What is Aldara Cream?
Aldara cream (imiquimod) is used to treat certain types of actinic keratosis (flat, scaly patches caused by overexposure to the sun) on the face or scalp. It is also used to treat superficial basal cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer) on the trunk, neck, arms, hands, legs, or feet, and warts on the skin of the genital and anal areas. Imiquimod belongs to a class of medications called immune response modifiers. Treats genital and anal warts by increasing the activity of the body’s immune system. It is not known exactly how imiquimod cream works in the treatment of actinic keratosis or superficial basal cell carcinoma.
Imiquimod cream does not cure warts and new warts may appear during treatment. It is unknown whether Aldara Cream (imiquimod) prevents the spread of warts to other people.
How does it work?
What are the benefits of taking it?
Aldara cream is used for three different diseases while at the same time, being really affective as Sexual Health Treatment medicine. Your doctor may prescribe Aldara cream for the treatment of:
Warts (condylomata acuminata) on the surface of the genitals (sexual organs) and around the anus (posterior duct).
Superficial basal cell carcinoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. ........................
This is a common form of slow-growing skin cancer that is very unlikely to spread to other parts of the body. It usually appears in older and middle-aged people, especially those with fair skin due to excessive exposure to the sun. Left untreated, basal cell carcinoma can cause disfigurement, especially on the face, making early detection and treatment essential.
Actinic keratosis
Actinic keratosis consists of rough areas of the skin found in people who have been exposed to a lot of sunlight during their lifetime. Some are colored skins, others are grayish, pink, red, or brown. They can be smooth and scaly, or bulky, hard, and warty. it should be used exclusively for smooth actinic keratosis on the face and scalp of patients with a healthy immune system when their doctor decides that it is the most appropriate treatment.
Aldara cream helps the body’s own immune system to produce natural substances that help fight its basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis or the virus that has caused the wart to appear.
How do I use it?
Aldara Cream (Imiquimod) has to be applied before going to bed.
- Hands and the area to be treated must be washed with mild soap and water and then the area to be treated must be carefully dried.
- Apply a sufficient amount of cream that covers the entire area to be treated.
- Spread the cream until it disappears
- After applying the cream, wash your hands with soap and water.
- Let the cream work for about 6-8 hours (overnight)
- After 8 hours, remove (with water and a mild soap) the cream from the treated area.
- If significant irritation develops, treatment may be discontinued for a few days.
Its dosage.
The amount of cream you are going to apply depends on the symptoms you are experiencing.The chart below will show you how much cream you should apply to the injury:
| Target Tumor Diameter. | Size of cream droplet to be used. | Approximate amount of aldara to be used. |
| 0.5 to 1.0cm | 4mm | 10mg |
| 1.0 to 1.5cm | 5mm | 25mg |
| 1.5 to 2.0cm | 7mm | 40mg |
External genital warts in adults:
Aldara cream should be applied three times a week (for example: Monday, Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) before the usual bedtime, and should remain on the skin for a period of between 6 and 10 hours.This treatment should continue until the disappearance of the visible genital or perianal warts or for a maximum of 16 weeks for each episode of warts.
Actinic keratosis in adults
Treatment should be started and monitored by a doctor. Aldara cream should be applied three times a week (for example: Monday, Wednesday and Friday) for four weeks before normal bedtime and leave on the skin for approximately 8 hours. Enough cream should be applied to cover the treatment area. After four weeks without treatment, the elimination of the Keratosis should be evaluated. If either injury persists, treatment should be repeated for another four weeks.
Superficial basal cell carcinoma in adults:
Apply imiquimod cream for 6 weeks, 5 times a week (for example: Monday to Friday), before the usual bedtime, and leave it on the skin for about 8 hours.
Side effects & precautions.
Imiquimod cream can cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- Redness, itching, burning, or bleeding in the treated area
- Peeling, dryness or thickening of the skin
- Swelling, itching, or pain in the treated area
- Blisters, scabs, or bumps on the skin
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Back pain
- Fatigue
Some Side Effects Can Be Serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- Skin breakdown or suppurating sores, especially after the first week of treatment
- Flu-like symptoms such as nausea, fever, chills, tiredness, and muscle weakness or pain Imiquimod can cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unexpected problems while taking this medicine.
