Aldara Cream

Aldara cream is used to treat the warts which appear on the genitals due to an infection from the human papillomavirus (HPV) after sexual contact with a carrier.  Warts will usually clear up on their own after a time but they can be uncomfortable, embarrassing and life affecting as the sufferer should not have sex during a flare-up due to the ease of transmission to a partner.  As such, topical, medicated creams such Aldara can speed up the healing process and help the patient get back to normal.

Aldara is a prescription-only medication, so you will be asked to fill in a medical questionnaire before our experts can approve you for treatment.  In some instances, you may prefer to have a face-to-face appointment via Skype or email with one of our in-house doctors to discuss your medical situation.  Once approved, you will be able to purchase your treatment via the Click Pharmacy site and have it sent quickly and discreetly to your chosen address by next-day delivery where possible.

Once you have your prescription, you will be able to buy your medication again without redoing the health assessment.

Although the medication tends to work within 8 to 12 weeks, it can be prescribed for up to 16 weeks.  If the treatment has not worked after this time, then the doctor should be advised of this, and they will consider other possible routes, including another topical cream or else minor procedures to remove the warts more directly, including excision or freezing.

Once the warts have cleared, it is vital you stop applying the cream, as it can cause pain and damage to the healthy skin.

Studies have shown that the topical, medicated cream Aldara is effective and safe at treating genital warts, with 50% of mixed-gender participants in one trial experiencing complete eradication of their warts in one 16 week treatment period (or until the warts were cleared - whichever came first).  Another female-only study showed a 60% clearance rate with an average time for complete healing of around 8 weeks.

Due to the nature of HPV, recurrences of genital warts are commonplace as the virus remains in the system for the lifetime of the patient, reactivating and causing warts or other such symptoms, often when immunity is weakened, but not exclusively.  It is positive, therefore, to know that such treatments are available, which have been proven to actively heal the lesions and help the sufferer get back to normal more quickly. 

Time and again, Aldara has been shown to work effectively against genital warts.  In part, this is down to the way it causes the body to fight against them with its own natural immunity response, helping the warts to be destroyed from within. 

Aldara cream has also been found to have very minimal side effects, if any, in some cases.  In fact, most patients in one such study experienced no inflammatory responses at all, nor the flu-like symptoms sometimes linked to such treatments.

Ensure you read the information leaflet supplied before beginning any kind of treatment and follow the advice of your doctor. Aldara cream should only be used on external warts, never internally, and should be applied in a thin, even layer after carefully washing and drying the affected area. It needs to be rubbed directly on to each wart separately until the cream disappears, being careful not to get it on to surrounding healthy skin. Once on, you should avoid showering or bathing.

The application should be done before bed so that the medication is given 6 to 10 hours to work without being disturbed. The following morning it is important the patient washes the cream off with a mild soap and fresh water. The amount in the sachet is enough for 3 square inches, so the entire pack need not be used if you have warts covering a smaller area than this. The NHS recommends you also moisturise the area twice a day to soothe the treated skin using a mild cream such as Cetraben, but you can discuss this with your doctor if you are unsure. 

Men using the cream on warts beneath the foreskin should retract the foreskin daily, washing it with mild soap and water to clean the medication off the skin. 

If you find that you experience any issues from using this medication, then contact your GP or Click Pharmacy Doctor immediately for advice.

The active ingredient found in Aldara cream is imiquimod which is an immune response modifier which is designed to either enhance or suppress the body’s automatic response to something abnormal. In this case, Aldara causes the patient’s natural immune response to be enhanced and encourages its natural defences to respond to the abnormal cells of the wart. The immune system is locally triggered by the application of the cream, causing a release of cytokines which signal the desired response. These can then destroy the abnormal cells which are causing the warts, and as they die, new healthy cells will develop.

As with any medication, Aldara can cause side effects though usually they are only mild, and the most common is erythema or reddening of the skin in the area where the medication is applied. 

Other potential side effects include swelling, headaches, erosion of the skin in the damaged area, pain during intercourse, bowel symptoms, sickness, thrush, dizziness, flu-like symptoms and migraines. 

If you are breastfeeding, you should not use Aldara as it is presently unknown whether the active ingredient could be passed into the mother’s milk.  You should discuss this with your midwife, GP or Click Pharmacy doctor before beginning a course of treatment.  You should also inform your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

• previous issues with imiquimod
• low immunity
• abnormal blood count
• looking to apply the ointment on an area which has been wounded or has recently had a surgical procedure
• you require internal treatment

Before beginning a new treatment, let your doctor know about any other medications you are currently using (including complementary medicines and vitamins), as well as any allergies you may suffer from, to ensure this drug is safe for you to use and to limit any possible side effects as much as possible.

Aldara is a skin cream for adults, scientifically proven to treat skin conditions such as cell carcinomas or warts on the external genitals, as both of these conditions can gradually lead to skin cancer. Consequently, Aldara has an active chemical ingredient called Imiquimod (5%), which has the properties to beat early forms of cancer. Therefore, it can be very beneficial if used with precautions.

As Aldara is for external use only, this decreases the chances of any life-threatening or permanent damage. However, applying more than the necessary amount can increase your risk of getting a severe skin reaction. Wash any extra cream from the surrounding site using mild soap and water. Continue with your treatment once the skin reaction has subsided. 

If you experience anything severe, even though it's unlikely, consult your healthcare professional.

The main chemical in Aldara is Imiquimod; according to the research on this active ingredient, there is not much evidence indicating any direct effect on fertility. Due to the lack of information, healthcare professionals suggest it's best to be cautious when prescribing it to a pregnant woman.

Aldara doesn't necessarily affect contraception. However, in some cases, for instance, if you've applied a large amount of the cream, it has a high possibility of weakening the condoms. Due to this, wash the area mildly before any sexual activity and don't completely rely on condoms; opt for another contraceptive to avoid the risk.

No, Aldara cream is not available over the counter. It contains an immune response modifier to treat a particular type of infection responsible for genital warts, so you need a doctor's prescription to purchase Aldara.

There are a number of options when it comes to Aldara's alternatives. These include Warticon, Wartec and Condyline.

Warticon contains the active ingredient podophyllotoxin, a plant extract that treats anogenital warts. It is available as a topical cream and is effective against small, soft warts.

Condyline also contains the same active ingredient as Warticon. It is available as a solution which you can apply using an applicator. Make sure you only apply Condyline to warts and avoid any application on healthy skin.

You can also discuss surgical options for wart removal, such as laser, cryotherapy and electrocautery, with your GP.