Imiquimod topical and Itching: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Sus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2014

Imiquimod topical for Keratosis "26 spots came out the first week. A few were very big (larger than a pencil eraser), and they oozed like a greenish pus. But... only a tiny bit of itching during the healing weeks. Seemed to work great!"

• Lee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2017

For Human Papilloma Virus "My second round of Aldara. I am HPV+ 16 & 18, the monsters. I'm using Aldara. I use one sachet per treatment and three treatments per week (Mon/Wed/Fri) for 16 weeks. Initially, the cream caused the usual discomfort: burning, itching, chills, feverishness. I'm being treated for vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 (VAIN2/3). Aldara has to be placed on a tampon and inserted internally and left for a couple of hours. I'm into my second month and no side effects at all. I use a little KY Jelly at the base of the tampon to assist with lubrication. I'm also juicing, eating veggies mostly during the week, drinking green tea, and taking vitamins to build my immune system. Hoping to rid the HPV for good. I see the professor in 2.5 months and will know more then."

• NEC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2019

Imiquimod topical for Human Papilloma Virus "I had 2 quite large warts near the entrance of my vagina. I’ve been using the cream for 2 weeks. One of the warts has nearly completely disappeared, and the other one has shrunk to a tiny pimple size. The cream did start to cause soreness, tingling, and itching after about the 3rd use, still feels slightly tender now, but 100% worth the discomfort as it has worked."

• 58a...
• August 21, 2011

Imiquimod topical for Keratosis "My bald head, forehead, and face have the actinic keratosis spots to be treated. I tried one laser peel, and it did well for about 6 months. It was painful, and the recovery was as well. I tried Efudex cream several times and had some success. I am on the Zyclara now for 7 days with just some itching, redness, and minor swelling. I made the mistake of being in the sun for 5 hours on the sixth day and had to skip the treatment one night due to some pain. Some sores have begun to appear like old zits. It won't be pretty for several weeks, but it should be worth it to avoid cancer."

• Anonymous
• March 17, 2015

For Condylomata Acuminata "I had numerous cryotherapy treatments and used Condyline paint, which both worked, but the warts always came back. My doc prescribed imiquimod as a last resort, and it worked marvelously. The warts had almost completely disappeared after two weeks, and I had none of the pain, burning, or itching I had with Condyline. After that, the doc said twice weekly would be enough, and after six weeks, I was completely clear."

• GW ...
• January 31, 2015

For Human Papilloma Virus "Initially, I was worried that this treatment wasn't working because I didn't see immediate results after the first two applications. After a week, however, I saw significant reductions in the size of my warts. And now, at week three, you can barely see anything at all. At first, I was very distressed about the extreme side effects I had (severe itchiness, erythema, some bleeding), which were very concerning to me. They did subside, however, by the fourth or fifth application of Aldara. My advice would be to not give up! Yes, it is very itchy and somewhat painful with the first few applications, but the side effects do subside and the effects are significant. Just be patient, and you will see results."

• Lin...
• February 18, 2016

For Human Papilloma Virus "I am a female, 25. I made a mistake and had unprotected sex with two guys back in November. I found the first tiny warts by the end of December. After 5 weeks, they became medium size, and that's when I started worrying. I thought my sexual life was over. I went to see the doctor, and she prescribed Aldara. It has been only a week, but I already see them shrink. They itch, burn, and hurt, but I can tolerate it. If it's really bad, I apply a herbal ointment, which is good for healing wounds and burns. If it's dry, I apply the soothing cream for intimate care. They really help. I apply a very small amount of Aldara only on the affected area. I had sex the day after applying, and it didn't cause significant discomfort or pain."

• Shh...
• November 2, 2015

For Human Papilloma Virus "Been on this for exactly 1 month, and it managed to clear up most of my GW. Like some, I didn't experience immediate side effects and felt discouraged by this as I expected a lot of pain. After a few days, I experienced very mild itching and some slight redness, but this may have been my imagination. The warts seemed to get bigger at the start but quickly vanished, and now I have no visible warts at all! I used Warticon before, and it did absolutely nothing, so I was thrilled to see something finally working. Give it time and patience. One word of advice: I used this cream and got cryotherapy done around the same time. I would wait a week or so after cryo, apply the cream for a few weeks, then repeat if necessary. This seemed to really help."

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

Imiquimod topical 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."

