1. Imiquimod Cream
Imiquimod cream is a cancer treatment and is also known by its brand name, Aldara It is a treatment for:
- A basal cell skin cancer BCC.
- A skin condition called actinic solar keratosis.
- Basal cell skin cancer BCC.
This cream is approved in the UK for the treatment of superficial basal cell skin cancer measuring up to 2 cm across. It can be used on your chest, neck arms, or legs including feet and hands. It is not approved for a type of BCC called nodular BCC.
2. Actinic (Solar) Keratosis
This skin condition might develop into squamous cell skin cancer. So you usually have treatment for Melanoma Occasionally, Imiquimod is used as a treatment for melanoma skin cancer.
3. How Does it Work?
This cream uses your body’s natural defenses to help kill skin cancer. It works by releasing a number of chemicals called cytokines. One of these cytokines is called interferon.
Interferon is a protein that the body makes as part of the immune response. Interferon is also used as a cancer treatment. It is thought that it makes cells produce more interferon which destroys the skin cancer cells.
4. Imiquimod Cream for Warts
It works on the immune system to help the body fight viruses that cause warts. It does not destroy the virus directly. It is not known how its works for actinic keratosis or skin cancer. This medication is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Imiquimod cream 5% also shows some clearance of wart’s in immunosuppressed HIV – infected patients with genital warts. Seventy-seven percent of women and 40% of men using 5% imiquimod cream experienced complete wart clearance.
