Sly Bald Guys Forum
Head Shaving, Grooming & Care => How To Protect Your Bald Head => Topic started by: herronm on September 11, 2007, 07:02:12 AM
-
Guys, I need your help on this one. I have a lot of actinic keratosis (AKs) on the top of my head, some on my face. Too many years of being stupid about the sun. I've had many frozen off, but more keep coming back or new ones forming. The freezing is not too bad, but there are always a dozen or more.
Now, my doctor tells me about another treatment. It is a cream type of chemotherapy, brand name is Carac. It is a 2 week treatment, last longer and gets below the skin to get those AKs that are forming. Problem is that the skin looks like hell for several weeks.
Has anyone gone through this? It is really that bad? Am I just vain???
Here is a link with some photos of the treatment.
http://www.carac.info/aboutcarac/default.aspx
I also had 2 cherry angiomas removed. These were burned off. No big deal, just can't shave until they heal.
Max
-
Max.
Sorry I can be of no help whatsoever as I have never experienced this firsthand.
I would say that if this cream can help get rid of this affliction than the couple of weeks of discomfort would be worth it.
My thoughts are with you mate.
-
I agree with JDog on this. I also have no experience or "know-how" on this subject but I would have to say that if there is a chance that it can make things better for you in the long run then maybe the few weeks of irritation would be worth it. You're in my prayers bro. Keep us posted.
-
Max, I start my application of (I forget the name of the stuff) the topical meds for actinic keratosis myself later this month. My scalp is not the prob, rather my forehead. (Sun damage from the errors of my youth.) I've had similar experience with the dermatologist -- freezing off a few pre-cancerous things annually over the years. She says now is the time to go deeper. She said that the lesions during the two active weeks of application will become red, sore, tender, scaly, and then fall off and by the end of a month total, things will be looking real good because there will be fresh new skin.
I dread it only because of the unsightly nature of the process, but I'm looking forward to fresh skin and being rid of the little red patches I've had for years. I guess I figure two weeks of looking like the dickens will be worth it to prevent this stuff from graduating from benign to cancerous.
And BTW, Max, I don't think you are vain -- well, no more than the rest of us here ???-- for wondering about this procedure and just what you'll look like in the process. We'll have to compare notes. I'm starting my treatment on 9/24, the day after a professional conference I'm attending.
Best Wishes,
MLNHD
-
MLNDH, I feel better knowing that someone has or is about to go through this. I will get a 2nd opinion during my annual physical tomorrow. If she tells me is a good thing, I'll go through with the treatment. Thanks for your feed back.
Maybe we can be the poster children for using sun screen and hats.
Max
-
MLNDH, I feel better knowing that someone has or is about to go through this. I will get a 2nd opinion during my annual physical tomorrow. If she tells me is a good thing, I'll go through with the treatment. Thanks for your feed back.
Maybe we can be the poster children for using sun screen and hats.
Max
As someone that grew up in one of the sunniest place in the U.S. (Redding, CA) I'm a huge proponent of sunscreen. Even if you don't think you will be in the sun, wear it anyways!
Thanks for sharing with us guys. I think it will be vital information for people who visit us in the future!
-
Carac is the cream my Dermatologist prescribed.
-
max & mlnhd..... i'll b praying 4 ya on your treatment. i'm sorry that i cannot give u any advice or info but i hope that u go thru the treatment. i know that the 1st 2weeks will b difficult but the end results seem 2 b worth it. please..... i want both of ya guys 2 keep us posted. we can learn from u both. O0
WARHAWK O0
-
I started my treatment tonight, September 12. First impression is the cream is very dry feeling. Don't know if I used too much or not.
Instructions say to clean the skin and wait 10 minutes. Then apply a thin layer of cream every night for 2 weeks.
I'll try to give a daily report and post some pictures if anything interesting happens.
Max
-
max....i'll b praying 4 ya. thanks 4 the update. O0
WARHAWK O0
-
Hope all goes well for you Max, we'll be watching for your updates.
This sounds like something we can all learn from. Keep a positive attitude! O0
-
9/13. Morning after the first treatment. No visual effects. I expected to wake up looking like Frankenstien.
My treatments areas are the crown and top 1/2 of my forehead. Also a line of AKs on the outside of my right eye.
So far, so good. Thanks for your prayers.
Max
-
Max, I'm so glad you are going first! Ha. Glad it's so-far, so-good. About the time you're wrapping up treatment, I'll be starting mine.
Best Wishes,
MLNHD
-
9/14. Morning after 2nd treatment. Still no visual signs of any irriation, no side effects.
Max
-
Max and Mlnhd, my thoughts are with you both during your treatments.
-
Max and Mlnhd, my thoughts are with you both during your treatments.
DITTO
WARHAWK O0
-
9/15. The AKs around my right eye are a little red this morning, also a bit sensitive to touch. No visual sign on the top of my head. Side effects - maybe a very very slight head ache and eyes are sensitive to light. This could also be allergies.
Max
-
9/16. Some my AKs are red and sensitive to touch. This may be the last day I get to shave. Headslick burned a little bit this morning. Must be the menthol. That may be the worst side effect.
Max
-
9/17. About the same this morning. The color in these photos may be a little off. My camera sucks.
-
Max,
It looks like you're "pinking up" a bit. How's it actually feel? Looks like it'd feel like a burn. Your pics are similar to the pics in the brochure my dermatologist gave me for treatment I'll be starting in about a week. Do you apply daily for 5 days, off two, and then apply 5 more days? As I recall that is the schedule for mine. Hang in there, and thanks for the update.
