Aldara and Pain: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2019

For Human Papilloma Virus "I contracted HPV through someone... I don't know who, but I have been having my fair share of fun. I was nervous at first, but the people who I continued to see didn't care. I initially had them burned off on the shaft of my penis, but it left a scar. So when they came back, I decided to go the cream route. Luckily, places like the LGBT center provide cheap prescriptions for people who can't afford them like me (paid like $10-15 for a good supply). Anyways, I've been using Aldara for 4-5 weeks now, and it's finally working its magic. I've had it twice where it seems to open up as a sore, then scab up and heal. People definitely sweat this as the end of their sex lives or stress over it too much. It's not the end of the world... it will heal... and our bodies will go back to 'normal'. Hang in there!!!"

• M56...
• August 26, 2018

For Human Papilloma Virus "Aldara is super efficient. Here is my advice: - only apply 3 times a week, reduce if you feel too much pain. - when starting the treatment, only apply a really tiny amount of cream on each wart with the end of a cotton bud. Only when you are ready, start applying a tiny bit more, but it should stay minimal. - it will create discomfort. Use baby wipes for the toilet; buy an intimate gel to take care of the area that is infected. I took 2 showers a day during the treatment to keep the area clean at all times. No pyjama bottoms to avoid any contact. - the pain is OKAY. It can burn healthy skin in the night when the warts with cream rub against it. Put some tiny plasters opposite the wart for the night. It gets itchy during the day, but stay busy. - be positive: eat healthily, stop smoking. Have someone to help you go through it. Had 6 genital warts and 5 were completely gone by week 2. Still treating 1, but it's now barely visible. Go for it and good luck, stay positive!"

• Ano...
• March 21, 2019

For Human Papilloma Virus "I’ve been on Aldara for a week. My first application was okay, no pain whatsoever. Note: I use small amounts overnight every alternative day on the infected area on my labia. I realized that I was getting really tired the day after, but that was it. After the first application, it just got worse, the pain is unbearable. I can’t sleep at night because of the pain. I now have pink sores around the uninfected parts. The space between my thighs and vagina are pink and sore, it also looks like eczema. But with all this pain, the cream is working wonders, in just a week, 70% of my warts are gone. Just the stubborn ones are left. They are big but are getting smaller, but is it worth the pain? I think so because I’m still continuing with it. I’m desperate for these to be gone, and the cream is surely removing them. If you can’t take pain, then don’t, but if you’re a hardcore go-getter like me, it’s worth the try. I hope this information helps someone, this is my honest experience."

• mya...
• April 15, 2011

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "When treating for Basal Cell Carcinoma, in my case, the arm, HEED THE WARNING to not use on sore or broken skin, which should include recently biopsied lesions to avoid any confusion. Wait until the excision site has healed. I did not receive this instruction and began using it that night. The pain was beyond description, reached deep into the muscle tissue, and lasted for hours. Follow-up phone calls, of course, confirmed the oversight."

• Ads...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 24, 2019

For Human Papilloma Virus "First off, you're in for a pretty bad 16 weeks or longer! There's no sugar coating it. Less cream is more, and more is too much. You'll notice the warts will get worse before they get better, that's your body trying to fight it off. Avoid sex at all costs. I say that because I couldn't resist 3 times during the treatment, and I went through a lot of pain with ulcers due to the friction. However, sometimes you can get away with light masturbation. If you get ulcers, I used lignocaine gel 2%, it's an anaesthetic that just drips on. Try to clean the area twice a day, and if you have ulcers, just run cool-warm water over it no matter how painful it is, to keep it clean so you don't get an infection. If you get really bad ulcers, it's OK to stop treatment for a week to heal, then continue treatment. I had to stop treatment 3 times due to bad ulcers. The final thing to say is don't give up. It took 13 long weeks till I finally saw improvement, and I'm about to hit 16 weeks, and the warts are pretty much gone."

