A chemotherapy drug developed decades ago for colorectal and pancreatic cancer is getting attention for its ability to make old skin look more youthful. Fluorouracil cream is prescribed to treat pre-cancerous skin lesions known as actinic keratoses. A new study shows that when patients applied this topical anti-cancer cream twice daily for two weeks it had the added benefit of reversing wrinkles and age spots. As tempting as this treatment may sound, it does have a drawback. Fluorouracil can cause a bright red inflammatory reaction that is far from attractive. Think the worst case of sunburn you have ever seen. It can last for weeks after the treatment has been completed.
[Archives of Dermatology, June, 2009]
http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/145/6/659