• Why...
• January 5, 2019

For Human Papilloma Virus "So I was told I had a few little warts near my vagina and butt after I gave birth. I wanted to try something a little less dramatic than the acid, so I opted for the cream, and now I wish I had just let her use the acid. The first time I used it was no big deal. It was after the second time that I started to feel the burn and itching. I figured it was no big deal, a minor side effect. The next day I had a doc appointment, she looked at it before my pap and told me it looked fine. Then I went home, used it for the third time, and that will probably be the last time. The day after, I woke up to complete burning and itching, everything hurt: sitting, walking, peeing, even taking a bath burned like hell. I took one look at my vagina, and it was red, swollen, it looked almost like I had been burned. The pain was so bad I took a shower and cried the entire time. DON'T USE THIS CREAM. You will find a bunch of other women say this cream did nothing but cause them pain. I wish I had done my research."

• 420...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2016

For Human Papilloma Virus "I'm a male, 23 yo. Was fighting with warts in my perineum area for almost 2 years. I tried to burn them at home with a PC air duster (if you sprayed it upside down, it sprays a very cold substance, like nitrogen but weaker), and it works, but it can give you marks, and after some time, the warts grew again. I was really scared, so I tried imiquimod (I'm from Peru, here you can find it with the name Imimore). I applied a really tiny amount of cream before sleeping 3x a week for like 12 weeks and didn't notice any improvement, so I switched to apply every day, and it magically started working. My skin got a little irritated and itched a bit, but never had pain or drastic side effects. Now it's been 16 weeks, and I'm clean! My advice: be patient."

• Itw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2016

For Human Papilloma Virus "I had GW about 5 years ago, which has recurred again now. Recurrence is largely due to poor immunity. The pain from broken, damaged skin Aldara causes is unbearable, but worth it because it does work - slowly but eventually. I found relief by washing the area the next morning, or next day with a weak solution of apple cider vinegar diluted with warm water. This really helps soothe the skin and relieves itching. You can repeat as often as necessary."

• Red...
• April 24, 2018

For Human Papilloma Virus "Went into the local PP for treatment of a couple of vaginal and anal warts. They treated them with acid and then wrote me a prescription for imiquimod if I needed further treatment. They said to allow my skin to heal up for one week before I try the imiquimod, but then I should use it three times a week at bedtime, then take it off in the morning. I only made it through two applications, and I managed to get nearly every side effect possible. Fever, weakness, malaise, itching, swelling, redness, discharge, open sores, skin cracking open and bleeding, intensely painful urination, and so much pus from the sores... I stopped treatment 4 days ago, and I swear it's only getting worse. I'm uninsured as hell and paid for this all out of pocket, and I'm very reluctant to try to go back into PP just for them to tell me that I'm going to have to ride this out. Honestly, I don't think this 'medicine' should ever be prescribed for treatment anywhere near anyone's genitals."

• Fem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2016

For Human Papilloma Virus "Had GW for about 2 weeks before being given Aldara. I was lucky enough to have read all the reviews before I started using it, so I knew to only use a little (the tiniest amount, about the size of the head of a pin, as my GW were small) and only on the wart and not the skin around it. Used it every other night and had hardly any side effects. During the day and on off nights, I used some aloe vera gel mixed with a drop of tea tree oil, and that really helped with the mild itching I had. I've been using it for 2 weeks now, the small warts have completely disappeared, and the one bigger one is significantly smaller. I also take garlic supplements, about 200 mg of selenium, cod liver oil, omega 3, vitamin C, and vitamin B12. Takes time, but it works!"

• ano...
• April 27, 2016

For Human Papilloma Virus "I'm female, been battling these things on and off for a few years. Most of them have been on my rear. Started imiquimod, and they seemed to get worse, even popping up on my front. I did every other day for 2 months, then cut back to every 3-4 days. Yes, it irritates your skin. I also introduced a zinc 50 mg, n-acetylcysteine 600 mg, Bio Align Wellness formula, and vitamin D3 5000 IU (all from Vitamin World for under $50). I didn't change my diet, drinking, etc. It FINALLY WORKED! About 10-12 weeks in, and completely gone. It all seemed to get better right toward the end. STICK TO IT!! You can use it for up to 16 weeks. I also split up the packets to reduce the cost. You can get at least 2 uses per packet."

• 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!"