Dennis Wolfgang –
For Basal Cell Carcinoma “I’m now 82. After 4 surgeries on my face, I was given Aldara. It may make big, red, ugly areas, but with patience, it does the job. You may think you just have a small area that is affected, but wow, it’s usually a larger area than you think. That’s why I think it’s better than doing the MOH’s surgery.”
Neal Delosreyes –
For Basal Cell Carcinoma “This is my 5th go-around with Aldara. I’ve previously treated 3 facial BCCs and 2 pre-cancerous areas. I insist on a biopsy the minute I have even a tiny, non-healing lesion, and I have never been wrong. I notice nothing for about 14 days; then all the big reactions break loose! Painful, weeping, 2-cm sores requiring gauze just to sleep. I look like a leper. This latest treatment came with massive headaches, joint aches, abdominal pain, and flu-like malaise, which began during week three and continues unabated. That said, I have never had a lesion recur; there is no scarring whatsoever, and the healing after stopping the applications is swift— all sores gone within about two weeks. It can take two to four months before the skin thickens completely back to normal, and I am compulsive about sun-screening— especially any pre-treated areas. The treatment isn’t fun, and at $400 a pop, it’s a bit excessive. But the results for me have been consistently great.”
David Dorsey –
For Basal Cell Carcinoma “Used it for 3 weeks. 5 days on, 2 off, and so on. 1st week comes out like pimples, second they break, third they dry. Hurts, sure, but not impossible. Works perfectly. Fever, drowsiness, headaches, but it’s worth it. I have used it for the last 5 years once a year for face skin problems.”
Leonard Johnson –
For Human Papilloma Virus “I was skeptical. I even booked an appointment to get my foreskin circumcised. My warts were all around my inner foreskin, so when I pulled down my foreskin, they were all around that area of my penis. Dr. referred to them as circumferential. They were not subtle at all, there were so many I lost count. Well, I got Aldara. It’s expensive. I got 9 sachets, used 1 sachet for 2 applications (closed an open sachet with a peg). I’d apply it every 2nd day. When applying, I applied it on the warts, then I’d rub into them till it disappeared. After that, I’d apply again and left it on the warts till it dissolved by itself. I applied it from the 27th of April to the 12th of May. And they started shrinking, and before I knew it, they were all gone. For me, there was ZERO pain in the whole process. I recommend it highly. Trust me, it works. And works well.”
Linda Basler –
For Basal Cell Carcinoma “When treating for Basal Cell Carcinoma, in my case, the arm, HEED THE WARNING to not use on sore or broken skin, which should include recently biopsied lesions to avoid any confusion. Wait until the excision site has healed. I did not receive this instruction and began using it that night. The pain was beyond description, reached deep into the muscle tissue, and lasted for hours. Follow-up phone calls, of course, confirmed the oversight.”
Latoya Levingston –
For Human Papilloma Virus “This drug is magicccccc!! Now read this carefully. Do NOT apply too much! You don’t have to finish the whole sachet. I got two warts on my genital area on extremely sensitive skin. They weren’t really bothering me but I was worried about them spreading to other places. I took a q-tip and applied a very thin layer on each making sure to rub until the cream disappeared. I tried to leave it on a bit to dry completely so the discharge won’t spread it to other places of the vagina. GET RID OF THE SACHET ONCE YOU OPEN IT, don’t reuse it. My wart fell off in one day honestly I couldn’t even believe it. The cream really worked for me, hope it works for you with no crazy side effects.”
Linda Horsley –
For Human Papilloma Virus “Got HPV . I did quarterly STD checks and nothing came up. I am half circumcised. It all started with a small white head kind of thingie on internal foreskin and my doctor initially said it could be a protruded sebaceous gland. So didn’t pay much attention. After 2 months that became a small cluster about 5 mm length. Thats when my doctor said its penile wart. I was devastated and got into very low mood for days. Almost thinking about this growth all the time. I was prescribed this drug. After five applications the skin got super sore and blisters appeared with pus. Doctor said that means the cream is working. I had to stop for a week or so because of the scary reaction it had. And in addition even though the warts subsided it grew back. I started applying second round and same reaction occurred after third application. Took a break again but this time the warts magically disappeared. Such a great feeling now!!!!”
