Jan 2 - I have put the Efudex treatment off for way too long. The AKs have been showing up much faster over the last two months. I am beginning the treatment on my face and ears. Other than rubbing my skin which is a little sensitive I have noticed no discomfort.

Jan 3 - My doctor cautioned me to be extra careful in the sun while using the Efudex cream; this morning I put sun screen on before going to work. I work inside; however, I work in a manufacturing facility where I can be within 20 feet of arc welding for 10 to 15 minutes a couple times a day. Tonight I noticed my skin looked good, it seem to have pretty even color but it felt like I have a little bit of a sunburn.

Jan 4 - Today my skin feels like it did before treatment started. No sunburn sensation today. Yesterday and today when I came home from work my skin felt and looked a little oily.

Jan 5 – The sensitive areas on my face are starting to get pink. Other than that I feel the same.

Jan 6 - When I washed my hair this morning I could feel a slight burning and sensitivity on a very small area on the right side of my forehead. Is this the beginning? Tonight as I apply the Efudex cream it feels like I have a slight sunburn.

Jan 7 - This morning there was some discomfort when I washed my hair. Everything else was normal until tonight when I washed my face and put the Efudex on again. As I rubbed the cream on my face it felt like I had mild sunburn. Since putting the cream on my face feels a little tight with burning and tingling.

Jan 8 - This morning more discomfort – tenderness on my face. About 1:30 p.m. today my face was pretty red and looked a little swollen and felt like I had been slapped a couple times. I came home from work early. Washed my face tonight and applied the Efudex cream –it is definitely getting more sensitive. My forehead appears more spotted.

Jan 9 - A little more sensitivity when I put the Efudex cream on today. I noticed 3 hours after I put it on this morning and about 2 hours after tonight that my face turned a little redder and itched for about 30 minutes.

Jan 10 - During the night I noticed my face had a burning sensation. Washing may face wasn’t bad, putting the Efudex cream on is starting to sting. About ½ hour after applying the Efudex this morning the red itchy sensation returned. Tonight when I washed my face with lots of soapy water it felt wonderful. My face has had areas that itched most of the afternoon and washing it just felt great. Will that change?

Jan 11 - Again last night my face had a mild burning sensation. Not a lot of sleep.
When I wash my face, the water feels good. I noticed the skin on my forehead is getting more sensitive. I noticed more redness today and a small amount of swelling on my cheeks. I went through phases today from feeling a little uncomfortable to a sudden burning and redness with swelling.

Jan 12 - Last night I a had a good nights sleep until I awoke at 6:15 with my face burning. I washed my face and applied the Efudex cream. Most of the burning went away immediately. My face is almost all red, looks like I have been burnt by the sun. Most of today I had a mild burning sensation and itching on my cheeks and chin.

Jan 13 - Awoke at 2:30 this morning with moderate burning which subsided within 2 hours and I went back to sleep. When I go 14 or 15 hours on some days before putting the Efudex cream on I get more itching and burning so I decided to put the Efudex cream on at 9:00 am and 9:00 pm. It moistens my skin and immediately takes away some of the itching and burning. (The redness is starting to take the fun out of things)

Jan 14 - This morning after washing my face I decided to start using an electric razor.
It felt wonderful vibrating on my itch skin. It was about 30 minutes before I put the Efudex cream on. My skin was very dry and several AK spots were itching like crazy, but stopped as soon as I applied the Efudex cream.

Jan 15 - Almost solid red now and 8 more days of Efudex cream. The worst part of my day is putting on the Efudex cream because the skin on the sides of my nose and also by my eyes is very sensitive. The best part of my day also is when I put the Efudex cream on, instant soothing-cooling relief.

Jan 16 - I woke up to a burning face again. I washed my face and applied the Efudex cream. I had to stop wearing my eyeglasses. The skin where the pads rest on my nose turned darker red and became sore. So much for cruising Google or being able to see what is on the TV unless I am right in front of it.

Jan 17 - I had three hours of poor sleep, my face burned from 10:30 last night until 4:40 this morning. When I washed my face I felt refreshed and it allowed me to massage a few itchy areas. The areas by my temples and the corners of my eyes are loosing skin and are very sensitive.

