DAY 13 - Sunday 31st August

Forgot to take morning pics as off running early. Showered and applied the cream as normal. Noticed that skin under my right eye is a bit more sore than the rest with almost bleeding, but not quite. My skin is tight, with, oddly, a healthy glow in places. The original sore is a little itchy at times, but I leave it alone. Generally I think it looks more painful than it is. Actually it looks redder than the pictures suggest, but that might be my imagination. I had a good 2 hour run on a very cool, misty Dartmoor. My friends looked very concerned at what the thought was a 'nasty sunburn'. My explanation was followed by words of support and encouragement. I went to a car show today and one of my friends had brought along a sombrero for me to wear and a poncho. How very hilarious. I was grateful for the sombrero which kept the sun off me completely.

Evening. My skin is pretty uncomfortable. The tightness of my cheeks make opening my mouth wide a bit unconfortable, as if I'm stretching skin that doesn't want to be stretched. My daughter's teenage friends are over. Heaven knows what they think. Definite scabbing under my right eye that causes pin pricks of pain when touched. I showered, which was unite uncomfortable, especially trying to wash my face with my hands. Throughout the whole treatment I have been moisturising my forehead but not applying anything to the treated area except the treatment itself. I'm planning on ordering Aquafor on Monday (which I've picked up as a good cream for relief from other blogs) and I will phone the consultants secretary to enquire about an appointment to check on progress too.

DAY 12 - Saturday 30th August

Morning. I think my face is much as yesterday but my cheeks are looking slightly scabby near by eyes and a little like the top layer is dry, like you get after sunburn when the skin dries before peeling. You can see in the close-up the original sore, looking like a white circle. The cream is sore to apply but no pain after applying (or maybe I have a high pain threshold). An hour fishing this morning completely took my mind off it, apart from some enquiring looks, which I was happy to explain away. I was going to upload a photo of the mackerel lunch I had, but that's not really why you're here. I'm staying out of the sun as much as possible, but fortunately (for me) it's not a great August, weather-wise. I think it frightened my sister, who is visiting.

Evening. Had a good day today generally, but this evening the shower and following application of cream were a bit painful. Looking back it seems the redness has intensified, but the pain isn't any worse and is more of an odd numbness. I only applied a light coverage of cream, with a lot applied only to the sore (in front of my right ear). Also allowed an hour after the shower before applying the cream. There appears to be residual cream to each side of my nose after washing , but that seems to go when I applying the new cream. So far so good, but I'm counting down the days now - 9 left!

DAY 11 - Friday 29th August

The redness appears to be peaking now and the twice daily applications are quite painful. Each morning I shower before applying the cream and pat my face dry, which itself causes a little pain. Showering is quite a relief, but the general feeling is more discomfort, tightness and the odd sharp pain, rather than any constant pain. I've started waking up earlier than normal, but that's no big deal. The main sort now appears to be reacting, so that's good. For anyone worried about a rogue hairdresser out there, don't worry, I cut it myself.

DAY 10 - Thursday 28th August

Morning. It's getting painful now to apply the cream. The redness is not really any worse but this prickly feeling and slight, but constant burning is starting to become uncomfortable. I'm working from home today and will probably take the day off tomorrow. The original sore is starting to look angry but no signs of any erosion to my skin here or anywhere else.

I've been out this afternoon and due to the redness I'd rather avoid seeing people, especially strangers, so I've decided to work from home from now until the end of my treatment on Monday week, that's another 11 days away so tomorrow will mark the half way point. I have no doubt that I'll continue the treatment but I am starting to feel an inner reluctance to apply the cream. I will order Aquaphor tomorrow as this has been used by others to give some relief. Having said that, the discomfort is quite manageable. So apart from the redness increasing to a more even coverage, it's much the same as yesterday with no weeping or breaking of the skin. So far so good - a strong reaction is a good sign that it's working and the original sore is looking the worst of all.

DAY 9 - Wednesday 27th August:

Morning. It's a bit sore today and skin is feeling tight. No redder than yesterday and off to work now.

Evening. You can see how the redness is captured differently between photos. It has been a little uncomfortable this afternoon in work and skin has been feeling tight and I have a mild burning feeling much like sunburn on my cheeks. The skin feels tight under my eyes. When I got home from work I washed my face, applying a normal application of cream half an hour before bed. Apart from tight skin, my face feels okay.

DAY 8 - Tuesday 26th August

Morning. My nose and cheeks are starting to go red and this is accompanied by a prickly feeling, which is not painful but just slightly unpleasant. Looks like I've caught the sun. The original sore near my right ear is looking more red and sore than normal with a little flaking of the skin.

DAY 1 to 7 - Background & First Week

I've had a sore just below my right temple in front of my ear for several months. It looks a bit red and is about 5mm across. After a couple of visits to the doctor and fretting over it for a while I asked the doctor to refer me for specialist assessment. In June I visited a dermatologist who told me it was an actinic keratosis, otherwise known as a solar keratosis. In simple terms sun-damaged skin. Such skin I understand can become cancerous if untreated. I was prescribed 5% Efudix cream, to be used twice a day for a period of 3 weeks. This is my blog, created as a daily record for the benefit of anyone else in a similar position who would like to know how treatment progresses and concludes. I hope it's of use to you. Although I took photographs from the start of my treatment, I start this blog at the end of day 8, as nothing really happened until day 6, so I though until then there might be no reaction and no need to record my experience. Thanks to all those who have done this before me, helping me to get to this point and showing me how well it can work out. If you are reading this, all I ask is that you do likewise and create a blog of your experience for others.

DAY 1 - Tue 19th August:

Evening. At this point I'm just about to apply the cream to my face. Having spoken to the consultant I plan to treat my face from across from just in front of my ears, across my cheeks and nose so that the centre of my face is covered. I have a tiny little sore under my right eye which will then be included but maybe there will be little reaction on my cheeks and nose - we'll see.


DAY 2 - Wednesday 20th August:

Morning, before and after applying morning treatment. You can see here how much cream I'm applying. There is no discomfort. The cream disappears into the skin after about 30 minutes and just leave a slight greasy appearance. Nothing unpleasant looking at all. I go to work as normal.

Evening treatment applied. No reaction so far.

DAY 3 - Thursday 21st August

No reaction, but continuing to apply the cream over the same area, perhaps leaving a visible amount of cream on the skin, I guess increasing the dose slightly.

DAY 4 to 6 - Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th August No reaction, twice daily application. Actually skin is a bit ticklish on cheeks but maybe I'm imagining it. At this point I'm hoping for a reaction of some kind.

DAY 7 - Monday 25th August: My cheeks and nose are beginning to go red, just like a very mild sun burn. So it begins!