Imiquimod topical and Blisters: What Users Say

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2017

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "I am not going to sugarcoat this for you. It is a painfully itchy, sleepless process. Not for the faint-hearted. Put on your big girl panties and take it like a woman because it doesn't get better until the 6th week when you're all done. And if you have the guts to start all over and treat other areas, then you are Superwoman. It turns your cells into red, blistering, raw-looking meat that is horrible to look at and worse to feel. But getting rid of the cancer cells is all that matters here. So do it, but be prepared to take time off if needed and be prepared to be miserable."

• Ord...
• December 11, 2019

Imiquimod topical 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!!!!"

• Lis...
• April 13, 2018

Imiquimod topical for Basal Cell Carcinoma "I had a small dot on my chest and a penny-sized one on my side. The dermatology consultant told me to use Aldara on the two areas but only once daily for five days, then a two-day break. Leave on for 8 hours, then wash off. She then said she would see me in 4 months. I was a bit surprised she didn't want to see me during treatment but thought the Aldara must be good at doing its job. How wrong could I be? Within one week of using it, the rest of my chest erupted into large red sores with lots of little red spots all over it. I didn't know if this was normal, as nothing much was discussed at the appointment. I continued to use the cream, but every day was more and more horrific. The sores were blistering, bleeding, and oozing fluid, not to mention red raw and itchy. By the end of the second week, I could not tolerate any more, so I stopped using it and tried to contact the dermatology department, which wasn't interested unless I had another referral from my doctor."

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

Imiquimod topical 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."

• Luc...
• July 1, 2020

Imiquimod topical 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."

• Eri...
• June 15, 2017

For Human Papilloma Virus "This drug works well at killing warts, but it's best to start with the tiniest amount to check how your body responds to it and then ramp it up if you don't get a strong response. I didn't follow the boilerplate '3 times a week' usage guidance because this was too slow for me. I used it every day and amply, until after about 1 week when the 'blistering' effect started to kick in, then I backed off. The negative reviews from people who got bad reactions are missing the point a little. The whole idea of the drug is to ramp up an immune response in the area you apply it. The red blistering/rash/swelling, etc. is precisely what you want: this is the immune system doing its work."

• mon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2017

Imiquimod topical for Basal Cell Carcinoma "I used this on a persistent basal cell carcinoma, in the center of my forehead, which never healed and bled at times. On application, nothing happened much for a week, but then my face erupted right across my forehead, large red blotches that turned to blisters. I used it for three weeks instead of six weeks as recommended. I went to my doctor, who said to stop using it. The scabs soon cleared, and after a short while, my skin was clear and back to normal. Was it worth it? Most definitely, no carcinoma. In the UK, it's a prescription drug and only available through a doctor, and paid for by our NHS, so I don't know the cost."

• inc...
• August 20, 2017

Imiquimod topical for Basal Cell Carcinoma "Second time on Aldara. The first time I used it on my right temple, nose, and my face. I was covered in red blotches, like scalds, but I don't remember any severe reactions. I can't seem to remember it hurting, and it was worth it. It cleared the persistent and sore BCC on my nose and temple. I now have another BCC on my forehead which has been persistent and shown no sign of healing and has bled at times. My GP/doctor has prescribed a course of Aldara, and this time I have a much worse reaction. One side of my face has come with very red, swollen spots, blistering, and I have flu-like symptoms. But I am sure it will be worth it."

• A G...
• November 10, 2015

Imiquimod topical 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."

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2020

Imiquimod topical for Basal Cell Carcinoma "My second week. Basal cell carcinoma on right forehead and cheek. Blistering all over my cheek and around my mouth. Dry, crusty patch on the right side of my nose. Feel tired, but I am sleeping. The area of reaction is bigger than I expected, but nothing on my forehead yet. I had one excision above my eyebrow, which took ages to heal, so am happy to use the cream. In Italy, it cost 84 euros."