• Par...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2015

For Human Papilloma Virus "9/10 rating simply because, like all treatments currently available, it gets rid of the symptom (warts), not the illness (HPV). I had a bout of genital warts, all spaced all over my genital area (clitoris included). After having read about the treatment, I was so scared that I did not use it for the first 2 weeks, but for me, liquid nitrogen was way too painful. Remember, everybody reacts differently; don't be discouraged. I am very sensitive to pain and have gone through this with no burning sensations, absolutely no side effects aside from expected sensitivity, and by the first week of use, I noticed a considerable difference. Dosage: 3 times/week on alternating days, e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday for 6-10 hours at night (I left it on for 8-10)."

• Ord...
• December 11, 2019

For Human Papilloma Virus "Got HPV. I did quarterly STD checks and nothing came up. I am half circumcised. It all started with a small white head kind of thing on the internal foreskin, and my doctor initially said it could be a protruded sebaceous gland. So, didn’t pay much attention. After 2 months, that became a small cluster about 5 mm in length. That's when my doctor said it's a penile wart. I was devastated and got into a very low mood for days, almost thinking about this growth all the time. I was prescribed this drug. After five applications, the skin got super sore, and blisters appeared with pus. The doctor said that means the cream is working. I had to stop for a week or so because of the scary reaction it had. In addition, even though the warts subsided, they grew back. I started applying the second round, and the same reaction occurred after the third application. Took a break again, but this time the warts magically disappeared. Such a great feeling now!!!!"

• Anonymous
• February 1, 2015

For Human Papilloma Virus "I was prescribed Aldara for internal GW. When I finally found a doctor to acknowledge that they existed internally, they were bad. They almost looked like fingers. I say this to make the point that I had a serious case of them. I was put on Aldara for three times a week until 16 weeks. This was the most painful experience I have ever had in my life. I cried in pain for the first several weeks. The itching was almost unbearable in and of itself. I also got very severe ulcers around the treatment site. I found it helpful to take an allergy pill for the itching and melatonin to help me sleep with the pain. All that being said, after 16 weeks, my GW problem was 90 percent gone. I was given another month's worth for the last remaining few."

• Mot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 1, 2020

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "I started using the Aldara cream on the 29th of June after being diagnosed with a basal cell carcinoma on my nose. It’s now been 5 weeks of use, and the area is sore, red, crusty, and oozing, which is exactly what should be happening. I still have another week of use, but so far my doctor has been happy with my progress and said that the worse the area of the cancer cells looks after use, the better."

• Luc...
• July 1, 2020

For Human Papilloma Virus "The cream worked amazingly! My warts cleared away within 2 weeks of using the cream. The skin where the warts were is now smooth and wart-free. However, it was incredibly painful, the cream causes severe skin reactions. For me, I developed sores and blisters on my vagina after the first week. When I peed, it felt like my skin was on fire because it made contact with the blisters. I found I couldn't sit or walk without being in agony. However, I persisted, and by the end of the week, it was clear. Some tips! -Aloe vera is your best friend. Apply it as often as you can because it will help with the blisters and irritated skin. -When peeing, take a glass of cold water and pour it at the same time, or squirt bottled water. This really helps with the burning and stinging. Also, apply aloe vera after peeing. -DON'T apply too much cream or leave it on for more than 10 hours. I think lathering the cream on didn't help the severe reactions I was having."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2020

For Human Papilloma Virus "I've been using Aldara for just over 3 weeks now. I had genital and anal warts all over. They were in clusters and stuck together. But just after week 1, I could tell a difference. Now I only have a few left, but you can barely see them. I'm going for a check-up tomorrow, but I think I might need some more just to get rid of the extra marks. However, I would definitely recommend this to anyone with genital warts! It's not a quick fix, but you have to be patient with it. It WILL work, and if you are experiencing pain, blisters, or swelling, it means the cream is working as it's the cells dying to get rid of the wart. So the more pain you're in, the better, as bad as it sounds. I went through pain, blisters, and itching in the first and second week. Not so much now, as they are nearly gone."

