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Aldara is the commercial name for a topical medication called imiquimod cream. As aldara cream works by modifying the immune response in the skin, it can be used for a range of skin conditions from external genital warts to actinic keratoses.
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Aldara 5% Cream contains 5% imiquimod which is a medicine that can modify your immune response. This can be used to treat certain skin conditions. Many other topical medicines work by destroying the problematic cells but Aldara can help stimulate an immune response that helps the body’s natural defenses to clear abnormal cells (e.g if they have been infected by a virus). Sounds like quite a strong medication right? It is understandable then that Aldara cream requires a prescription and comes in the form of individual sachets. Since as we said, this cream can be used for several skin conditions, it is important that you use it exactly as prescribed because the frequency and the duration you should use Aldara will depend on what condition it is treating (e.g actinic keratoses, external genital warts).
Aldara Cream or Imiquimod is good at treating skin lesions where there are abnormal cells. For example with external genital warts, cells are affected by a virus (HPV). Aldara cream can stimulate the body’s natural defences to create an inflammatory response around the area applied. This can help to remove the cells affected by HPV. However, because the goal is the stimulate an inflammatory response, this is likely to cause redness, peeling, soreness, or some swelling on the area applied as the medicine takes effect.
There are actually quite a few cases where imiquimod 5% cream can be used, this includes:
Please note that just because aldara is a possible treatment for basal cell carcinoma or actinic keratoses, it is not a one-size-fits-all option. You should still get the lesion (or lesions) assessed by your doctor. It is not safe to self-treat. This is because choice of treatment depends on many factors including how big the lesion is, the location of the lesion, your past medical history etc.
As mentioned, aldara 5 cream is the brand name for the cream with 5% imiquimod. There are actually other creams that contain imiquimod such as Zyclara (which contains 3.75% imiquimod) so the products can not be used interchangeably despite containing the same active ingredient. The strength and the treatment regime will depend on the condition as well as the location of the skin lesion hence you must follow your doctor’s instructions.
Always follow your doctor’s instructions on how to use Aldara cream. This is because different conditions will need different treatment regimes. However, here is a general outline on how to apply the cream:
Some additional advice to remember is:
The course length of Aldara treatment can vary significantly and will depend on what condition you are trying to treat. You should always get a skin lesion assessed by a doctor and follow their instructions on how to use Aldara. As an example how Aldara treatment differs by condition, here is a general outline:
| Condition | How long does the Aldara treatment take? |
| External genital warts or perianal warts | When using Aldara to treat external genital warts or perianal warts, treatment with Aldara cream may take up to 16 weeks. People may also be advised to continue using Aldara cream until the warts have been cleared. |
| Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma | If a doctor has examined the basal cell carcinoma and assessed it to be suitable for 5% imiquimod cream treatment, then you may be asked to apply the cream 5 times a week for 6 weeks. |
| Actinic Keratoses | Initially, you may be started on a course of Aldara 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Then the affected area will likely be reassessed to guide next steps in treatment. |
It is important to remember that despite being a cream, Aldara is quite a strong medicine and hence is not suitable for everyone. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, you take any medication regularly, or you have any allergies, you must inform your doctor before they prescribe Aldara cream. Some examples of groups that may not be suited to using Aldara cream include:
As Imiquimod (or Aldara) works by stimulating the body’s natural inflammatory processes, it is quite common to experience side effects on the skin from applying Aldara on the affected area. Some common side effects include:
Some less common side effects include:
While a skin reaction is expected, the reaction should not be severe. If you are concerned about how your skin has reacted since applying Aldara, please seek medical advice promptly. Your doctor may recommend a break in treatment.
Yes, aldara cream uk is available online from certain online pharmacies and private healthcare services. If you are planning to buy aldara online, please make sure you are using a reputable, verified website. When you are searching for ‘buy aldara cream’, make sure you check that the pharmacy is registered with a licensing body such as the General Pharmaceutical Council or the Care Quality Commission. Aldara cream is a prescription only drug and a legitimate pharmacy should always ask for a valid prescription or have a consultation service to assess if aldara 5 cream uk is right for you. Going through all these checks and balances may feel frustrating but they help to keep you safe from medication that is fake, poor quality, expired, or unsafe for you.
Yes, Aldara Cream (or Imiquimod 5% cream) is available in the UK to treat certain conditions. It is a prescription only medication and you should not self-diagnose/self-treat a skin lesion with Aldara without medical guidance.
Yes, you can buy Aldara Cream online in the UK. Before you make the purchase, it is important to check that the online pharmacy is registered with a licensing body such as the General Pharmaceutical Council or the Care Quality Commission. This can help ensure the medication you receive is good quality and safe for you to use.
The treatment regime using Aldara Cream will depend largely on what condition you are trying to treat. Always follow your doctor’s instructions on how to apply Aldara cream. For example, for genital warts you might be advised to apply the cream three times a week while for basal cell carcinoma it can be five times a week.
The length of time it takes for Aldara treatment to work or for you to see results will also depend on the condition. Initially, you might see some skin reactions or side effects; however this is more likely to be a treatment response rather than evidence that the condition has been fully treated. Some treatment regimes can be 4 weeks but some can be up to 16 weeks.
Aldara cream may be prescribed for skin lesions such as external genital warts, actinic keratoses, and some basal cell carcinomas.
If you forget to apply Aldara Cream, simply apply the cream at the next scheduled time/night and then continue with your normal schedule of using Aldara treatment. Do not apply more cream or use it more than once a day to compensate for missing an application of Aldara Cream.
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