• 242...
• April 9, 2017

For Human Papilloma Virus "Absolutely awful. Reaction to this was so bad I was told I almost 100% had herpes (due to Aldara causing severe blisters). Made it 3 days with this medicine and started to have severe vaginal swelling to the point where I had to sit in a warm bath to urinate or dump a water bottle on myself while going (TMI). Stabbing pains, nausea, could not sleep, rawness like I never knew was possible, missed a week of work because I could not even move after I had stopped using it. Took about 2 weeks, 4 doctor appointments, countless tests for various STIs/STDs for my body to fully recover."

• ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2015

For Human Papilloma Virus "This drug is incredible at getting rid of warts. But I would DEFINITELY recommend using it for one day, then waiting 3 days to see how severe your reaction is. I used it on 2 days before getting any reaction, and boy, it was a huge reaction. Even the TINIEST amount of Aldara causes your vagina to literally swell and burn for days and cause blisters, and I used the stuff very sparingly and only on the warts. For anyone about to try Aldara, please just try it once and wait 3 days to see how you react before applying any more, because man, this stuff is strong!!!"

• Con...
• April 10, 2019

For Human Papilloma Virus "Stock your liquor cabinet, it’s gonna be a long 2 months. When I first started using this medicine, I had virtually no symptoms. Warts were falling off (the medication seems to dry the warts out and they fall off), I felt great, life was amazing. Then about 2 weeks in, body aches, nausea, diarrhea. That lasted for 2 days. Then the skin started to blister and bleed. Putting on the medication made me scream. When it started to burn when I peed, I decided to take a 3-day break from the medication so my lady parts could heal up. 3 days later, my vagina still looks really bad, but I can sit down without dying. We apply the cream again. Hurts like a son of a gun, but the next morning more warts are gone. Cool. I’ve got this. Currently it’s week 4 of the medication: I have 2 stubborn warts left, halfway through medication, my vagina still looks scary, and peeing no longer feels like childbirth. It works."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2018

Imiquimod topical for Condylomata Acuminata "This drug is a miracle. I had genital warts and all the distress that goes with them. They were spreading all over my vulva, down to my anus. Doctor prescribed Zyclara, told me to apply to general area every night. Reading some of the reviews on here freaked me out, but I did it anyway. Nothing happened for 3 days. I was despairing, bracing myself for months, years. On the 4th day, it started getting sore. New red spots, blisters, stinging when urinating. Applied it anyway. Next day, more soreness, though nothing so dreadful as some people report. Still no change. I decided to give soreness a chance to heal, didn’t apply the next 2 nights. When I went to apply it the next night, I discovered that the warts had drastically shrunk. I applied it that night, took the next night off. A week and a half after starting, the warts are all gone except for a couple of tiny little bumps. I am SO thrilled and surprised at how fast it worked."

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2019

For Human Papilloma Virus "Imiquimod worked after only 5 applications on 3 separate warts (1 large, 2 small). Had horrible side effects after 2 applications. Headaches, nausea, skin redness, and blistering. There's hardly any info on how to help relieve side effects while on imiquimod, so here's some advice. I invested in an aloe vera spray mist with 1% lidocaine, which helped relieve the burning feeling and pain from what seemed like chemical burns on my lady area! I found Aquaphor better than Vaseline and put it on every day to heal the skin and stop chafing. Also, only wear cotton underwear for max comfort. Take painkillers (I used ibuprofen to reduce the swelling) and antihistamines to help the itch. Whatever you do, DO NOT ITCH - my skin seemed extra thin and sensitive, and even a light scratch could cause a painful cut where it normally wouldn't. I've been off it for a week now and all cuts and scrapes have healed up. Skin redness still hasn't subsided, but overall feeling back to normal."

• Per...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2015

For Human Papilloma Virus "I was prescribed Aldara by my GP for genital warts. I was instructed to use the cream 3x weekly (every other day) and to use it sparingly. I had approx 5 warts at the time of diagnosis, one large, about the size of a pea, and the others about the size of crumbs. I am on my 7th application (beginning Week 3), and already the warts have almost vanished. The largest one has reduced to the size of a crumb, and only one other remains. The 1st week and a half I had some discomfort (I couldn't wear underwear as the treatment area was quite sore and raw), but nothing torturous like other stories I've read online. My labia is swollen, and a few blisters have developed near the treatment area, but I assume this will subside after I stop applying the cream."

