Aldara wart treatment cream
"An effective treatment for hard or soft genital warts. The cream also works on external anal warts to relieve pain and discomfort."
What is Aldara wart treatment cream?
Aldara cream treats hard or soft genital warts or external warts in and around the anus. It’s a prescription-only medication that helps your immune system to destroy warts, and works to relieve pain or discomfort. It contains the active ingredient imiquimod.
You get genital warts by coming into contact with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts can be passed on during vaginal and anal sex or sharing sex toys. When they have the virus but with no visible genital warts, many people can infect others without realising.
How does it work?
The active ingredient in Aldara cream, imiquimod, stimulates your body's immune system to destroy both hard and soft warts.
How to use Aldara wart treatment cream
You should apply Aldara cream for warts 3 times a week. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, for example. Rub the cream in and leave it for 6-10 hours. Before you go to bed is the ideal time. It’s okay to use Aldara for up to 16 weeks at a time.
What should I do if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, apply Aldara cream as soon as you remember, then continue with your regular schedule. Never use the cream more than once a day.
How to apply Aldara cream
- Wash your hands and the area of skin to be treated with mild soap and water.
- Dry the skin thoroughly.
- Open a sachet of Aldara cream and squeeze a small amount onto your fingertip.
- Dab a thin layer of cream onto the wart area. Rub gently into the skin until it absorbs.
- Once all warts have been treated, throw the open sachet away and wash your hands. Don’t keep open sachets to use again.
- Leave the Aldara cream on the warts for 6-10 hours. Don’t shower or wash during this time.
Treatment results
Aldara imiquimod cream can be highly effective when used as prescribed. For most people, their warts disappear after 12 weeks. However, you may need to apply the cream for longer than this. Warts don’t usually reappear after treatment.
Side effects of Aldara wart treatment cream
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects when using Aldara genital warts treatment cream. These can include:
- Skin irritation
- Rash
- Soreness
- Ulceration around the areas where you apply the cream
In rare cases, you may get flu-like symptoms.
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the Aldara patient information leaflet. And if you’re worried about side effects, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
Product features
Use the treatment 3 times a week
Works on both genital and external anal warts
Treated warts usually disappear in 1-4 months
What is Aldara wart treatment cream?
Aldara cream treats hard or soft genital warts or external warts in and around the anus. It’s a prescription-only medication that helps your immune system to destroy warts, and works to relieve pain or discomfort. It contains the active ingredient imiquimod.
You get genital warts by coming into contact with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts can be passed on during vaginal and anal sex or sharing sex toys. When they have the virus but with no visible genital warts, many people can infect others without realising.
How does it work?
The active ingredient in Aldara cream, imiquimod, stimulates your body's immune system to destroy both hard and soft warts.
How to use Aldara wart treatment cream
You should apply Aldara cream for warts 3 times a week. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, for example. Rub the cream in and leave it for 6-10 hours. Before you go to bed is the ideal time. It’s okay to use Aldara for up to 16 weeks at a time.
What should I do if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, apply Aldara cream as soon as you remember, then continue with your regular schedule. Never use the cream more than once a day.
How to apply Aldara cream
- Wash your hands and the area of skin to be treated with mild soap and water.
- Dry the skin thoroughly.
- Open a sachet of Aldara cream and squeeze a small amount onto your fingertip.
- Dab a thin layer of cream onto the wart area. Rub gently into the skin until it absorbs.
- Once all warts have been treated, throw the open sachet away and wash your hands. Don’t keep open sachets to use again.
- Leave the Aldara cream on the warts for 6-10 hours. Don’t shower or wash during this time.
Treatment results
Aldara imiquimod cream can be highly effective when used as prescribed. For most people, their warts disappear after 12 weeks. However, you may need to apply the cream for longer than this. Warts don’t usually reappear after treatment.
Side effects of Aldara wart treatment cream
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects when using Aldara genital warts treatment cream. These can include:
- Skin irritation
- Rash
- Soreness
- Ulceration around the areas where you apply the cream
In rare cases, you may get flu-like symptoms.
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the Aldara patient information leaflet. And if you’re worried about side effects, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
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Aldara wart treatment cream FAQs
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How long does Aldara take to remove warts?
After 12 weeks, most people find that their genital warts have disappeared.
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Who should not use Aldara wart treatment cream?
You shouldn’t use Aldara cream if:
- You have open sores (wait for these to heal first).
- You’re treating internal warts (the cream is for external use only).
- You have immune system issues due to an illness, or a medication you’re taking (let our clinicians know the details).
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How to prevent genital warts?
Practising safe sex by using condoms or dental dams can help prevent you getting genital warts. However, neither offers complete protection.
The most effective way to protect yourself against the virus that causes genital warts is the HPV vaccine.
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Where can I buy Aldara cream treatment?
You’ll need a prescription to buy Aldara cream, even if you’re using an online service.
One of our clinicians can prescribe it after a short online consultation where you confirm you’ve tested positive for genital warts and uploaded photos of the affected area.
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Taking other medicines when using Aldara cream
So, our clinicians can prescribe Aldara cream safely, you’ll need to let us know which prescription, over-the-counter medicines and any recreational drugs you’re taking regularly.
Before we can prescribe Aldara cream we’ll need to know about all medical conditions, for example if you’re pregnant or HIV positive.
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Can I have sex during treatment?
You should stop having vaginal or oral sex until the warts have cleared up. If you’re planning to still be sexually active while you have warts:
- Apply Aldara cream after sex, not beforehand.
- Always use condoms. Aldara cream can weaken latex condoms and diaphragms, increasing the risk of them breaking.
- Also use a contraceptive pill for more reliable protection against pregnancy.
Will it have any effect on condoms?
Aldara cream can weaken latex condoms and diaphragms, increasing the risk of them breaking. You may need to use a contraceptive pill for more reliable protection against pregnancy.
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Alternative treatments
If you have genital warts that are soft to the touch, we can prescribe Warticon cream. It contains podophyllotoxin and is effective for treating soft warts.
You can get stronger creams that contain the active ingredient trichloroacetic acid (TCA). As these medications can damage skin and cause pain if used incorrectly, you’ll need to visit your GP surgery or a sexual health clinic to get them applied.
Where appropriate, warts can also be physically removed through laser surgery, excision, electrosurgery, or cryotherapy.
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Do warts come back after using Aldara?
While you can’t cure genital warts, they can be managed with the right treatment. After using Aldara cream, it’s unlikely your warts will reappear. However, it’s not unusual to get an outbreak when your immune system is under stress.