Christopher Bragg –
For Human Papilloma Virus “Been using Aldara for almost 4 months, started in early January. Had only 4 warts total under foreskin near penis head (Uncircumcised). 2 went away within the first 2 weeks but 2 stubborn small ones stayed for an extra 3 weeks. Never had any weird symptoms or side effects. Was feeling happy again finally But then 2 weeks after I stopped treatment they all came back. I was devastated. This time they took about 6-7 weeks to disappear. Again no side effects. Didn’t get my hopes up this time, been checking every day multiple times and now they are back again 🙁 but this time I caught them when they were very tiny dots so 2 have disappeared after just 2 applications. Hoping the other 2 go away In the next couple days as well. This has really ruined my life… I see stories of people getting rid of them forever so I’m still hopeful. Praying this to be last time I have to use aldara and they don’t come back ever again.”
Clarence Carroll –
For Human Papilloma Virus “I’ve been on Aldara for a week. My first application was okay, no pain whatsoever. Note: I use small amounts overnight every alternative day on the infected area on my labia. I realized that I was getting really tired the day after, but that was it. After the first application, it just got worse, the pain is unbearable. I can’t sleep at night because of the pain. I now have pink sores around the uninfected parts. The space between my thighs and vagina are pink and sore, it also looks like eczema. But with all this pain, the cream is working wonders, in just a week, 70% of my warts are gone. Just the stubborn ones are left. They are big but are getting smaller, but is it worth the pain? I think so because I’m still continuing with it. I’m desperate for these to be gone, and the cream is surely removing them. If you can’t take pain, then don’t, but if you’re a hardcore go-getter like me, it’s worth the try. I hope this information helps someone, this is my honest experience.
Hugh Lofton –
For Human Papilloma Virus “I contracted HPV through someone… I don’t know who, but I have been having my fair share of fun. I was nervous at first, but the people who I continued to see didn’t care. I initially had them burned off on the shaft of my penis, but it left a scar. So when they came back, I decided to go the cream route. Luckily, places like the LGBT center provide cheap prescriptions for people who can’t afford them like me (paid like $10-15 for a good supply). Anyways, I’ve been using Aldara for 4-5 weeks now, and it’s finally working its magic. I’ve had it twice where it seems to open up as a sore, then scab up and heal. People definitely sweat this as the end of their sex lives or stress over it too much. It’s not the end of the world… it will heal… and our bodies will go back to ‘normal’. Hang in there!!!”
Ida Williamson –
For Human Papilloma Virus “I used Aldara for 4 weeks seven months ago, and I’m very happy to report that the warts have NOT returned! The package only had enough for 4 weeks and I was worried it wouldn’t be enough but they disappeared completely. The skin was red and very itchy during that time but nothing unbearable at all, it’s important that you only spread the cream directly on the warts. I was absolutely shocked when I discovered I had HPV, I thought my life was over. Or at least my sex life. When I went to see a proper gynegologist however, they made it very clear that HPV is NOT permanent and they don’t usually even test under 25-year-olds because the result is usually positive and about 90% of women get it at some point. Your body will attack the virus naturally and defeat it. If you’re reading this just hang in there, I know it feels absolutely horrible but turns out I was way more stressed about it than needed. And remember it WILL get better, it’s not forever!! You will get through it for sure”
James Beck –
For Human Papilloma Virus “Aldara is super efficient. Here is my advice: – only apply 3 times a week, reduce if you feel too much pain. – when starting the treatment, only apply a really tiny amount of cream on each wart with the end of a cotton bud. Only when you are ready, start applying a tiny bit more, but it should stay minimal. – it will create discomfort. Use baby wipes for the toilet; buy an intimate gel to take care of the area that is infected. I took 2 showers a day during the treatment to keep the area clean at all times. No pyjama bottoms to avoid any contact. – the pain is OKAY. It can burn healthy skin in the night when the warts with cream rub against it. Put some tiny plasters opposite the wart for the night. It gets itchy during the day, but stay busy. – be positive: eat healthily, stop smoking. Have someone to help you go through it. Had 6 genital warts and 5 were completely gone by week 2. Still treating 1, but it’s now barely visible. Go for it and good luck, stay positive!”
