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IMAGE SOURCE: Efudex / Valeant Pharmaceuticals
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A cream used to treat the early signs of skin cancer may also reverse signs of aging leaving behind younger-looking skin, a small study in the Archives of Dermatology, reveals.
Fluorouracil (brand name Efudex), made by Valeant Pharmaceuticals, is a skin treatment used to treat actinic keratoses, pre-cancerous lesions caused by sun damage.
The cream works by causing damage to skin cells, forcing the body to rebuild them, in much the same way as laser treatment, according to Dr. Dana L. Sachs, M.D., of the University of Michigan.
For the study, researchers studied 21 patients with actinic keratoses and sun damage. Twice a day for two weeks, they applied a 5% fluorouracil skin cream to their face. The team measured changes in the skin, taking facial biopsies over a six-month period.
During the first phase, the patients’ facial skin got dry, itchy and then peeled. In the weeks after, their skin recovered with softer wrinkles and texture.
Generally all patients reported mild improvement in their skin texture. Overall, 75% of the patients were “very” or “moderately” satisfied with the results.
One patient stopped using the cream in the first week because his skin became severely inflamed.
While most patients said they found the treatment to be “moderately” uncomfortable, they said they would be willing to get the treatment again. They also said they would pay out of pocket for it.
Actinic keratoses (AK), also known as a solar keratosis, are small, rough spots caused by years of sun damage and can lead to squamous cell carcinoma, one of the two most common types of skin cancer that represents more than 1 million cases each year. These types of cancer are highly treatable but can be fatal if neglected.
Fluorouracil treatment can be a useful treatment for precancerous skin changes, but the risk of severe reaction will likely put off most people looking for a solution to cosmetic concerns, note researchers.
They further add the best way to avoid wrinkles is to avoid too much exposure to the sun. #