Help needed for using Actikerall: Having been given... - MY SKIN

MY SKIN

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Help needed for using Actikerall

welshpet profile image
33 Replies

Having been given this to use, I find that I am unable to 'peel the film off' to apply a following day's applicaiton. Has anyone got any helpful advice please?

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welshpet profile image
welshpet
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33 Replies
Shell567 profile image
Shell567

Hi welshpet,

I've never used Actikerall, but I looked at a patient information leaflet and you can use warm water to remove the film from the skin if it's difficult to peel off. I hope this helps.

welshpet profile image
welshpet

Hi Shell567

Thanks for that answer, but on the information leaflet it says to use warm water only if it's your first time using it. I don't know who they practise these new medical offerings on, but I am having trouble peeling the 'film' off as it doesn't look like a 'film' at all.

Shell567 profile image
Shell567

Hi welshpet,

I've double-checked and you can use warm water to remove the film.

Excerpt from the patient information leaflet:

'Remove the white film on your skin from the previous day’s application by simply peeling

it off (unless this is the first time you have used this medicine - meaning there will be no film to remove). Warm water may help to remove the film'.

If you're still having problems, maybe you could speak to the practice nurse at your G.P. surgery. They tend to be pretty good at helping with this kind of thing.

Good luck!

welshpet profile image
welshpet in reply to Shell567

Hi again, thanks for you advice, but even with warm water it is terrible to get off. I've been to see my doctor about the trouble I'm having and he just said to persevere. I'll just have to keep on trying.

Kindest regards

Petula

Shell567 profile image
Shell567

Hi Petula,

Sorry to hear that you're still having problems, and the doctor telling you to persevere isn't much help! It's a shame that you haven't found anyone else receiving this treatment.

welshpet profile image
welshpet in reply to Shell567

Hi again Shell

Yes it is, it's quite new I think it was licenced last year. I've had a shower this morning an was trying to wash the film off, but still no luck and it makes my leg look worse as it dries to a white film finish. If I were able to send you a picture i'm sure you'd think so as well.

Thanks again for trying to help, I did send an email to the company's name that appears on the leaflet, but I'm not holding my breath for any help from them.

Regards and have a nice day

Petula

Blotchy1 profile image
Blotchy1

Hello Welshpet,

You are not alone in finding Actikerall a bit fiddly to remove, as I have discovered since starting treatment in late July. The whitening you mention I find helpfull in locating 11 sites via a mirror. A slightly heavier application seems to make the edge easier to pick up and having slightly longer finger nails also helps me to scrape up the edges. I shall monitor this forum in the hope that you, or some other helpfull soul, can provide an easier solution

With kind regards

welshpet profile image
welshpet in reply to Blotchy1

Hi again, I did reply to you yesterday, but don't know if it came through?

I had a bad experience last evening, I peeled off the film on one of my lesions and it started bleeding a lot. I put a plaster on it, and went to see the doctor about it this morning. As I didn't see the doctor who prescribed it and is treating me I will have to go down to the surgery tomorrow morning.

Will keep you informed.

Petula

benidorm profile image
benidorm in reply to Blotchy1

my husband has had this treatment for 2 weeks now and like you finding it very unpleasant, I use a cockail stick and tweezers as my nails are short, I dont know whether he will last another 4 weeks, he has had rodent ulcers taken off( 4 this year) this is supposed to stop more surgery?do you know anyone who has had the full 6 weeks and the outcome, he has 10 sites on his back, annoying as he never sun worshipped , just unlucky, I feel I am torturing him everyday, what happens after 6 weeks? he has to go back to hos. end of Oct. best wishes Benidorm

Blotchy1 profile image
Blotchy1

Hi Petula,

Sorry to read of your problem, hope your doctor can give you the answers you need. From my own treatment I am aware that the treated areas become very tender and that applying the Actikerall is rather painfull. I have a very small blood spot on just one area so far, but from the way things are going I fully expect more in due course. I have an appointment with the consultant dermatologist later this month so will be able to pose any questions then. Persevere, the alternative can be worse. The voice of experience.

Regards

AL

welshpet profile image
welshpet in reply to Blotchy1

Hi AL

Have just come back from the doctor, and having looked at my problem he has decided to take me off the Actikerall. I am glad about that as it was very awkward to put it on as the problem parts are on the front and back of my legs and there are so many!

I do hope that you have better luck using it, but the doctor could see that I have parts of the Actikerall 'skin' still on my legs that are even too stubborn to remove even with warm water.

Thanks for your advice, which was tried, and mentioned to my doctor, but he was under the impression that this lotion will do more harm than good for me.

Kindest regards

Petula

benidorm profile image
benidorm in reply to welshpet

my wife used tweasers and a cocktail stick to try to lift the film from 10 leasons on my back, but not easy,

benidorm profile image
benidorm

has anyone finished this treatment,I have had it for 2 weeks, 4 more to go, would like to know if it worked? do I need to check with my doctor?

welshpet profile image
welshpet in reply to benidorm

Hi Benidorm

Having started this query I can now say that my doctor didn't find it to be helpful in treating my problem, so I can say thankfully that he has stopped me using it and has thrown the bottle in the surgery 'bin'.

What was annoying was the information on the leaflet telling you to make sure that any residue on the brush should be taken off by using the bottle neck. Also that when using it for the 1st time you could use warm water. I didn't find these helpful at all, as some have suggested dabbing it on thickly, and even with the warm water it still was tiresome to get off. Even though I have had several showers, I still have the film of Actikerall on some of my lesions. So good luck to all you who are still using it.