Jan 18 - No sleep last night. I am not sure if it was being outside yesterday for a few minutes in the cold and wind or if the soap I am using is washing the natural oil and Efudex cream off my face, but my skin is very dry now. At 4:30 this morning I looked in the mirror and the skin on my face was tight, red and burning pretty intensely. I found some Petroleum Jelly and applied a thin layer and got immediate relief. I was so tired I fell asleep on the living room floor, face down. I applied a small amount of petroleum jelly around 3:00 pm. (I received instant relief but this was a mistake. Do not put Petroleum Jelly on until after you have completed the Efudex cream treatment.)

Jan 19 - I made a mistake putting on the Petroleum Jelly. It seems like it interfered with the absorption of the Efudex cream. My face almost feels normal today, a little itching but no burning. My skin quickly soaked up the Efudex cream.

Jan 20 - This morning I woke up to burning cheeks and a swollen face. The sides of my face, cheeks and nose are sore. When I put on the Efudex cream it hurts, not terribly bad, but it hurts. My face burned and itched most of the day

Jan 21 - I was up twice last night due to the burning sensation on my face. I am sleeping but only for short periods of time. I am able to sleep on my side. My cheeks are stinging constantly and more of my face is swollen, mostly my cheeks and around my eyes. My face was much more sensitive when I applied my Efudex cream. Areas of my face are starting to weep and small patches of skin are drying and flaking.

Jan 22 - I slept pretty good last night. My face is swollen but not too sensitive; my skin feels thick and leathery and looks sort of glazed. My skin is so rough and dry it takes 3 to 4 times as much Efudex cream to cover my face and ears than it did in the beginning. I have one day left with two applications of Efudex cream.

Jan 23 - No sleep last night, my face was very dry and scaly and itched terribly.
I put the last coat for Efudex cream on at 4:30 this am and now that part is done. At 1:00pm today I put petroleum jelly on my face and will do so until my new face shows up.

Jan 24 - Didn’t sleep very well last night. I had no discomfort on my face with the petroleum jelly applied. Today I napped on my side and where the bottom edge of my jaw touched the pillow the petroleum jelly came off and small pieces of old skin came with it. Those areas were very sensitive until I covered them again with the petroleum jelly.

Jan 25 - I lost a little bit of skin from my cheeks. Petroleum jelly pretty much keeps the itching and burning under control with just a mild burning on my cheeks. I am starting to go stir crazy. I still can’t wear my glasses so my activities are greatly limited.

Jan 26 - I have a patch of loose skin on my chin and around my nostrils. My wife said I am very hard to look at. As you can see by my pictures I am not a pretty sight.

Jan 27 - When I showered last night the dead skin came off of my face and from around my nostril. My face is now bright red and a little easier on the eyes. I have some light whitish patches on my checks so I think that will be the next area to come off. That should make a pretty picture.

Jan 28 - Today my face is still red and after washing my face and putting on the Vaseline no discomfort or itching. Still not sleeping much, no pain or burning so I don’t know what the sleep issue is about. I am wondering if I am done and just waiting for the redness to go away or if there is a major skin peel in my very near future.

Jan 29 - My face isn’t quite as red today. I am still putting Vaseline on my face. I am getting tired of being greasy.

Jan 30 - My face is about the same today. I am having trouble sleeping but that could partly be due to inactivity. I can’t do much with out my glasses and am starting to go very stir crazy. I woke up this morning lying on the right side of my face. At leased I got some sleep but I sure made a mess with the Vaseline

Jan 31 - Contacted the doctor today mainly because my face is starting to break out with acne. It looks like a lot of my pores are slightly swollen. Starting today, no more Vaseline. Today my skin is lighter-red. It felt so good to wash the Vaseline off and put on Curel Ultra Healing, Intensive Moisture Lotion for extra dry skin.

Feb 1 - My face is getting better. My skin is very soft but dries out pretty easy. I put a thin coat of Curel on as needed.

Feb 3 - After washing my face I put Curel on and my face feels normal.

Feb 4 - Today I was out in the cold and my face turned very red and was sensitive.

Feb 5 - My forehead almost looks normal today. If I go outside in the cold it gets red immediately.

Feb 11 - My face is still sensitive to the cold weather. Just a couple minutes in the cold wind and my face turns red and is tender.

Mar 2 - Almost back to normal. My face is not affected much by the cold and my skin is not sensitive at all.