Imiquimod
Imiquimod 5% cream is a skin treatment that uses the immune system to clear actinic keratosis and genital warts, sold here in tubes.
All strengths and pack prices
Details
- Conditions
- Actinic keratosis · Genital warts
- Brands with the same ingredient
- Aldara
- Therapeutic Class
- Immune Response Modifier
- Pharmacological Class
- Imidazoquinoline
- Minor Side Effects
- Redness, scabbing, swelling
- Moderate Side Effects
- Flaking, burning, itching
- Dosage Forms
- Cream
- Administration Route
- Topical
- Originator
- Valeant
- Onset Time
- Weeks
- Duration
- Cycle-dependent
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
What you will receive
Imiquimod is a generic medicine sold under the name of its active ingredient, Imiquimod.
- The manufacturer depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
- It contains the same active ingredient, at the same strength, as the brand-name versions.
FAQ
Which Imiquimod strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Imiquimod comes as 5% tubes in packs of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24 or 36. Larger packs cost less per tube.
How is Imiquimod delivered to Hong Kong?
Tracked courier takes 5 to 9 business days with online tracking; standard airmail takes 14 to 21 business days, or 30 at most, and is untracked. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging. If a parcel does not arrive within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, it is sent again free, or refunded.
What is another name for imiquimod?
Brand names for imiquimod include Aldara, Zyclara and Imiquad. Imiquimod tubes are a pure generic imiquimod product and are not any of those brands. Here, imiquimod can also be bought online as generic Aldara.
How long do I leave imiquimod cream on before washing it off?
Roughly eight hours for actinic keratosis and superficial basal cell carcinoma, and six to ten hours for genital warts, then wash the area with mild soap and water. Night-time is the easiest slot for most people, since the cream can come off in the morning.
Is Aldara the same as imiquimod?
Yes. Aldara is a brand name for imiquimod, and both are 5% cream for the same conditions. The difference is the packaging: Aldara arrives as single-use sachets, while the tube version lets you squeeze out the thin layer an irregular patch needs.
Can I use imiquimod on my face or scalp?
Yes. Actinic keratosis often appears on the face, scalp, ears and hands, and the cream is applied straight to those patches. Keep it clear of the eyes, lips and nostrils, and wash your hands afterwards so it does not end up on other skin.
How long does the skin reaction last?
Redness, soreness and crusting usually build over the first few weeks of a course, then ease once you stop applying the cream. The treated skin can stay pink or flaky for a while as it heals.
Can genital warts come back after imiquimod?
They can. Imiquimod helps the immune system clear the warts rather than destroying them directly, and the virus that causes them can stay in the skin, so new warts may appear later. Genital warts are known for returning after treatment.
About Imiquimod
What imiquimod is for
Imiquimod 5% cream is applied to the skin, and it works indirectly: rather than attacking cells itself, it stirs up a local immune reaction that helps the body clear the problem. Sun damage is behind two of the conditions it treats — actinic keratosis (rough, scaly patches on skin that has taken years of sun) and superficial basal cell carcinoma, a slow-growing skin cancer that has not spread deeper. The third is external genital warts, which are caused by a virus. What is sold here is the 5% strength in a tube.
Fitting the cream around your week
The schedule depends on what is being treated. Actinic keratosis is usually treated twice a week, genital warts three times a week, and superficial basal cell carcinoma five times a week for around six weeks; keratosis and warts can run for up to 16 weeks. Applying the cream at bedtime is a common way to fit it in. A thin layer goes on the affected patch and is rubbed in until it disappears, stays there for roughly eight hours — six to ten for warts — and is then washed off with mild soap and water. Hands get washed before and after.
It is for the skin only: keep it away from the eyes, lips and nostrils, and do not put it inside the vagina or anus. The tube is best kept cool and out of direct sunlight.
What the treated skin does
Expect the area to look worse before it looks better. Redness, itching, burning, tenderness, flaking and crusting are the reaction the cream is meant to set off, and they often build over the first weeks of a course. Small sores or scabs on the patch are common, and the skin usually settles after the last application. Tiredness, headache and aching are reported too. Rarely, swelling of the face, lips or throat points to an allergic reaction that needs emergency care.
Imiquimod or Aldara?
Same ingredient, same 5% strength, sold under two names: Aldara is the brand name and arrives as single-use sachets, while the cream on this page is a tube you squeeze. Both are used for actinic keratosis and genital warts, and Aldara is also used for superficial basal cell carcinoma. If sachets suit you better, Aldara is the one to choose; for the ingredient itself, see imiquimod.
Sources
- Imiquimod Topical: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Actinic keratoses (solar keratoses) - NHS — NHS