[cherylncliff]

This treatment is used to treat actinic keratosis. This is a skin condition related to pre-cancerous skin cells most likely caused by overexposure to sun; often in childhood. I just finished a course of treatment on my cheek. Over the 2 week application the area turned red, got very dry and felt like a sunburn. During the subsequent two weeks the area reacted much like a sunburn and got itchy and peeled. It looked much worse than it felt. After 2 weeks, the area is now pretty much back to normal. As stated previously, the fluorouracil only attacks the affected cells so if you apply to broadly it won't matter. I found application with a q-tip to work quite well. I have a friend who was treating an area on his forehead and he had a more severe reaction but still not much worse than a really bad sunburn- itching, dry, a bit of cracking of the skin and peeling. All in all, I did not find the experience particularly bad. Good luck with your decision.