User Reviews for Picato topical

Despite the leaflet information and photos, I am shocked at the effect on my skin. Today is Day 8. I used the gel on several areas including my nose. My face blistered very badly and went septic. It felt like acid burning my poor nose and hurt so much. The skin peeling extends to one inch diameter around each tiny area treated. By Day 5 my face resembled raw pork crackling and I phoned the Leo Pharma nurse who said I should have only used it on 2 small areas. I wear glasses, and found it very painful to wear them for the first 5 days. No warning about this ! Mine must be a severe reaction. Luckily I am retired, because there is no question of going out publicly for another week. God help you if you are working or about to go on holiday, or socialise a lot, such as Christmas time. Nowhere does it tell you not to use moisturisers which I was desperate to do. Make-up is an impossibility. I took some antibiotics I had to help with healing and have today used a soothing Vaseline to soothe it. I shall NEVER use this again. I have previously used an emery board to gently rub away my "sun crusty bits" and will resort to that in future. Read More Read Less

The first time I applied it I had dizziness headaches and it blocked my nasal passages. The dr said this is rare. After a few hours it all settled down. I blistered after the first use and my chemist told me to keep using it. I should have rang the doctor. It is now one week later and I am still covered in red scabs. I have been told once these peel I will have new skin and it will be good. The area by the side of my nose is bright red still. I will report how I went after another week.

I had several solar keratosis on my scalp over many years and my doctor suggested this product. The three day application and the 'burning' sensation was only mildly uncomfortable. Overall the process took three weeks to completely heal with 100% effectiveness. I'm very satisfied.

I used the picato above my lip and that healed well - but the spot between my eyes is taking forever to heal. After 5 weeks it still looks like a chemical burn. Have been using hydrocortisone cream on spot for over a week. Slightly better but not good. Any suggestions on what I can use to get this to fade?

On day two of a three day application I developed severe headaches and terrible sinus pain. The headaches and sinus pain lasted three and a half weeks. Was so bad I my family doctor sent me for a CT scan followed by an Ear, nose

I had read many of the reviews here and was a bit fearful to use this medication. My derm had recommended it several times before I finally agreed. I applied a small pea sized drop of gel to my upper lip area at about 9 p.m. Within an hour the burning and pain were turning uncomfortable. The directions indicated it should be left on for 6 hours so I tried hard to resist washing it off. I was unable to sleep with the pain that continued to increase. I felt like I'd been burned with a blowtorch! At the 4 hour mark I had to wash the picato off and I applied a thick coating of Vaseline. The pain and burning were severe enough that I could not sleep. I took 600 mg of ibuprofen but it did little to help. I'd been told by my derm not to apply cold compresses so I tried an ice pack around 6 a.m. It did help some. The swelling was pretty significant and I started to notice small blisters forming. I was finally able to talk to my derm at 2 p.m. that afternoon. She said I'd had an atypical reaction and was not to use the picato again - believe me, I had no intention of doing so! It is now 2 days post use and the swelling is still present but reduced. The pain was pretty much gone after about 32 hours. Peeling has started and I'm keeping the area thoroughly covered with Vaseline because the area gets really tight and dry after a short time. If you have a history of sensitive skin, expect an immediate reaction. I'm not sure I would ever use it again. It would depend on how effective the treatment proves to be over time.Read More Read Less

I am Irish--meaning I have very light skin that freckles. I do not tan. I used Picato on my forehead and not too close to my eyebrows. On second day my forehead was throbbing and I had many blisters. I called the Dr and did not apply 3rd day (good thing!).Then my whole face swelled up and my eyes became slits.Dr said Very severe reaction. Would never again use this product. Rather go back to the Kerac cream which takes longer but doesn't make you sick-just not pleasant looking.

My face began to blister the first day. I am on day 4 and my face is swollen and blistered and painful. I spent 45 years in the sun on the golf course, and the doctor told me the blisters are where the skin cancer is, so I have lots. Easy to use. I hope my face heals within 2 weeks- I look like I have a major chemical burn. Putting Vaseline on helps

On my second application of the face. First application, I was on the sever end of blisters and peeling. My face bled a little at night. But the results were dramatic, skin looks much better and the AK seems to have gone away. Froze them off multiple time previously. 30 days later applied the 2nd application to the other side of my face. On day two and reaction not as severe this time. Feels like moderate to sever sunburn and some blistering. Will do application on neck and scalp later. Results seem well worth the discomfort. Heals up quickly after application period. Read More Read Less

Took the 3 day facial treatment. No impact daysc1 or 2. Day 3 began to feel like a sunburn and face turned red and tender. Now day 6 and easing up but flaking. No blisters. No way I can tell if it is working as designed.

