Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 Nov 15;22(11):13030/qt9n4377w6.

5-Fluorouracil-induced exacerbation of rosacea

Ellen S Haddock  1 , Philip R Cohen
Affiliations
  • PMID: 28329576
Review

5-Fluorouracil-induced exacerbation of rosacea

Ellen S Haddock et al. Dermatol Online J. .

Abstract

Background Topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antineoplastic antimetabolite used for the treatment of actinic keratosis.Purpose A 66-year-old man with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea and biopsy-confirmed actinic keratoses who experienced a rosacea exacerbation after initiating topical 5-FU treatment of his actinic keratoses is described and this adverse event associated with 5-FU is reviewed.Materials and methods Using PubMed.gov the following terms were searched and relevant citations were assessed: rosacea and 5-fluorouracil. 5-FU drug label information and data sheets also were reviewed.ResultsErythematous facial papules developed within a week of starting topical treatment of his actinic keratoses with 5-FU. The lesions resolved within two weeks of discontinuing the medication. Albeit rarely, exacerbation of rosacea by topical 5-FU treatment has been described when 5-FU was introduced as a topical treatment for actinic keratosis.Conclusion Topical 5-FU has been associated with several adverse cutaneous events, including accentuation of rosacea. Although rosacea flares due to topical 5-FU may be uncommon, the incidence may be greater than reflected in the literature. Physicians should be aware of this potential adverse effect in patients in whom they plan to initiate 5-FU therapy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

LinkOut - more resources