U.S. researchers said Monday a skin cream used to treat the early signs of skin cancer may reduce wrinkles and sun-damage patches.

The study published in the Archives of Dermatology showed that Valeant’s Efudex cream, which is used to treat actinic keratosis, a precursor to skin cancer, improved the appearance of skin, smoothed rough spots and wrinkles, improved skin color and erased brown spots.

University of Michigan researchers studied 21 healthy volunteers who had sun-damaged facial skin and actinic keratoses. The participants applied 5 percent fluorouracil cream to their faces two times a day for about a fortnight.

The researchers followed the participants for nearly six months, during which they underwent regular skin biopsies, close-up facial photographs, and dermatology checkups. Though initially their facial skin got dry, itchy, and peeled; it later recovered, with lesser wrinkles and a soft, smooth texture.

A questionnaire - completed by the participants after ten weeks of fluorouracil use - revealed that while 40 percent and 16 percent patients said there was "much" improvement in their sun- damaged skin and wrinkles respectively; 35 percent and 26 percent reported a "moderate" improvement in the respective cases.

"The drug has been around for many years," said Dr. Dana Sachs, who led the study. Sachs said it has been used for four decades to treat actinic keratoses, which appear as a scaly or crusty bump on the skin. They most commonly appear on sun-exposed areas such as the face, neck, forearms or lips.

Treatment with Efudex, known generically as fluorouracil, is not trouble-free. Soon after the cream is applied, the skin becomes red and inflamed. But after the treatment, patients have said their skin looks younger. "People have commented for years that they look better. Not only are their pre-cancers gone but the quality of their skin seems to be improved," Sachs said.

(Agencies via Xinhua June 17, 2009)