User Reviews for Picato topical

I am writing review because I found the other reviews on Picato and it's side effects so helpful. on 3rd day of treating patch of skin on my cheek and just had to wash gel off after about an hour after application because the pain was so bad, burning and itching. washed it off with cold water and even applied neosporin for a short time but washed that off too. I will check in with my doc next week, I wouldn't think I'd want to go through that again. I'm grateful for the reviews I found here because the pain was so extreme I thought I had done something wrong, but it appears that others have reported this discomfort also.Read More Read Less

I am a 68 year old blond male and have had actinic keratoses since my 40's. Treatment has always been liquid nitrogen. In the past 3 or 4 years the number of sites increased and many returned within months of freezing so the dermatologist had me try picato (0.015% gel applied over 3 days). My skin felt tight and sunburned (just a little painful) increasingly over the 3 days. It immediately began to improve on the 4th day. My doctor had me apply Betamethasone Valerate 0.1% to speed the healing. The soreness was gone almost immediately and the red skin and rough scaliness were gone within a week. It was expensive ($300Cdn) for each set of 3. I was able to get away with just using 2 sets (one for forehead, one for both cheeks) - a greater area than the instructions indicated. I squeezed every last drop out of the tiny tubes!Read More Read Less

I have Actinic keratoses (AK).I have had three surgeries, one for basal cell and two for squamous cell.I used picato last winter, I was not in any sunlight and had no reactions. I am on day three of Picato. My face is swollen and blistered. I don't recommend going out in the sunlight.I weeded in the yard yesterday it was very sunny, and now face is very sore. I have also tried photodynamic, or "blue-light," therapy (Levulan)- No reaction whatsoever. but i did not get in sunlight for 48 hours.

Used Picato on neck and face. Burned somewhat (mostly Day 2-4). Pain level was about a 3/10. No blistering, just scaling and eventual scab formation. The scabs were gone 8 days after starting treatment.

I am a 68 year old male and have been treated on scalp and face twice a year for ten years, mostly with liquid nitrogen. Went to a new dermatologist who diagnosed a severe condition on most parts of my face and prescribed Picato. Two capsules a day, one for each side of my forehead, sides of my face and behind the ears. Have not felt such pain and discomfort before, including several surgeries. Now having completed the three day series and hoping for a less painful day 4, my face is very swollen, blistering, stiff, dry and red. Also hoping this treatment is effective because I don't want to do it again. Major question at the moment is can I play tennis or golf tomorrow and what should I lather my face with? Hydration gel, high spf sunblock, etc. Will try both. Time will tell but I sure hope I get some good news when I see the dermatologist again in a couple of weeks!Read More Read Less

I used Picato a few years back for AK on my forehead, ears & temples as prescribed with positive results. It does cause severe pain, but so does the liquid nitrogen (LN) treatment. Doc says Picato finds those AK spots that are difficult to locate and treat with LN. Went back a few years (2015) later for a checkup and he treated me again with LN and prescribed the .015 again for the forehead and .05 (for the first time) for the top of my head. Went through the prescribed application & hand washing procedures last night, just like last time, and later at bedtime washed hands really well again, removed contacts and went to bed. Next morn, same routine and after putting in my contacts within ten minutes my eyes are burning. Chipper morning me, but burning eyes and out to my vehicle to head to work, but eyes are now pouring water and burning like crazy. Absolutely could not safely drive and realized Picato must have gotten transferred to my contacts somehow. I immediately went in and removed the contacts, flushed eyes with water and off to the ER. Where they put contacts with tubes on them and flushed a bag of fluid through each eye and prescribed a pain medication. I have contacted Leo Pharma and they have now stated you can wear medical gloves to apply. Patients should be made aware that it's ok to use gloves to apply...Read More Read Less

Not really sure of results yet. Just finished my third tube. Followed the guidelines. Applied in the morning , washed off after 6 hours. My face had noticeable sun damage before I used Picato. Like everyone else day one was a sunburn . Day two was a bad sunburn with some blistering where damage was noticeable. Day three my face was on fire about 4 hours after applying . Couldn't wait for 6 hours to be up. Washed my face and applied Aquafor. Couldn't sleep , had to wash off the Aquafor. Day four face is dry , crusty and very tight. Hoping the results I have been reading about are my results as well.Read More Read Less

I knew it was going to blister and be red and painful because my dermatologist told me what to expect. I was surprised by the amount of pain but really when I used to expose my skin to the sun, it was just as bad. No pain no gain. My reaction was dramatic, blisters and dehydration but I guessed that the worse the reaction, the more damage had already happened to my skin from the sun and the lesions became obvious even though I couldn't see all of them prior to using the drug. So I am happy because I have had BCC's before and I don't want a great hole in my face from surgery to remove those; or an artificial nose!Read More Read Less

