Imiquimod
Imiquimod 5% cream treats actinic keratosis, superficial basal cell carcinoma and genital warts, and is available as Aldara sachets or plain imiquimod tubes.
What imiquimod cream is used for
Imiquimod is a cream that treats three skin problems: actinic keratoses (rough, scaly patches built up by years of sun exposure), superficial basal cell carcinoma (a common skin cancer that sits close to the surface), and warts on the skin around the genitals and anus. It belongs to a group of medicines called immune response modifiers. Instead of attacking the growth directly, it increases the skin's own immune activity where you apply it, which is what clears the treated cells.
How you apply it
Wash the area with mild soap and water, let it dry, then spread a thin layer of cream over the treated skin last thing at night and rub it in until it disappears. Wash your hands afterwards. Leave the cream where it is for about 8 hours — somewhere between 6 and 10 — and do not shower, bathe or swim during that time. When the time is up, wash the area again with mild soap and water. A tight bandage or dressing should not go over the cream; loose cotton gauze is fine if the area needs covering. Keep it away from the eyes, lips, nostrils, vagina and anus, and rinse with water at once if any gets into your mouth or eyes.
What the treated skin does
Redness, itching, burning, bleeding, flaking, scaling and dryness where the cream goes are the reactions people report most, and they are a sign the immune response is at work. Treated skin can also lose colour, and that lightening may not fade once the course ends. Large blisters, open sores or spreading swelling need urgent attention. A headache or a tired feeling can turn up as well.
Aldara sachets or imiquimod tubes
Both are the same 5% cream, packed differently. Generic Aldara comes in single-use sachets, each one holding a single application, which suits one small patch; whatever is left in an opened sachet is thrown away. The imiquimod tube lets you squeeze out as much as a bigger area or several patches need. Both sit in the skin care range.
Sunlight, sexual contact and new warts
Imiquimod can leave skin more sensitive to sunlight, so cover up, wear a hat and sunscreen outdoors, and give sunbeds and sunlamps a miss. While genital or anal warts are being treated, avoid sexual contact with cream still on the skin, and remember it can weaken condoms and diaphragms. Uncircumcised men treating warts under the foreskin should pull it back and clean the area daily and before each application. New warts can still appear during a course of treatment.
Sources
- Imiquimod Topical: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Actinic keratoses (solar keratoses) - NHS — NHS
Can I order Imiquimod online in Hong Kong?
You can order imiquimod online with delivery to Hong Kong. The range includes generic Aldara 5% sachets and Imiquimod 5% tubes. Delivery to Hong Kong is by tracked courier in 5 to 9 business days and includes online tracking.
How much do Imiquimod products cost in Hong Kong?
Prices vary between the two imiquimod products and between pack sizes. Every product page lists its current prices in HKD or in the currency you choose.
Do I need a prescription to order Imiquimod?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order imiquimod. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the brand names for imiquimod?
Aldara is a brand name of imiquimod, which is also sold as Zyclara and Imiquad. Here, imiquimod can be bought online as generic Aldara and imiquimod tubes. These are generics, not the original brand.
How often do I apply imiquimod cream?
It depends on the condition being treated: actinic keratoses are usually treated with two applications a week, genital warts with three, and superficial basal cell carcinoma with five, over several weeks rather than days.
Can imiquimod be used on the face?
Yes — patches on the face and scalp are among the problems it treats, and the cream goes straight onto them. Keep it off your lips and away from the skin around your eyes, and wash your hands after applying so it is not carried to other areas.
What are actinic keratoses?
Dry, rough, scaly patches of skin, often 1 to 2 cm across, that come from years of sun exposure. The face, scalp, ears, hands, arms and legs are the usual places. They are not usually serious, but a few can develop into skin cancer.
What happens if I miss an application?
Apply it as soon as you remember. If the next application is only a few hours away, leave the missed one and go back to your normal pattern — putting on extra cream does not make up for it.
Should I keep leftover cream in an opened sachet?
No. A sachet is a single dose; if cream is left after you have treated the area, throw the sachet away rather than saving it for the next application.