I am on day 4 of my treatment and so far so good. I saw results a few hours after the first application on day 1 on several spots above my lip, on my chin and on both sides of my face. Since the tubes only have a small amount of gel, I only applied to those areas I had problems. The leftover I just brushed over my right cheek and it turned red, now is peeling. I have a lot of tightness on my chin, and applied polysporin today (the fourth day) but other than that, it has bee relatively easy and I'm looking forward to good results, meaning no more spots or dry patches. Used Effudex in 2006 and HATED IT. this is so much betterRead More Read Less

I am on day four so can't comment on long term effectiveness. However, the first 3 days of applying the gel to my entire forehead produced a typical red reaction with some slight scaling / small blistering. The discomfort was NOTHING more than a bad sunburn. A simple dry cold cloth was enough to help every now and then. I didn't even need Advil. I had been frighted by the reviews, but the experience was a cake-walk. Nothing to worry about. I applied the gel around 2pm each day and I didn't wash off until the next morning, but noticed that after 6-8 hours the sunburn sensation subsided regardless (which is why the instructions say you can wash off after six hours, as any longer seems to have no benefit). Sleeping was fine, no irritation, and each morning my skin just felt a bit tight and dry with no pain. I also noticed, like some other reviews, that the most affected spots were the areas of skin that I knew had the AK damage. The healthier areas of skin had much less reaction.Read More Read Less

My dermatologist recommended this treatment for sun damage. I've had a chemical peel and laser in the past, with good results, also for sun damage. After reading the reviews of Picato, I procrastinated out of fear for my appearance and pain. Turns out, I didn't need to worry about either. My appearance during the 3 days resembled a slight sunburn or flushed look. The pain also resembled a slight sunburn or prickling sensation. It has just been 4 days now but I'm only experiencing dryness and slight peeling. I've had no blisters or other open sores. The doctors asked that I allow up to 8 weeks for healing before I see her again. My face looks better already and I assume it will continue to improve. If the treatment is ever recommended again, I would do it. I found the healing from a chemical peel to be worse than from Picato.Read More Read Less

I just have to say that I was very skeptical of using this cream. The doctor has tried for 2 years to use it. This year I said I would try it after Christmas, I must admit I had an advantage as my neighbor is a dermatologist at a different clinic but she was willing to apply it for me. 1st day use was Monday after Christmas, she applied it about 9:00 p.m., I came home and felt my face getting warm but really had no problems sleeping that night. I should say after applying gel she pasted Vaseline all over that. The next day was not bad at all, face was red and full of Vaseline, 2nd night she put on about 5:00 p.m., my face got a little hotter that night, didn't sleep quiet as well, fell asleep about midnight. The next morning I could see a few blisters on my face but with all the Vaseline everything stayed quite moist. I did have a little discomfort that day but not bad at all. 3rd night when she applied gel it was quite discomforting but I kept telling myself it was going to all be worth it in the end. That night when I got back home my face was on fire. I really didn't know if I liked it anymore, decided to have a couple of strong drinks, slept like a baby. The next day when I got up I didn't look the best but the pain was bearable. On Friday I was able to shave parts of my face as it was already starting to heal up, Saturday night was able to shave my whole face and was really impressed with what my face was beginning to look like. It has now been just about 3 weeks since I started and I love what it has done for me. My face used to be irritated when I would shave, not no more. My skin is so nice and soft now. I would recommend Picato to anybody who needs it. I had only 5 days where I really didn't want to go out in public. That is nothing compared to the other gel that took 2 weeks on then 2 weeks off then 2 more weeks on. That didn't sound fun. All I can say is go for it, the little discomfort will be well worth it. Good luck to all, my prayers are with all.Read More Read Less

I found this drug easy to use for some small pre-cancers on my face. The pain has not been any worse than some of the bad sunburns I had as a child, however I have only done spot treatment. I imagine it would be painful if over a larger area. Forehead hurts the most. Day 5- slightly sore,red and blistered, itchy,tight feeling. I guess it is working!My derm said only to use all 3 days if the skin had not opened up yet. Also said I didn't need to use new tube each day. All good so far!

I have had 3 MOHs surgeries - 2 basal cell on face and 1 squamous cell on scalp. I did three day treatment and only had mild sunburn sensation - the pain was minimum - very happy

1st tube on face was minimal pain. 2nd and 3rd application was very painful. Hard to focus and sleep. My face looks Terrible, pus and crusty. Hoping for a 100% clear up.

I have had multiple squamous cells removed from my forehead. I have used Effudex in the past with good results but it takes up to 4 weeks of twice daily application. I have now used Picato twice and the results were good. Pain is manageable and treatment is over in 7-10 days.

I did my whole face for 3 days in a row for 6 hours per day...2 tubes each day...I sat by a fan to ease the discomfort from the stinging and slight itch....my face was red after treatment but cleared over night...I have had some peeling on day 3 and some minor reaction to my skin but overall you cant till that I had done anything at all...

I am completing day 6 of this treatment. It has not been easy. I was told to use it on my complete forehead and two spots on my cheeks. Day 2-4 were very painful. Went back to Dr. day 4 and she stated the medicine was doing what it was suppose to do and that my reactions were normal. Used ice-packs day 2-4. Day 4-6 blisters and swelling. I have had to take pain meds to sleep. I am praying my face will heal without scars. I will never use this again. Of all the things I have had occur in my life this has been the most painful. I have taken pictures each day to show the progression, I wish I could post. I can not go in public at this point. I wish I had read more about this treatment before doing it.I would not agree to this again and will ask my Dr. to please put that in my records.Read More Read Less