Kind regards to all

Petula

benidorm profile image
benidorm in reply to welshpet

what happens to the lesions now you have stopped using it , do they heal over? are you having any different treatment now?thanks for the reply my husband feels like stopping it after 2 weeks, best wishesbenidorm

benidorm profile image
benidorm

what happens to the lesions now you have stopped using it, do they heal over, are you having any different treatment now, thanksfor the reply my husband feels like finishing it after 2 weeks ?best wishes Benidorm

welshpet profile image
welshpet in reply to benidorm

Hi again

I will be seeing the consultant in the next month, all I have been told is to continue using the Balenium+ cream which I find helpful in softening my dry skin. Tell your husband that I was told to use it for 6 weeks, but not finding it making any difference I went to see my doctor and he could see for himself the non-progress. If your husband doesn't feel that using Actikerall helpful, I would suggest going back for the doctor's advice.

Best wishes

Petula

benidorm profile image
benidorm

Thank you for the reply, did you have rodent ulcers removed before,he had 2 lots of 2 cut out this year, has 10 plus on back, the one being treated with Act., do you know anyone who has competed the 6 weeks and the outcome? best luck when you see the cons.xx Benidorm

welshpet profile image
welshpet in reply to benidorm

I have the lesions on my legs, and did not have ulcers. I don't know of anyone, but you might like to get in touch with 'Blotchy' who has replied to my enquiry. you can probably contact her using the 'Reply to this' section as she contacted me yesterday so you should probably see her replies?

I hope that your husband and you get some positive outcome and that it works. I've been on-line and see that there is a new 'gel' that has been passed in the US but not here at the moment. That is given a very good write up!

Best wishes to you

Petula

benidorm profile image
benidorm in reply to welshpet

we saw the consultant yesterday, she said it looks as though it is working, but changed her mind 2/3 times, agreed to carry on for another 3 weeks?she had to look at instructions from the leaflet I took, then said to only take the white film off??, prescibed cream to use in the morning and the acid at night, going to see own doc. next week, he has 12 being treated , she said to also do 3 on chest but not going to yet, its all very distressing, it takes quite a time, we still dont know what to expect at the end of 6 weeks, another appointment at end of Sept.best wishes benidorm

benidorm profile image
benidorm

thank you once again,best wishes to you,benidorm

benidorm profile image
benidorm

one more week to go still so painful and difficult to remove, this has to be the worst torture treatment ever,going to see specialist end of Sept.lets hope it has all been worth the pain

benidorm profile image
benidorm

my husband could not stand it any more(and he is good with pain)so have stopped

the treatment 4 days early, his back looks awful,,appointnent with specialist at end of the month, he thinks it will be all for nothing and cant tell how long everything will clear up?using fucl. cream for a few more daysbest wishes benidorm

Millard1938 profile image
Millard1938

I have been using actikerall for several weeks for several lesions on my right hand. The therapy appears to be effective on four but not on a fifth. I have considerable problems peeling off the film in the mornings, even after using the warm water method suggested by the company.

Millard1938 profile image
Millard1938

I can report success with actikerall, although there were many times over the past months when I had given up any hope of success with this therapy. I had the same problems that others have reported. I had a terribly large lesion on my right hand, which frequently became moist when I removed the actikerall film. After several weeks of treatment, the lesion miraculously disappeared. My dermatologist considered the therapy successful because there was a strong inflammation at the lesion spot and prescribed an ointment containing micro silver: KHA Hand Repair Microsilver. This ointment was very effective in repairing the portion of skin damaged by actikerall.

Millard1938 profile image
Millard1938

Now at the beginning of February I' m happy to report that actikerall was a complete success in my case. I had the exact same problems that others have complained about on this website. But I persisted instead of a sense of futility on many days. The lesion was frequently filled with a liquid and sometimes painful. Finally the lesion became infected, which the dermatologist said was a good sign. I was prescribed a silver ointment, which completely healed the damaged skin. Tomorrow I have an appointment with the dermatologist, but I think that my skin problem is finished. The company that markets actikerall should write a more realistic account of the therapy and its many difficulties, and physicians should be better informed of the same and should pass this information on to the patients and their spouses.

Midlander profile image
Midlander in reply to Millard1938

I am about to start Actikerall treatment for area on my lower leg (with some trepidation). I was interested to hear about your use of KHA Hand Repair Microsilver - was this prescribed for you on the NHS? If not, was there any problem getting it? At what stage did you start to use it?

Any other info or advice would be most welcome, thanks.

littlebirdiesmum profile image
littlebirdiesmum

Thanks for your comment. I've only been using Actikerall for a few days and it is very difficult to remove. I find my skin is very sore and raw underneath but because it worked for you I shall persevere.

rbbotcherby profile image
rbbotcherby

I have been using this stuff on & off for over a year and it is particularly difficult (and uncomfortable) if it has been applied to a hairy area, e.g. the scalp. I have found that a nail polish remover and warm wet cloth and a lot of rubbing does eventually get rid of the films.

PieterLV profile image
PieterLV

My daughter of 6 was prescribed this actikerall against some wrats on her hand. Would you advise to use it on such a young child?

scotty487 profile image
scotty487

Really wouldn't want to use this on a child. Is a fairly 'hectic' acid, and I think after repeated use, would be too sore for most children to put up with.

scotty487 profile image
scotty487

P.S. Just read elsewhere: "Not for use on those under 18" !

I'm having the same problem as you I can't remove the previous day's application of Actikerall.

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