Excess cream or prolonged contact with the skin may result in a severe reaction at the application site.

The use of an occlusive dressing is not recommended with Aldara.

Local skin reactions such as erythema (redness), erosion, excoriation (wearing off the skin), flaking and oedema are common. Other local reactions such as induration (hardening), ulceration, scabbing, and vesicles have also been reported. Should an intolerable skin reaction occur, the cream should be removed by washing the area with mild soap and water. Treatment with Aldara cream can be resumed after the skin reaction has improved.

1. Before going to bed, wash your hands and the treatment area with mild soap and water. Dry thoroughly.
2. Open a new sachet and squeeze some cream onto your fingertip.
3. Apply a thin layer of Aldara cream onto clean, dry wart area and rub gently into the skin until cream vanishes.
4. After application of the cream, throw away the opened sachet and wash hands with soap and water.
5. Leave Aldara cream on the warts for 6 to 10 hours. Do not shower or bathe during this time.
6. After 6 to 10 hours wash the area where Aldara cream was applied with mild soap and water.

Like all medications, Aldara has side effects that affect some people that take this medication. Some very common side effects of Aldara include redness (61% patients), wearing away of the skin (30% patients), flakiness and swelling. Hardening under the skin, small open sores, a crust that forms during healing, and small bubbles under the skin may also occur. You might also feel itching (32% patients), a burning sensation (26% patients) or pain in areas where you have applied Aldara cream (8% patients). Most of these skin reactions are mild and the skin will return to normal within about 2 weeks after stopping treatment.

MedExpress provides two topical treatments (treatments that are applied to the skin) - Aldara and Warticon. Click here to read about Warticon.
• A sexual health clinic sometimes offers surgery to remove the warts or a treatment to freeze the warts.

Always read the patient information leaflet before commencing treatment.

Aldara 5% Cream contains the active ingredient imiquimod. Imiquimod is used to treat external genital and peri-anal warts in adults. Imiquimod is an immune response modifier. This means that it stimulates a person’s immune system to release cytokines and works to attack the virus that causes genital warts- human papillomavirus. Imiquimod works towards clearing genital warts.