Aldara Cream
5% 250mg
Imiquimod cream for actinic keratosis and genital warts. It works by triggering the body's own immune response against the affected cells.
From$12.00/ sachetView
Actinic Keratosis
Actinic keratoses, also called solar keratoses, are dry, scaly patches on skin damaged by the sun. They are not usually serious, but a small proportion can progress to skin cancer, so they are treated and monitored rather than ignored.
Key points
- They arise from DNA damage caused by short-wavelength UVB, which is why they appear on the areas most repeatedly exposed to the sun.
- A solitary patch rarely becomes a squamous cell carcinoma, but someone with more than ten patches carries a risk thought to be about 10 to 15 percent of one developing at some stage.
- A patch that becomes tender, thickened, ulcerated or enlarging may signal progression toward squamous cell carcinoma.
Medicines listed for Actinic Keratosis
The listed products contain Imiquimod and Fluorouracil, both applied as creams to the affected skin. Imiquimod works by stimulating the local immune response against abnormal cells, while fluorouracil interferes with the growth of those cells directly. These are among the topical treatments used for actinic keratosis, alongside options such as freezing and photodynamic therapy.