Carac Cream Information
Carac Cream is the brand name of a drug prescribed by doctors for the treatment of skin diseases such as multiple actinic or solar keratoses. In its generic form, the drug is called fluorouracil cream and comes in three doses: 0.5 percent, 1 percent and 2 percent. The cream is usually applied with an applicator and does have some common, but usually mild, side effects.
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Actinic Keratoses
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Actinic keratoses are precancerous skin patches that appear on parts of the body exposed to the sun. The most typical place to find these sores are on the face, scalp, arms and hands. Actinic keratoses can take on either a tan or pinkish color, and it can take the form of rough, dry or scaly skin. Fair-skinned people are the most affected by this disease, especially if they live in a tropical location.
The Problem With Actinic Keratosis
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The big issue with actinic keratosis is that it can develop into skin cancer, known as squamous cell carcinoma. Twenty percent of people who acquire actinic keratosis get squamous cell carcinoma, which means that the damage reaches deeper into the skin tissue, can reach the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body.
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Using Carac Cream
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Doctors recommend that you use a nonmetal applicator or latex gloves when applying the cream. Users should wash their sores well and allow them to dry for 10 minutes before application. Apply enough to cover the area and then wash your hands immediately. The sores should not be bandaged and the medication should not be ingested in any way.
How it Works
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Carac Cream is a antineoplastic. These types of drugs attack, block and kill the growth of certain cells, in this case the cells that cause actinic keratosis. Fluorouracil is the active ingredient in Carac Cream, and fluorouracil has been used to treat actinic keratosis for more than 40 years. In most cases, the cream is applied once per day. It is not uncommon for the actinic keratosis areas to look a little worse during treatment, but the lesions usually heal within one to two months after the start of treatment.
Side Effects
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In some cases, the treatment can make your skin more vulnerable to being sunburned, so you should dress accordingly during treatment. The drug should not be used by pregnant women, or women who are breast-feeding. Among the more common side effects of Carac Cream are burning, crusting of the affected areas, redness, pain, soreness, inflammation and skin irritation. Some people have had more serious side effects, including allergic reactions, bloody diarrhea and change in skin color.
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