Aldara (imiquimod) Cream 5% - for Superficial BCC

Refer to the "Information for Patients with Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma" brochure for important information about Aldara Cream.

How does Aldara Cream work?

Aldara for skin cancer imageAldara Cream works from within by activating your body's own immune system to treat disease. Aldara Cream helps your immune system clear basal cell carcinoma cells from the skin.

How to Use Aldara Cream

Use Aldara Cream exactly as prescribed by your doctor or healthcare provider. Aldara Cream is for skin use only. Do not take by mouth or use in or near your eyes, lips, or nostrils. Talk with your doctor or other healthcare provider if you have any questions.

Use Aldara Cream only on the area of your body to be treated or as instructed by your doctor or healthcare provider. Sufficient cream should be applied to cover the treatment area, including some skin surrounding the sBCC. The treatment area should measure about 1/3 inch (about the size of your fingertip) beyond the sBCC.

Do not use Aldara Cream longer than prescribed. Using too much Aldara Cream, or using it too often, or for too long, can increase your chances for having a severe skin reaction or other side effect. Talk with your doctor or healthcare provider if Aldara Cream does not work for you. To treat sBCC, Aldara Cream is usually used once a day, 5 days a week. Aldara Cream is usually left on the skin for about 8 hours. After the 8 hours have passed, wash the treated area with mild soap and water. Treatment should continue for a full 6 weeks even if the sBCC appears to be gone, unless you are told otherwise by your dermatologist.

Aldara for skin cancer dosing schedule

Learn more about How to Use Aldara Cream for Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma

What to Expect During Treatment With Aldara Cream

Results with Aldara Cream vary from person to person. Most people experience redness, swelling, and formation of sores at or around the affected area during the course of treatment. Skin reactions may be of such intensity that patients may require rest periods from treatment. Treatment with Aldara Cream can be resumed after the skin reaction has subsided, as determined by your dermatologist. Skin reactions generally decrease in intensity or resolve after Aldara Cream treatment. Talk to your dermatologist or healthcare provider if you have questions about your treatment or skin reactions. Superficial basal cell carcinoma can recur and the chances of recurrence are higher as time passes. It is very important to have regular follow-up visits with your dermatologist to check the area. Ask your dermatologist how often you should have your skin checked. For best results with Aldara Cream, follow your dermatologist's instructions closely.

Learn more about What to Expect During Treatment with Aldara Cream for Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma.

What are the possible side effects of Aldara Cream?

The most common side effects with Aldara Cream are skin reactions at the treatment site including:

  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • A sore, blister, or ulcer
  • Skin that becomes hard or thickened
  • Changes in skin color that do not always go away
  • Skin peeling
  • Scabbing and crusting
  • Itching
  • Burning

During treatment and until the skin has healed, your skin in the treatment area is likely to appear noticeably different from normal skin. Side effects, such as redness, swelling and a sore are common at the site where Aldara Cream is applied. You may also experience itching or burning. Your healthcare provider will need to check the area that was treated after your treatment is finished to make sure that the skin cancer is gone. sBCC can come back. The chances of it coming back are higher as time passes. It is very important to have regular follow-up visits with your healthcare provider to check the area to make sure your skin cancer has not come back. Ask your healthcare provider how often you should have your skin checked. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions about your treatment or skin reactions.

Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Aldara for Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma (sBCC)

Additional Resources

Treatment Summary
Treatment Options for Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma
General
Questions for Your Doctor about Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma (sBCC)
En Espanol
Aldara (imiquimod) Para Carcinoma Basocelular Superficial (PDF)
More Information
Sun Safety for People with Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma
What Causes Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma (sBCC)?
What is Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma (sBCC)?

Aldara Cream is a skin-use only (topical) prescription medicine used to treat superficial basal cell carcinoma in adults with normal immune systems. It is used when surgical methods of removing the carcinoma are less appropriate. This skin cancer needs to be diagnosed by your healthcare provider.

Safety Information:

When using Aldara Cream, the most common side effects involve skin reactions in the application area. These include redness, swelling, a sore, blisters, or ulcers, skin that becomes hard or thickened, skin peeling, scabbing and crusting, itching, burning, and changes in skin color that do not always go away.

When using Aldara Cream for superficial basal cell carcinoma, exposure to sunlight (including sunlamps) should be avoided or minimized during use of Aldara Cream because of concern of heightened sunburn susceptibility. Patients should be warned to use protective clothing (hat) when using Aldara Cream.

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