Aldara Cream?

[GAcat]

Have any of you ever used Aldara 5% cream?  My dermatologist suggested it to determine if my mole was just an irritation or a skin cancer.  After reading the package insert and doing some research online I was to scared to try it.  If it is recommended to me again I am wondering if I should use it.

Thanks!

[GAcat]

Thank you so much for your reply.  The dermatologist originally did a shave biopsy on the mole for me, just because I wanted it flat.  (It is on my nose.)  In an odd twist, the whole area became red and swollen after the scab came off.  This is the area of the original mole and the area around it.  I believe some kind of scraping was involved so I thought maybe this caused it.  I was told it was not an infection or scar tissue as I went back to be evaluated.  The area around the original mole surface has since gone back to regular skin, but the area of skin where the mole was is still swollen and a little red--it basically looks just like my original mole, but with a little more pigmentation.  As I saw that the original mole WAS removed, I find it very odd and a little scary.  After several months when I returned to the dermatologist the Aldara was suggested just to see what happens.  Also, the pathology report from the shave biopsy came back with a diagnosis of an irritated atypical epidermal hyperplasia.  Among other things, the description says that "although atypical keratinocytes are present within the epidermis, definitive thickness epidermal keratinocyte atypia is not observed to establish a diagnosis of in situ squamous cell carcinoma."   The dermatologist had been sure the mole was completely benign before the procedure.  

I'd love your opinion.

Thanks!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Aldara cream or Imiquimod is used for treatment of actinic keratosis, warts and topical treatment of biopsy-confirmed, primary superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) in immunocompetent adults. It is still not confirmed whether your mole is a malignancy or a mole. I would suggest you to get an evaluation done from a dermatologist. Confirmation can be done by excisional biopsy with narrow margins.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.