Fluorouracil cream is a topical antimetabolite medication commonly used in dermatology to treat actinic keratosis (precancerous sun-damaged skin lesions). The medication works by inhibiting thymidylate synthase, an enzyme needed for DNA synthesis. By blocking this process, fluorouracil prevents rapidly dividing abnormal skin cells from growing and multiplying, ultimately leading to their destruction while allowing healthy skin cells to regenerate over time.
During treatment, the medication is typically applied once or twice daily to the affected areas for several weeks, depending on the condition being treated and the treatment plan prescribed by the healthcare provider. As the medication targets abnormal cells, the treated skin often becomes red, irritated, inflamed, and may develop crusting or peeling as the damaged cells break down. These visible skin reactions are expected and indicate the medication is working. Patients should apply the cream only to the areas directed by their healthcare provider, avoid excessive sun exposure, and use sunscreen to protect treated skin during therapy.
Common side effects of fluorouracil cream include redness, burning, itching, dryness, scaling, swelling, crusting, or tenderness at the application site. The treated skin may become inflamed or appear worse before it improves as damaged cells are destroyed. More severe reactions can include significant skin irritation, open sores, infection, or severe pain at the treatment site. Patients should contact their healthcare provider if they experience severe skin reactions, persistent pain, fever, or signs of infection. Because fluorouracil can harm an unborn baby, it should not be used during pregnancy unless specifically directed by a healthcare provider.
This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only a healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for you. TelyRx does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a limited summary of general information about the medicine’s uses from the patient education materials and is not intended to be comprehensive. This limited summary does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and does not replace information you may receive from your healthcare provider. For a more detailed summary of information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine, please review the entire patient education information you receive with the medication.