• Qan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2019

For Human Papilloma Virus "I've been using this for about 10 days, and I've had a tremendous change. But during week two, my vulva went from neutral to chaotic evil within a few days. I have burning, itching, and now I've discovered that I have a few burns from this cream. I have to say that with this treatment, it works. But the cost for the success is horrid."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 8, 2021

For Human Papilloma Virus "I read most of these reviews before I started using Aldara (imiquimod), so I feel it's only fair I share my experience, as the reviews helped me. Exactly a week ago, I started using Aldara. I use it 3 times a week, only applied a small amount (I used one sachet 3 times and sealed it with a peg) and made sure to wipe it off the affected area after 8 hours. I had papules on my labia, it stings a bit and itches sometimes. I also experience slight headaches every now and again. I used it while on my period and just used a tampon on the nights I applied the cream. I did not experience swelling or sores. The smaller papules started shrinking by day 2 already, and the bigger ones by day 4. Today, I see a massive change and hardly even feel the papules, there are one or two left. If you're reading, please don't be freaked by the negative comments. Remember, small amount and wipe it off as soon as you wake up. I am also on multivitamins to boost my immune system."

• Aca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2018

For Human Papilloma Virus "Been using Zyclara 3.75% daily for about 4 weeks... had a small cluster of warts on the left side of the scrotum, and they disappeared within the first 2 weeks. I have other warts at the base of the shaft. The cream has shrunk them a lot so far. They seem to be drying up and will probably fall... Will repost after my 8 weeks or when I run out of Zyclara, whichever comes first. I stopped using it on the spots where the warts are gone. They haven't returned. Was almost scared to use this cream after reading the reviews. There will be a slight burning and itching feeling, but that means it works. I didn't have a major reaction to it, but I'm also being careful with it. Applying to the wart only and not putting too much."

• maz...
• August 3, 2016

For Human Papilloma Virus "I never experienced bad side effects using this cream, no burning or itchiness. I began to think it wasn't working. I only used half a packet on the affected area and saved the other half for every second day I used it. Most of my warts have gone after 3 weeks of use, but it is a really slow progress, and you have to be patient. Still have two small warts undergoing treatment. Hopefully, by the time I finish the cream, all GW will be gone! I do not recommend having sex because GW are extremely contagious, so wait until the coast is clear!"

• Gag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2016

For Human Papilloma Virus "Female using for 2-3 weeks on my perineum and around the anus. I had the warts for 4 weeks before diagnosis. Started Aldara--I guess I'm a 'lucky one' because I started to see shrinking and color change after the first week. It didn't burn, just itched during and the next day. 3 weeks in and one wart is completely gone and the other has shrunk. Unfortunately, warts spread easily, so I have a few small new ones since the diagnosis, which I am now treating with Aldara. Just FYI, having sex (when the cream is NOT on) didn't seem to irritate or spread the warts. However, I don't recommend shaving... It didn't spread them in my case, but honestly, it wasn't worth the trouble of avoiding the warts, and it irritated the area more. Have hope!!!"

• Wor...
• February 24, 2014

For Human Papilloma Virus "My gynecologist offered me two choices: cryotherapy or the cream. I chose the instant freeze method because he said it was a faster alternative. Four of my small warts were frozen and the two large ones, about the size of my middle fingernail, he suggested that I use the Aldara cream for. The first application didn't burn at all, but it itched like crazy around 4 a.m. when I woke up, and the same for the next application. I didn't see any results, so I tried an ACV treatment for two hours one day. It hurt like hell, but I did notice a difference after that. The morning after my third application, I was literally able to wipe the warts away, but it damaged my skin terribly in two places!"

• Hey...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2018

For Human Papilloma Virus "Well, I have some warts on the shaft of my penis and in the pubic area. The doctor took a biopsy and told me it’s bowenoid papulosis. I was obviously upset, which lasted a couple of days. I got my cream and only paid 10 dollars due to my insurance covering the bulk of it. The first week, and the bigger wart has already lost some of its shape and gotten smaller, just really itchy at times as I am applying a little of it. The other ones in my pubic area are really small, so I’m just putting a dot of cream on them. For the bigger one, like I said, it looks like it’s getting smaller. Will post my follow-up as I have to go back in three weeks."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2016

For Human Papilloma Virus "VIN 111 - Had debilitating side effects the first two weeks, bone aches, fever. But once my body adjusted, it was just irritable at the site, itch/burn. I used a cool, dry hairdryer and it definitely seemed to help after application. Hopefully this works to avoid surgery."

• ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2016

For Human Papilloma Virus "Was tested by my local health department and received a letter back saying I had an abnormal pap with 'precancerous cells.' Visited my normal gyno and came to find out I was infected with HPV on my cervix and also had developed a small patch of GWs on the opening to my vagina and my perineum, which just looked like small razor burn and didn't come up until after shaving. I was put on Aldara cream, and I have only been through about five applications of the cream, and my GWs are already gone. It is very costly if your insurance doesn't work, and it does make you pretty dry and itchy, but I would recommend it to anyone fighting GWs from HPV."