Donna Armour –
For Basal Cell Carcinoma “Just finished week 6 of Aldara for BCC… now waiting for the scabs and redness to go away. 6 weeks was a long treatment, but well worth it instead of MOHS surgery. You MUST wash hands before and after applying, and you MUST wash the application areas after 8 hours. I applied the cream on the tip of my nose, but the entire nose reacted! I applied the cream Monday to Friday and took Saturday and Sunday off. Weeks 3 and 4 were the worst… lots of oozing and dark scabs. You can use makeup… start with a color corrector, then a concealer and/or foundation. I’m now waiting for the scabs and redness to go away. There are no instructions on what to do after the 6 weeks, so I’m still washing the area and putting moisturizer on it twice a day.”
Alexa Brookman –
For Human Papilloma Virus “I was prescribed Aldara for internal GW. When I finally found a doctor to acknowledge that they existed internally, they were bad. They almost looked like fingers. I say this to make the point that I had a serious case of them. I was put on Aldara for three times a week until 16 weeks. This was the most painful experience I have ever had in my life. I cried in pain for the first several weeks. The itching was almost unbearable in and of itself. I also got very severe ulcers around the treatment site. I found it helpful to take an allergy pill for the itching and melatonin to help me sleep with the pain. All that being said, after 16 weeks, my GW problem was 90 percent gone. I was given another month’s worth for the last remaining few.”
Jerry Boan –
For Human Papilloma Virus “I am a physician, and I was horrified to find HPV warts near my anus a few weeks ago. There were three small ones in a cluster and a slightly larger pedunculated one nearby. I went to my gynecologist to discuss treatment options. We agreed on Aldara. I have been using a small amount three times a week, and after 2.5 weeks, the little ones are gone, and the bigger one is almost gone. I was worried about it irritating the healthy tissue surrounding the warts because it was impossible (due to the location) to only get the medication on the warts, but I have only had mild irritation alleviated by a warm bath.”
Deborah Boser –
For Human Papilloma Virus “Been using Aldara for almost 4 months, started in early January. Had only 4 warts total under foreskin near penis head (Uncircumcised). 2 went away within the first 2 weeks but 2 stubborn small ones stayed for an extra 3 weeks. Never had any weird symptoms or side effects. Was feeling happy again finally But then 2 weeks after I stopped treatment they all came back. I was devastated. This time they took about 6-7 weeks to disappear. Again no side effects. Didn’t get my hopes up this time, been checking every day multiple times and now they are back again 🙁 but this time I caught them when they were very tiny dots so 2 have disappeared after just 2 applications. Hoping the other 2 go away In the next couple days as well. This has really ruined my life… I see stories of people getting rid of them forever so I’m still hopeful. Praying this to be last time I have to use aldara and they don’t come back ever again.”
Felicia Wasson –
For Human Papilloma Virus “I am happy to report that I did not experience any side effect symptoms at all except maybe some very mild sensitivity where the medicine was placed. My routine included taking a shower before bed, waiting 10 minutes to completely dry, applying a little bit of Vaseline on the surrounding skin that was not affected, and rubbing a tiny amount onto the warts. In the morning, I make sure to rinse off the medication as soon as I wake up and take my daily vitamins to boost my immune system even further. At first, I was nervous nothing was happening because I didn’t feel any symptoms. After the second dose, I noticed the warts shrinking dramatically. After the third, all the small ones have disappeared and the one medium one is almost gone. Make sure you only use a small amount. My doctor said to throw away anything unused and start a new satchel every time. Anyways, I’m here to say that this medication really works and there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel!”
Paul Tannehill –
For Basal Cell Carcinoma “I started using the Aldara cream on the 29th of June after being diagnosed with a Basal Cell Carcinoma on my nose. It’s now been 5 weeks of use and the area is sore, red, crusty and oozing which is exactly what should be happening. I still have another week of use but so far my doctor has been happy with my progress and said that the worse the area of the cancer cells looks after use, the better.”
