Aldara 5% Cream (Imiquimod)
Aldara cream contains the active ingredient Imiquimod, and is a genital wart treatment offered to those with hard or soft genital and external anal warts.
Aldara cream (Imiquimod) helps your immune system fight existing hard and soft warts. The cream is suitable for removing small soft warts. If the infection affects a large area (the size of a 2 pence coin or stamp) or your warts are hard and large you should seek help from a GP doctor, who will suggest an alternative treatment methods.
The duration of your treatment depends on how well you respond to the Aldara cream. It can take from 4 to12 weeks for the cream to work and the warts to clear. Half of all females whose warts clear with Aldara find that their warts have gone by week 8. You need to continue using Aldara cream until your warts have completely disappeared. Half of all male patients whose warts disappear find that they do so within 12 weeks. It is unlikely to reappear after treatment.
You should NOT use Aldara for more than 16 weeks in a row.
You should NOT use Aldara for more than 16 weeks in a row.
Aldara cream should be applied 3 times a week, leaving at least one day between each application (for example Monday, Wednesday and Friday). The cream is used in the evening, before going to bed.
Apply the Aldara cream as follows:
1. Wash your hands and the treatment area using a mild soap and water. Rinse and dry the application area thoroughly.
2. Aldara cream comes in individual sachets. Use one sachet per application. Squeeze a small amount of Aldara onto your fingertip and spread it evenly in a thin layer on the affected area. Gently rub the cream into the skin until it has vanished completely.
3. Dispose of the used sachet and wash your hands thoroughly.
4. Leave the cream on for 6 - 10 hours before washing it off with a mild soap and water.
Apply the Aldara cream as follows:
1. Wash your hands and the treatment area using a mild soap and water. Rinse and dry the application area thoroughly.
2. Aldara cream comes in individual sachets. Use one sachet per application. Squeeze a small amount of Aldara onto your fingertip and spread it evenly in a thin layer on the affected area. Gently rub the cream into the skin until it has vanished completely.
3. Dispose of the used sachet and wash your hands thoroughly.
4. Leave the cream on for 6 - 10 hours before washing it off with a mild soap and water.
Like any medicine that is taken, Aldara can potentially cause side effects or have no side effects at all. These side effects usually affect the areas of skin it is applied to which includes skin redness, Itching, peeling or flakiness, skin swelling, small open sores, hardening or small bubbles under the skin, burning sensation or pain, and headaches.
Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions or on particular medicines. For this reason, it is very important you declare your full medical history to our Click Doctors via our online consultations so that a proper judgement can be made on its safety.
Aldara is not suitable if:
Aldara is not suitable if:
- You are allergic to the active ingredient or any other of its ingredients.
- There is a chance you are pregnant or you are breastfeeding
- You are HIV positive
- Your warts cover an area larger than a 2 pence coin or postage stamp (speak to your doctor)
