14 DAY TRIAL // A cream that is currently used in the treatment of skin precancer – actinic keratoses, for more clarity – has been proved to considerably improve the appearance of face lines, the Daily Mail informs. After long-standing speculation on whether the cream might have any effect in terms of turning back the hands of time, a group of researchers has established beyond any trace of doubt that Efudix does, indeed, eliminate sun-caused wrinkles.
As noted above, Efudix is used in the treatment of actinic keratoses, which is a form of precancer that usually appears in the face, forearms and neck. Since patients had long claimed that they noticed improved appearance of face lines after treatment, researchers at the University of Michigan studied a group of 56 to 85-year-old patients being treated for skin precancer to determine whether that was truly the case. Each patient was required to use the cream twice a day for six months.
At the end of the study, all 21 subjects noted that they felt the condition of their skin had improved considerably, looking more youthful, having less brown spots and clearly less wrinkles. “People’s skin was much softer. The texture was improved. There were fewer wrinkles around the upper cheek and eyes. Not only were their precancers gone but the quality of their skin seemed to be improved.” study leader Dr. Dana Sachs reveals for the Mail.
The biggest downside to the cream still remains that it can cause stinging, itching and severe irritation, which can, in some cases, leave the skin looking painfully raw. Scarring may also occur, but its incidence is relatively low. Nevertheless, it’s this side-effect that has already sworn doctors off from prescribing it, even for treating skin precancer, as Dr. Nick Lowe, who owns a clinic in London and one in California, reveals for the same publication. Using it to fight sun-caused wrinkles becomes less of a possibility in this context.
“I stopped using it around five years ago in Santa Monica and London because the side effects heavily outweigh the benefits. It causes uncontrolled irritancy that is a major problem during the four weeks of initial treatment and sometimes for weeks afterwards. Patients would stop using it before they were supposed to because of the irritancy and redness of the skin. It produces its effect by peeling away the surface of the skin, which would make it appear younger, but only works on lines that are produced by sun damage. If your wrinkles are due to any other cause then it won’t work.” Dr. Lowe concludes by saying.