Connie Bess –
For Human Papilloma Virus “9/10 rating simply because, like all treatments currently available, it gets rid of the symptom (warts), not the illness (HPV). I had a bout of genital warts, all spaced all over my genital area (clitoris included). After having read about the treatment, I was so scared that I did not use it for the first 2 weeks, but for me, liquid nitrogen was way too painful. Remember, everybody reacts differently; don’t be discouraged. I am very sensitive to pain and have gone through this with no burning sensations, absolutely no side effects aside from expected sensitivity, and by the first week of use, I noticed a considerable difference. Dosage: 3 times/week on alternating days, e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday for 6-10 hours at night (I left it on for 8-10).”
Susan Costa –
For Human Papilloma Virus “I had a very large cluster of anal warts. I went to two colon rectal specialists. The first one was a male and insisted that the infection and removal of warts could only be treated via surgery which would have costs close to $10,000 dollars. So I got a second a opinion from a female colon rectal specialist who also felt that surgery was the best option. That being said she allowed me to try Aldara first. Let me just say that Aldara is a miracle drug! After 8 weeks of treatment and monitoring with my doctor, 100% of the warts were gone. Even my doctor was floored that Aldara was able to treat even the worst cases of anal warts. She would have had me surgery the next day if it weren’t for Aldara. It’s been a year with no recurrence”
Gladys Montgomery –
For Human Papilloma Virus “I was diagnosed with vin3 last yr. The cells were becoming cancer. I have now done 2 Aldara courses of 6 weeks each and all the vin3 has totally gone and there are no dodgy cells at all. I applied it 3 times a week at night and left it on for 10 hours. Week 4 I started to get a bit sore on my vulva but nothing major and was bearable. Come week 6 no sores nothing at all but only part of the vin3 had been resolved so hospital told me to carry on with another 6 week cycle. It certainly wasn’t as bad as I expected and wanted to do a review so if anyone is like I was and terrified please do try it though. Everyone reacts differently and you might have no reaction or only mild like me. The main issue for me was a continued upset stomach. My hair also snapped a lot and has become dry but the hosp said its how I have reacted. It is a form of chemo so its strong stuff. Its also fantastic as saved me having all my bits mutilated!”
Cheryl Peeler –
For Human Papilloma Virus “I used Aldara for around 10 weeks. I had anal warts at the time and one on my gooch. Aldara made my ass really red and raw, and the warts didn’t seem to go away or change in appearance. What I did notice, though, was that the warts went away over the next 3 months without using anything as I was traveling and didn’t have any supply. Aldara is used to help boost the immune system in targeting the HPV virus (which, by the way, is NOT permanent). There is so much old information out there, and those of you who are just beginning your journey know that it is temporary (I know it sucks, and there are so many emotions, BUT you will come out the other side!). My dermatologist told me this firsthand, and people who are healthy will naturally clear this virus. It incubated for around 6 months, and then symptoms appeared. Those with immune deficiencies will struggle to clear it, unfortunately. Cryotherapy takes the wart off, and Aldara boosts the immune system to fight infection.”
John Cook –
For Human Papilloma Virus “Two weeks ago, I thought my life was over with the diagnosis. My doctor let me know I am not alone, and over 70% of people have human papillomavirus, it’s just a matter of whose body can fight off the warts developing or not. I have been using Aldara for two weeks and have only minor side effects like slight itching, which I’m not sure if it’s just my brain thinking it’s bad or if it was. Apply only to the spots that need it. I almost think those who complain of unreal side effects slathered this on without reading directions. The only other side effect, which was odd, was the first night I applied it, my heart rate was 100 beats per minute, which was strange. Lesions have shrunk in size tenfold. I’m just super pleased. I feel bad for those who cannot afford Aldara.”
Ramon Cook –
For Basal Cell Carcinoma “For 18 months, I had a sore on my nose that would bleed, scab, then disappear. Finally, I had it checked (I should have known better, I have a family history of skin cancer). It came back as a BCC. I’m now 5 weeks into my use of Aldara. For the first 3 weeks, I didn’t really have any signs of it doing too much. Well, now at week 5, my nose is hard, scab-like, and a lot bigger area than I had thought. I wouldn’t say it’s sore, just uncomfortable and itchy at times. I guess once completed and healed, time will tell if it completely worked. My doctor gives it an 80% chance, and if not, it’s surgery for me. I hope this isn’t all for nothing, but I feel it has been worth the chance and do feel that it has done its job well. So far, so good. I’m in AUS, and the delivery was fast.”