Best Wishes,
MLNHD
-
9/18. Not really all that pink over all (that is my camera). There are a number of red spots, more like pimples at this point. The AKs around my right eye are red and raised a little more. I noticed that showering this morning was sensitive to the top of my head, kind of like a sun burn. No other issues or side effects. It's still hard to determine if I'm using enough cream.
MLNHD, my schedule is everyday for 2 weeks. Tomorrow, I'll be 1 week into it.
Max
-
9/20. 7 days down, 7 to go. No side effects. Not as red or irritated as I expected. The only downside is that I haven't been able to shave in 4 days and won't until this is completed.
Max
-
Max thanks for keeping us posted regarding your treatment. Sorry to hear about not being able to shave. You will probably need to take the clippers to the dome at the end of it before you blade it slick smooth again
-
Max & MLNHD,
I want to wish you both the best of luck with the treatments. I hadn't checked this thread before since the title didn't mean much to me - apologies for not wishing you well sooner.
Max, don't worry about not being able to shave for a while, a bit of a drag but hopefully more than worth it in the long run.
All the very best to both of you O0
-
Max,
Keep up the good spirits and keep us posted! Good luck the rest of the way...
-whitetoast
-
Glad to hear it's going better than expected. Keep us posted bro.
-
9/24. Three days to go. My treatment area is very red. I can't believe how many AKs were under my scalp. There must be 50. The top of my head looks like a bad case of acne. I'll try to post some photos later. There is no discomfort, but it might be painfull to look at.
Max
-
Great to hear the treatment is progress with no discomfort Max. Continued thoughts and prayers your way.
-
I'll try to post some photos later. There is no discomfort, but it might be painfull to look at.
Max
Can't be worse than the image I had in my head of Tim in red shorts. :px
-
Max my thoughts are with you. Hope you recover soon.
-
Max my thoughts are with you. Hope you recover soon.
Same here Max!
-
I'll try to post some photos later. There is no discomfort, but it might be painfull to look at.
Max
Can't be worse than the image I had in my head of Tim in red shorts. :px
p0@^ g@@4
-
9/26. Last day of my 2 week treatment. Here is a recap. My Dermatologist has been freezing my AKs for about 3 years. The downside to this method is the scaring and it only gets the AKs on the surface of the skin.
A new Doc told me about another treatment that is chemotherapy based but in a cream that is applied every night for 2 weeks. It covers a larger area and also gets the AKs that are below the skin level, those still forming. During the treatment, the skin becomes very red (much like a bad sunburn). My scalp is very blotchy due to the scars from the previous freezing. No physical discomfort for me. I have also not had any side effects.
All good so far. I go back for a check up in another week. Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement. MLNHD, good luck with your treatment. Let us know how it goes for you.
Here are some updated photos from last night.
Max
-
Max it is great to hear your good prognosis. The mild discomfort and suffering you have experienced during the last few weeks will be worth it in the long run.
All the best to you O0
Jesse
-
Great to hear some good news coming your way Max O0
-
That's good Max.
Sounds like a lot less hassle than traditional chemo. Glad that you've had no serious side effects & that it's not painful ...
Good luck for next week. O0
Good luck to you too MLNHD O0
-
Max, it's good to hear the treatment is going well for you and you're not feeling any discomfort or side effects. Hang in there.
MLNHD, best of luck with you're treatment and keep us posted too. O0
-
Max, glad to hear you're about to wind up your treatment, and that you're doing well. My story is similar to yours, but my AKs are more on the forehead. Credit the reckless abandon of my foolish youthful overindulgence in unprotected exposure to the sun. Ahhh, those were the days -- a great tan and a part in my hair, too. Fast-forward to now -- and the piper is being paid -- with AKs my dermatologist has been freezing off over the years. Her treatment of choice is Aldara, a topical cream that kills off the precancerous cells. My regimen is similar to yours, Max, except that after 5 applications I take off two days. I'm into day #3. No change yet, other than a couple AKs are a bit redder than before. There's no burn, no itch or sting. I'm grateful my area of application does not include my pate, as after 2 months of sly I'm completely addicted to smooth. I'll post occasional updates.
Thanks to the kind words and well-wishes many of you have posted.
Best Wishes,
MLNHD
-
I haven't been able to shave in a week and it's killing me. I can't believe how fast it grows.
Good luck with your treatment.
Max
-
max & mlnhd.... like xnewyawka said... i'm glad that your treatments r going well. max.... i guess one of the worst side effects of the ointment is that u cannot "do the deed". >:( wow.... 7 days of not shaving that is terrible (most especially since u have been bit by the sly bug). anyways.... u guys keep us posted & hopefully everything will continue 2 progress.
WARHAWK O0
-
Well, with 3 days to go, my AK treatment is not nearly as remarkable as Max's. Applied only to my forehead, I've not had the heartbreak of not shaving the dome. I have about a half-dozen really red splotches that tell me the treatment is working. They are not sore but do itch just a bit. Really hasn't been any big deal except for the look, which isn't as bad as I expected. So far, it's not been bad -- not even worth posting a pic.
MLNHD
-
MLNHD, that is great news!
I saw my Dermatologist today, 3 weeks after starting my treatment. He said everything looked good. I don't have to go back for a year. I can also start shaving in another week.
Max
-
mlnhd & max....i'm glad that your treatments r progressing. max....good 2 hear that u will b doing the deed, again. O0
WARHAWK O0
-
Golly, Max, in another week you'll be able to part your hair. ;)
Seriously, glad to know your ordeal is over and the doctor is satisfied with the success of the treatment!
Best wishes,
MLNHD