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

Imiquimod topical 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!"

• hid...
• April 17, 2015

For Human Papilloma Virus "Side effects were red, blistering, discomfort. I would feel nausea and swollen lymph under my armpit. Directions from my doctor were to use it morning and night every other day. I was disgusted having warts, so I used it every day. It's been exactly 2 weeks using it, my warts are cleared. I'll put the cream on and let it dry, then rub a little aloe vera on top to soothe it. It helps with the irritation and is clearing the redness and swelling from imiquimod. It really feels like a bad sunburn rash."

• A...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2015

For Human Papilloma Virus "Been using Aldara for 2.5 weeks now, no new warts have grown. I had the small ones I had removed by cryo before using Aldara just to blast the skin. But, I have painful blisters on my upper shaft and upper scrotum now. Had no side effects until the last day or two of my second week. Used it at night, Mon-Fri, but it's too strong and you don't want these blisters, trust me. If you're a guy, I would use it once a day, Mon-Fri, first week and then only every other day, Mon, Wed, Fri, like 90 percent of people are prescribed. My doctor said twice a day, morning and night, for 5 days straight for a month. That's WAY too much for sensitive genital skin. My acne has gotten bad too."

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

Imiquimod topical 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."

• gen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2018

For Condylomata Acuminata "I was diagnosed with genital warts last month and was told to apply the imiquimod 5% three times a week. When I applied the medicine, I just laid it on with it sitting on my scrotum (unaffected area). My first week went well, but I guess I never rubbed it in (because I wasn't told how to apply the damn medicine!). I had a wart under the base of my penis and nine small ones on top near the base. Now, on the second week, I have blisters and sores that ooze pus! Even the doctor told me she was sure that it was herpes! Now I don't know if I have herpes or not, but from reviews I see here, I hope that it's just a severe reaction and nothing else! My culture reading should be in soon!"

• sue...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2018

For Human Papilloma Virus "Lying in bed, up at night because of this medication. Was originally using apple cider vinegar to treat the few warts I had, but the process was slow and I wasn't sure if it was working. I went to my doctor and was prescribed this medication with zero information given to me on the possible side effects. I literally had to research them myself. Week 1 was good, but after week 1 I started feeling pain around the urethra opening, but it wasn't that bad, so I didn't think much of it. I continued taking the medication, but after 2 weeks I had to stop. I had developed blisters, swelling, and redness. My warts were starting to fade away up until that point, but I couldn't continue because of the pain. My vagina feels like a war zone. I just want it to clear up so I can go back to my normal life."

• Mik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2019

For Keratosis "This stuff is caustic (use extreme caution) applied twice to a pre-cancerous spot on my lip, and it destroyed the tissue. Blistered and pocked my lower lip for weeks after two applications. Only apply a very, very thin coat. Packaging is confusing as it states “one application” on each individual package. See if there is a better alternative!!"

• Jef...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2019

For Condylomata Acuminata "I used it daily on my genital warts as directed by my doctor. The warts were small and spread out, so I was careful during application because I was told it was strong. One week later, my shaft and scrotum are raw, blistered, infected, and hurt so badly that I went to the ER yesterday. I couldn't see my normal doctor because I'm out of state. Anyhow, it hurts to walk, sit in a bathtub (or anywhere for that matter). The doctor prescribed bacitracin (Neosporin), naproxen, and an antibiotic. Worst pain I've ever felt."

• Sor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2020

For Human Papilloma Virus "My doctor prescribed Aldara to me for 1 of GW (genital wart). After 4 days of using this, I had sex and ended up getting sores all over the area where I put Aldara. It turns out, if you are going to use Aldara, don't put on too much, and don't let it touch the other side of the labia because it will cause open sores and blisters. I had a high fever from the sores, and now I can barely walk or sit. Applying Aldara on the inner lips can cause sores/blisters because the skin is a lot thinner. Next time, I will use Vaseline on the opposite side so Aldara won't burn off my whole V and labias. This is really bad. I even thought I got herpes because there were so many sores. Worst medicine. I won't be using it anymore. The doctor told me to rest up, lots of Vitamin C, and no Aldara till 2 weeks from now."