How long does aldara take to work

You apply the cream to the AKs, skin cancer, or warts. Most patients apply imiquimod before bedtime. You must leave imiquimod on your skin for several hours and then wash it off. Be sure to follow the directions carefully. Using more than directed can cause unwanted skin reactions. If you use the medicine less often than prescribed, it may not work. This varies from patient to patient.

Your dermatologist will tell you how long you will need to use the cream and how often to apply it. The following table shows the typical treatment plan for each of the skin diseases that the U. When using imiquimod to treat AKs or skin cancer, your skin should react.

You may have redness, swelling, burning, itching, and tenderness. As the skin starts to heal, you will see scabs and flaking. These reactions indicate that the medicine is working.

When a patient does not have a reaction, imiquimod tends to be ineffective. The same patient, 8 months later, cleared of the skin cancer right.

Keep all appointments with your dermatologist. These follow-up visits allow your dermatologist to determine if the medicine is working for you. You should never use your own judgment to determine this. Your dermatologist considers many factors, not only whether your skin is clearing. If the medicine does not work, you may need to use a different treatment to prevent the disease from progressing. This medicine is for use on the skin only.

Do not get it in your eyes, nose, mouth, vagina, or anus. Do not use it on skin areas that have cuts, scrapes, or burns. If it does get on these areas, rinse it off right away with water. This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet.

Read and follow the instructions in the leaflet carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. This medicine should only be used for skin conditions that your doctor is treating. Check with your doctor before using it for other conditions, especially if you think that a skin infection may be present. This medicine should not be used to treat certain kinds of skin infections or conditions, such as severe burns. Use only the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. Different brands may not work the same way.

Do not use this medicine together with any other products containing imiquimod in the same treatment area. This may increase risk for more serious side effects.

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits for any unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine.

Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you or your child have a skin rash, burning, pain, redness, swelling, bleeding, oozing, scabbing, or peeling on the skin where the medicine was applied.

Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have severe swelling near the opening of the vagina. This may cause painful urination, trouble in passing urine, or not able to urinate.

Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you or your child have severe skin irritation or flu-like symptoms, such as diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, nausea, muscle or joint pain, or unusual tiredness or weakness. Avoid exposing your skin to sunlight, sunlamps, or tanning beds while you are using this medicine.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.

If we combine this information with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of e-mail communications at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. All rights reserved.

Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. This content does not have an English version.

This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Drugs and Supplements Imiquimod Topical Route. Products and services. Proper Use Drug information provided by: IBM Micromedex It is very important that you use this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information.