I am on day one of using Picato for the third time over three years. Having baked my skin over the years, I am paying dearly now. In 2012, I used it twice, four months apart, hid out for three days, and then the redness, discomfort, and sluffing off of dry somewhat crusty skin left my skin like new. My tolerance for pain is high, so I can't say I ever felt the incredible pain so many people have cited. I have recommended Picato to several friends, who, like me, don't have the time to be "down" and are reasonably vain. I do use Revive cellular gel as my face is healing and have really only had 3-4 days of not being presentable. Also, I have Medicare and only paid $40 for the tubes. Read More Read Less

Just finished my third tube on my nose and forehead. 64 year old male with 15 years in Los Angeles. Had used liquid nitrogen with former dermatologist which worked fine. New one recommended Picato. Put on in the morning (directions say NOT to put on near bedtime)slight irritation like slight sunburn, red nose, slightly peeling, no major pain or swelling.No big deal. Don't really know if it works.

I do not know if it's effective yet. I took 3 tubes, 7pm, bed at 9pm. My face was bright red after using the first tube; seemed to calm down during the day but mornings were tough. Bright red face all day. Day 4, very very tight skin and flaking. So tight I can hardly talk. Red spots are presumably pre cancer spots. I paid $575 with the card, and I do have insurance. Lots of money and not sure what the results will be. I need more info about using lotion on my tight peeling face, or no lotion to avoid infection?? Can't find much info about getting relief on internet. have had to take IBProfin for the swelling and pain.Read More Read Less

I have used on my chest, did 2 applications 24 hrs apart of the .05% Picato gel. I am on day 5, skin feels kinda tight and irritated...... And itches like crazy, biggest 'complaint' thus far. Using Cetafil Lotion and hydrocortisone 1'% (started that on day 5). Chest is pretty ugly, red and blotchy.... It appears that actual keratosis spots are clearly targeted! They are very red, raised, not blistered (yet anyhow), but sore and itchy...... In fact, very sore to attempt scratching! So far, I've experienced worse w/laser peels and the like. This is manageable, thus far. Kinda tough finding a comfortable sleeping position, on back seems best so chest area remains 'un-scrunched', that is uncomfortable for sure, but not intolerable. Wearing soft crew neck or turtle neck shirts to hide ugliness, but fabric touching skin can contribute to soreness, itching. Again, at day 5, this is tolerable, but at this point, I can't imagine using this on my face! Read More Read Less

I got a discount card also that was suppose to cost only $25.00. Pharmacy ran it through my insurance and guess what? It only cost me $25.00. Maybe it is your insurance company not wanting to pay for medication or the pharmacy didn't run the card correctly. I have had red ness, stinging, swelling, blisters, crusting during my process. I am hoping the results are great from a number people that has endured this uncomfortable journey I have seen AMAZING RESULTS!!!!

I followed the 3 day treatment regimen for my face. By day 3 my skin was pink and stinging…like a mild sunburn. By day 5 my skin was dry but not really erupting with lesions like most predict. By day 8 my skin is just dry and flakey…again like a mild sunburn and the spottiness of the skin remains. Picato does not seem effective for me and it is an expensive treatment. I was excited about the short term treatment. I was apprehensive about the pain which turned out to be minor. I am quite disappointed in the results. Read More Read Less

I am a 64 year old male. My dermatologist prescribed the .05 dosage of Picato for the AK on my scalp. I am 10 days into it at this point and it has gone reasonably well. Uncertain about how my skin would react, I waited until 8 PM on a Friday night to start. After 4 hours, I did not feel any discomfort. At 5 hours, I went to bed. In the morning I started to feel some mild burning/stinging, like what you feel with a sunburn. The second day I applied the second tube. The second night was more uncomfortable and the stinging was stronger. Not unbearable, but uncomfortable. By the 3rd day, the pain subsided and only the occasional stinging/itchy sensation continued. By the 4th day, it wasn't bad at all. At the end of the first week, the skin peeling had started and that's where I am now. Hopefully this will do it, but if I have to do it again on some spots, I wouldn't mind it. My dermatologist gave me a card that allowed me to pay $25, otherwise my deductible would have been $200. The full price on our medication vendor was $495. I get 2 more refills at the $25, if needed.Read More Read Less

I paid allot for this product, used it on my upper lip. The rough spots returned. Very disappointed. My primary physician used liquid nitrogen, it took only minutes, minimum charge for the procedure. It worked completely. Picato is a waste of time and money.

$800 dollars for two small tubes. applied as prescribed and very little reaction to spots on my hands. Way overated!!

After two weeks one of the spots has come back. A very expensive product for a very average result.

I had to do my arms lower arms three times and it was a summer of healing time. For a product that was to be faster and better then effudex I would say heck no. Painful ,red,blisters and tube size a joke. Very very $$$$$$$$&

I used it for my scalp. The amount of gel is tiny and the tubes very hard to sqweeze. After one week it seemed to have cleared my scalp but after two weeks everything came back. Conclusion: very expensive treatment with no results.