• liv...
• October 26, 2020

For Human Papilloma Virus "I got prescribed Aldara by my local sexual health clinic to treat genital warts. I thought my warts were the end of the world until I used Aldara. After applying the cream twice (as directed, only on the warts and every other night, washing it off in the morning), boy, did I regret my life choices. My entire vagina swelled up the following day, and ulcer-type sores appeared everywhere in that area. I couldn’t move without being in excruciating pain, and I almost passed out every time I peed. I ended up in the hospital on a 7-day course of antibiotics, as well as dihydrocodiene to manage the pain. Stay away from this cream - it should not be prescribed!!! After doing extensive reading online about Aldara, I quickly realized that so many people had been through the same as me. The warts eventually go away on their own, or there are other treatments such as freezing them off. Please, please stay away from this cream."

• Kat...
• June 22, 2016

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "Itchy, sore to touch, don't sleep well the nights it's applied. This is my second treat for BCC, the first with Aldara got infected and subsequently scarred. All BCC were on the chest area. The first is completely gone. The second, I'm 3 weeks through a 4-week treatment. Can't wait to be finished, although end results are acceptable for the pain and irritation that you go through."

• Kat...
• June 22, 2016

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "Itchy, sore to touch, don't sleep well the nights it's applied. This is my second treat for BCC, the first with Aldara got infected and subsequently scarred. All BCC were on the chest area. The first is completely gone. The second, I'm 3 weeks through a 4-week treatment. Can't wait to be finished, although end results are acceptable for the pain and irritation that you go through."

• XXX...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2020

For Human Papilloma Virus "In the first week of using this cream, I felt no difference, although now I’m in my second week (I apply Mon, Wed, Fri for 16 weeks), and I’ve got a sore throat and sneezing, also, down there burns and itches like anything! I’ve noticed swelling around the surrounding area of the wart (I only have one), but I have noticed it’s decreasing in size slowly but surely! To reduce the itchiness, take two showers per day (no scented shower gels) to keep them clean. Also, if you can, don’t wear underwear as the friction can make it more painful. For the pain while urinating, take a cup or jug and rinse off with cool water! Although the pain is unbearable sometimes, try and stick it out. :)"

• A G...
• November 10, 2015

For Human Papilloma Virus "Contracted GW and went to a dermatologist who diagnosed them after one had misdiagnosed them before. Had them burned (electrocuted off) and frozen. Had to return two weeks later as many more small ones had grown, same treatment again. I was then prescribed Aldara for a month, morning and night for 5-day stints (Mon-Fri). I kept up with this the first week, but the second week I started just doing nights as twice a day seems excessive after reading everyone else's prescriptions. Things look much clearer, but I got a blister which healed significantly after taking a break for a few days. This stuff takes a few days to kick in, but expect to be pretty red and your scrotum to be sore if you're a guy. I'll repost in a couple of weeks when I'm done with my treatment."

• Gan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2018

For Human Papilloma Virus "It’s day ten, and I have used Aldara continuously in the first four days and stopped on the fifth day because the pain was unbearable and I wanted to take a break. The burning urination was still there, along with the itchiness, white discharge, and burning sensation overall. Pain started to ease on day eight, and I had sex and didn’t feel any discomfort (just embarrassment, lol). Today, I took a look at my vagina, and I was happy to see that most of my GWs were either completely gone or had gotten smaller. I applied Aldara again since I have no pain or discomfort and will continue to take it. Again, hope this works and will keep you updated."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2018

For Human Papilloma Virus "After using it for 2 days, I noticed my warts shrinking and thought, hell yeah! By the end of the week, I can’t sleep because the small amount I’m putting in has burnt my penis, and it’s swollen and very red! It’s now been 3 weeks since I stopped using the product, and I still can’t touch my penis and pull back the skin without it bringing me to tears! The pain is unbelievable, and I will never forget it. Just walking around with underwear on hurts because it rubs."

• jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 18, 2019

For Human Papilloma Virus "4 weeks in and only one wart has shrunk. Most have stayed the same, and I have actually had lots more warts appear despite taking really good care of myself. The side effects are horrific - I have red, raw patches that feel like blisters and burns on my inner labia, which is odd because I've not applied the cream there and have no warts there! It is difficult to sleep at night because of the pain and itching. I've used Warticon in the past and had a much better experience - Aldara feels like I'm just putting acid on my genitals without any reward or success!"

• Sea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2020

For Human Papilloma Virus "Was prescribed Aldara to treat two genital warts. One large and one small. I had read a few reviews and was a little worried about using it, would be worth the pain. Just over three weeks in, and the smaller one is completely gone and the skin is almost healed apart from a little redness, the other has almost disappeared. No real noticeable side effects. Felt a little run down one or two days, but it is December. I was quite aware of the area in that there was some slight discomfort and the occasional itch, but nothing close to pain. The skin itself did get quite red, and there was some dry skin. But nothing major. If it helps, I was very careful not to spread the cream onto any particularly sensitive areas. Was very careful about washing both before and after and have been taking a good multivitamin. Overall, I'd say a very positive experience."

• Bar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2022

For Human Papilloma Virus "I got diagnosed with genital warts a few weeks ago. My doctor recommended Aldara. I thought the cost was unbearable for me, but I had to try it out as I had been told it's the best you can have for sensitive areas. I applied as the doctor had recommended, ensuring I maintained cleanliness down there to avoid infection. I had a really bad reaction to it (sores, itching, inflammation, and pain), but I knew I wanted to clear the warts. By the second week, the small warts had cleared, and now I'm only dealing with the warts on my labia minora. This cream is doing wonders. I'd thought my life of intimacy had come to an end, but now I'm hopeful to also clear the virus."

• Geo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 30, 2021

For Human Papilloma Virus "Saw the GP about small bumps on my butt. He said they were warts and put DCP on them. They went away after 6 weeks but came back. Then I used Aldara after seeing a dermatologist. The Aldara will cause pain and bleeding after a while, but just keep at it for a few months and the warts will go. They have not come back, and the dermo said they are unlikely to return. The virus supposedly leaves your body after a while, so don’t worry about it. The pain and bleeding are annoying, but better than having warts on my genitals."

• cbe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 4, 2022

For Human Papilloma Virus "The medication has definitely shrunken the size of my warts, even made most of them disappear. Be very cautious when applying this, only apply to the actual wart, not the skin around the wart. It will cause extreme blistering and pain if it's on healthy skin for too long. If that happens, stop treatment till the blistering goes away and apply a smaller amount directly onto the wart with a Q-tip."

• Hor...
• February 6, 2017

For Human Papilloma Virus "I had a wart on my penis, which the doctor froze, and it disappeared. Later, I noticed I had some warts around my anus. I went to the doctor, mortified, and was prescribed Aldara cream. I used it as prescribed, three times, and noticed some pain after the first week but didn't think much of it. I went back to the doctor for a check-up, and I was prescribed further Aldara cream. The pain afterward was agony. I had headaches and chemical burning to the point that I couldn't sit down for days. I stopped using the cream and bathed in Epsom salt and used Aloe Vera. Subsequently, I have continued to bathe in Epsom salt and used tea tree oil. Although slow, it works. Do NOT use Aldara cream if you can avoid it, natural remedies are better and no pain!"

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2021

For Human Papilloma Virus "I had genital warts, and my gynecologist said to use Aldara 3 times per week. Let me just say, this cream is not pleasant at all. It causes mild itching and discharge sometimes and gave me a sore, but the worst thing is I experience aches and fatigue. After one week, I thought it was not working, but after 2 weeks, the warts have almost flattened and I can see improvement. My advice is really only use it 3 times per week, a thin layer, the next day just start taking Panadol and continue with it. Try not to mess it up by picking at the warts. It will get better, it is just very unpleasant."