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!