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Does Taking Aldara And Picato Help To Cure BCC Outbreaks?

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Posted on Sat, 4 Apr 2015
Question: Hi, about ten years ago I did my whole face with Aldara, as I have ruined my skin with severe exposure to the sun. This was very effective , though I have since had 2 melanomas and lots of BCC's, not on my face. Now I seem to be breaking out in sunspots and BCCs all over my upper back and shoulders, and was trying to research either Picato or Aldara to use on this part of my body as well.Than you, XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Neel Kudchadkar (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Why not try Picato Or Efudix?

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,

Hi!
Thanks for your interest in your health and your faith in HealthcareMagic.
The fact of the matter is that you have succeeded in using Aldara in the past.
Aldara has the best track record, after being used by people in Australia for the last decade or so. The low down on Aldara, also called as Imiquimod, is that it takes 4-8 weeks to work and is rather expensive. On the other hand you probably know that Picato gel works in 5-7 days, barring the cost, the only downside of Picato gel is that different levels of inflammation (the mechanism of action) are achieved, I strongly feel that you need to be monitored by a physician, while Picato gel is being used.
For your kind information, there are other treatments in place for your skin condition. Efudix is also cost effective, and takes the median of the time frame required by either of the above. Please get examined by a local doctor, to find if your skin is of the tolerable type.
It's been good knowing you.
Please follow the suggestions and take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Neel Kudchadkar (17 hours later)
Thank you for this, I have further questions. I am wondering about the side-effects of all of these if one uses them over an extensive part of the body. For instance, seeing I have done my face with Aldara, is it OK to then do my upper back and shoulders. or are there potential side-effects that might accumulate? When I looked at the online fact-sheet for Picato it said to use it on my face but not other parts of the body? And I know Aldara targets pre-cancerous cells, whereas Picato targets actual cancers.....is that correct? So they are performing different tasks. And efudix, what is it effective for? Thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Neel Kudchadkar (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Kindly make a discrete, informed choice to reclaim your skin, today.

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,

Thanks for your faith in HealthcareMagic.
You seem to be a well educated and informed person. A pleasure to deal with.
Efudix is a cream that contains Flourouracil, which is a chemical that eliminates certain skin conditions, such as the one you are currently suffering from. Efudix is very efficient, effective and powerful in getting rid of BCC's , Bowen's disease of the skin and solar keratosis. The downside is that Efudix has to be used sparingly, under medical supervision because after applying it, the skin looks EVEN WORSE for some time, before finally subsiding to perpetual normalcy. It's a small price to pay, so you can do a quick cost benefit analysis.
Aldara is not at all like Efudix and Picato. Aldara naturally stimulates (eggs on) your immune system to eliminate your skin issues. The downside is that it takes
quite a while before you can see a really pleasing cosmetic result.
To answer your questions accurately, I would say that the difference between Aldara and Picato is rather too subtle to make a practical difference in treatment. These are mere semantics. You might want to eliminate your skin problems, with the least hassle, right?
I would also say that given the mechanism of action of both Aldara and Picato, we can apply them to broad areas without any real pragmatic issues arising. There would be no systemic absorption (into your body) of either of these if applied on the upper back and shoulders, since the skin of your face is similar to the skin of your shoulders and upper back.
I would kindly ask you to submit photographs of your skin conditions for a very accurate suggestion about the exact treatment to take. Treating skin problems is an exclusively visual discipline, so I'd like to "take a look into" and "see" what your problems are.
I would politely ask you to see a dermatologist (a skin specialist) for medical supervision while using either Aldara, Picato or Efudix.
Please do not believe in all the websites that purport to teach you about your health. You definitely know better, don't you? I know this for a fact.
You're OK. Things can only get better from now on.
Please take care of your health.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 532 Questions

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Does Taking Aldara And Picato Help To Cure BCC Outbreaks?

Brief Answer: Why not try Picato Or Efudix? Detailed Answer: Dear XXXX, Hi! Thanks for your interest in your health and your faith in HealthcareMagic. The fact of the matter is that you have succeeded in using Aldara in the past. Aldara has the best track record, after being used by people in Australia for the last decade or so. The low down on Aldara, also called as Imiquimod, is that it takes 4-8 weeks to work and is rather expensive. On the other hand you probably know that Picato gel works in 5-7 days, barring the cost, the only downside of Picato gel is that different levels of inflammation (the mechanism of action) are achieved, I strongly feel that you need to be monitored by a physician, while Picato gel is being used. For your kind information, there are other treatments in place for your skin condition. Efudix is also cost effective, and takes the median of the time frame required by either of the above. Please get examined by a local doctor, to find if your skin is of the tolerable type. It's been good knowing you. Please follow the suggestions and take care.