Imiquad cream 0.05% is a topical medicine for treating genital warts in people twelve and older. It is also used to treat actinic keratosis (scaly spots or patches on the top layer of skin) in adults with normal immune systems. Actinic keratosis occurs due to excessive sun exposure. Imiquad can also be prescribed for treating superficial basal cell carcinoma in adults with normal immune systems when surgical procedures are inadequate. A healthcare specialist should diagnose the type of skin cancer.

The topical formulation carries the active ingredient Imiquimod, which activates the immune cells in the body. The immune cells kill and remove the virus-infected or cancer cells. However, the exact mechanism of action of the medicine is unknown, all due to the effects on the immune system.  

Imiquad cream is used in different ways for these three different skin conditions. You must follow your healthcare provider’s advice for your skin condition. Do not use it by mouth or near your eyes, nostrils, or lips. 

The topical formulation is for several skin conditions; use the cream only on the areas of your body to be treated. An excessive amount of application or applying it too often can increase your chances of a severe skin reaction or another side effect.   

For genital warts, Imiquid cream is usually applied once a day for three days a week. The topical medicine is usually left on the skin for 6 to 10 hours for these conditions. Continue to use the cream until the genital warts are completely resolved, or up to almost sixteen weeks. 

For actinic keratosis, the topical medicine is usually applied once daily for about two days a week, 3 to 4 days apart. The cream must be left on the skin for about 8 hours to treat this condition. Continue applying the cream for the full sixteen weeks, even if all actinic keratoses appear to be gone, unless you are told otherwise by your skin care specialist.  

Imiquimod cream is usually applied once daily for patients with superficial basal cell carcinoma, five days a week. The topical medicine is usually left on the skin for about eight hours. You should apply the cream all over the affected area. Continue applying the product for six weeks or the prescribed period, even if the superficial basal cell carcinoma is gone.

Imiquad cream is not for everyone. It will cure your genital warts. Development of new warts may occur during the treatment. It is not known if this medication can stop you from spreading genital warts to other people. It is always important to practice safer sex. Imiquimod has been studied in children under twelve years old for external genitals. It has not been studied in children under 18 years old for actinic keratosis or superficial basal cell carcinoma. Children usually do not get actinic keratoses or basal cell carcinoma. 

Before using the cream, tell your skin care specialist if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. It is unknown if the topical formulation can harm your unborn baby. Also, let your doctor know if you are breastfeeding. However, it is still not known if the cream in the breast milk as this can harm your unborn baby. Inform your dermatologist if you have had other treatments for genital warts, actinic keratosis, or superficial basal cell carcinoma.      

The common side effects with Imiquad cream are skin reactions at the treatment site, including itching, burning, skin peeling, swelling, redness, a sore, blister, or ulcer, scabbing, and crusting, or skin that becomes hard or thickened, change in skin color that does not always resolve.