And me after exfoliating and moisturizing:

Efudex Day Twenty-One

June 3, 2013

What a difference a couple of days make. This morning was the first day after stopping the Efudex cream that I didn't wake up running for the Aquaphor ointment.

I am still red, but I don't think I am as red as I look in the pictures. I have a few small spots of bleeding where there is scabbing.

My skin is still pretty dry and leathery. When I smile, it feels like I'm going to crack my cheeks and chin. But most importantly, feeling very good and encouraged that the end to this treatment is just around the corner. YEAH!

Efudex Day Nineteen

June 1, 2013

Thing are definitely improving. The redness is starting to recede around my eyes, mouth and jawline.

Everything is very very dry, itchy, and still some nerve-like zaps in the areas most red.

Neck is still uncomfortable, but definitely better.

Efudex Day Eighteen

Day 18

May 31, 2013

I think I'm on the mend! This morning, I exfoliated my face (very very gently with a warm wash cloth in shower) which removed all of the dry and dark scabbing. My neck is still raw and seems to become more sensitive and irritated at night, making it difficult to get some good sleep.

After exfoliating, I let my face dry about 10 minutes and then applied the Eucerin Aquaphor to my face, but not my neck. I'm trying to keep my neck dry so it starts to scab and then will hopefully become less sensitive.

I'm feeling good about the progress. Compare today's pictures with day 15 pictures, sun damage spots GONE! I hope the healing process happens quickly. 

Day 15

Day 18 

Efudex Day Seventeen

May 30, 2013

Another rough night with my neck. It feels like someone is holding a curling iron to it...the pictures speak for themselves. I applied an antibiotic ointment because it had lidocaine in it, thinking it would numb the burn, and an ice pack...it didn't help.

Today, my face is feeling very prickly, especially where it is the most red, and I stopped applying the Efudex to my forehead, nose, and cheeks. Now it's time to heal.

Feels like someone held a curling iron to my neck

The dark spots you see on my face are scabs, soon to be gone.

Efudex Day Sixteen

May 29, 2013

Last night was something else! You know when you pull your shirt off over your head and the static electricity zaps you? Well, multiply that by 10 and constant over your face and neck. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep last night. Tried the Eucerin Aquaphor and an ice pack...didn't help.

On a more positive note, when I was in the shower this morning, I used a soft wash cloth and gently exfoliated the dry scabbing around my mouth and chin. Then applied the Eucerin Aquaphor...what a difference, my chin is totally soft, not leather-like and doesn't burn today. When I can stand to exfoliate the other scabbing areas I will do the same. It's amazing because where I exfoliated I use to have tons of freckles and they're now gone and skin appears to be baby smooth! Still needs to heal, but hopefully baby smooth will be the result :)

The redness seems to be lightening up and the burning is less. But this nerve-like, static electricity zaps are unreal. Yesterday, I had a major nerve zap in my cheek and when I looks in the mirror I have a new sore that looked like it had erupted from the inside out...crazy sci-fi stuff?

There are a few areas on my face that I decided to continue applying the Efudex cream for 2-3 more days. It just seemed like my nose, cheeks (just under my eyes), temples and forehead hadn't progressed like the rest of my face, neck and chest. So we'll see what happens.

In these pictures, you can really see a transformation in my skin. This is exciting.

Looks like a mug shot, LOL

Efudex Day Fifteen

May 28, 2013

Last night's sleep was interrupted a few times by burning and nerve-like zaps (more aggressive than the tingling I described in earlier posts). My face felt like a plasma globe with tendrils of electricity racing around my face. I got up and looked in the mirror and my neck and chest had welts all over, a few were weeping. I should've taken a picture, but I was half asleep and just went back to bed. Another time, I woke up and contemplated getting an ice pack to calm it down, but fell back to sleep.

So, today is my last day of applying the Efudex cream and from what I've read online, I am about to embark on the "tumor disintegration phase" where lesions resolve as the skin exfoliates. Then the last phase is healing...YAY!

I'm not surprised, but just blown away seeing the amount of skin damage and pre-cancerous stuff I have. I will be glad to be rid of it soon!