Ii was recently prescribed carac for actinic keratoses, after using 2 days I am experiencing red, raised blisters that itch... similiar to poison oak/ivy or comparable to cold sore blisters. Is this normal? I was wondering (since I do get cold sores once in a while) could this have cause shingles or mass cold sores on my chest. I hope I am over-reacting but I must admit it is very uncomfortable, itchy and unsighlty? Any advice?

A rash is a typical side-effect of this medication, although you may be experiencng hypersensitivity to it. You should contact your physician if it becomes terribly bothersome.

You need to make sure you are wearing gloves when applying this medication.

Where are you applying it by the way?

Also, make sure you use birth control while on this medication. It is a pregnancy risk X which means that it is likely to cause birth defects in a fetus. This precaution is for both men and women while taking the medication.

You can find out all about it on Prescription Drug Information, Side Effects, Interactions - Drugs.com

J_9, thanks for the response... I am using the carac on my chest. Why is it so important to use gloves? Also, is my experience typical? It just looks so much like poison oak or cold sores. Thanks again

The topical treatment will get into the pores of your hands, where it is not necessary to be absorbed, among many other medical reasons.

As I stated, you might be experiencing hypersensitivity to this medication and should contact your physician if it becomes unbearable. Usually the symptoms will go away within a few days to a week or so of treatment.

I used this on my face for two weeks. I was careful to wash my hands after applying it. I had a similar reaction to you - the cream is absorbed by the sun damaged skin and it gets red and irritated by it. It felt like a rash or like my face had been sandpapered. Not especially sore, but definitely uncomfortable. By the end of each day I had a headache that I attributed to this.

I took pictures and wrote it up in some detail .

I see that the link I added is incorrect. Here is the correct one: http://timbouwer.com/2010/11/sun-damaged.html

Urg! http://timbouwer.blogspot.com/2010/11/sun-damaged.html