ABSTRACT
Imiquimod cream is used to boost the body’s natural defences against abnormal cells. The chief uses on the skin are for actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma. 5-Fluorouracil is used to treat actinic keratosis, Bowen’s disease and basal cell carcinoma. 5-Fluorouracil is used chiefly to treat solar keratosis and Bowen’s disease. For Bowen’s disease the reported overall initial clinical clearance rate is 90–100%, with recurrence rates of 0–11% in studies where follow-up has been for at least 12 months. There are many treatment regimens for 5-fluorouracil. Some doctors prefer continuous application on a daily basis until an inflamed response is achieved. 5-Fluorouracil cream is used in many countries but the strengths and preparations vary and so it is difficult to compare results. On the whole it is thought to be effective in treating the majority of thin solar keratoses but new lesions inevitably arise with time.
