Info that I found on Aldara for treating BCC & Wrinkles

[Dana]

Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, March, 2006 – Results from a new study show that Aldara (imiquimod) Cream, 5%, a topical skin cancer treatment, improved the structure and appearance of prematurely aged skin, including fine lines, wrinkles, dyspigmentations and texture. The findings, from researchers at S.K.I.N. Incorporated, a dermatology research facility, are presented as a poster this weekend at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in San Francisco.

Aldara Cream is an immune response modifier used to treat precancerous skin lesions called actinic keratoses (AK) as well as superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC), a nonmelanoma skin cancer. It works by stimulating the body's immune system. AK and sBCC are the result of a lifetime of exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun. Long-term exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun can also cause structural and cosmetic damage to the skin commonly referred to as photodamage. Photodamaged skin is characterized by fine lines and wrinkles, roughness, dryness, lack of firmness and irregular pigmentation.

"Our results indicate that Aldara Cream may offer patients cosmetic benefits in addition to its important therapeutic role in treating precancerous and cancerous skin lesions," said Albert Kligman, MD, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania and lead investigator in this study. "We initiated this study after anecdotal finding that some AK patients treated with Aldara Cream reported cosmetic improvements to their skin. Further exploration of the cosmetic uses for Aldara Cream is clearly warranted."

The open-label study included ten healthy females with visible signs of photoaging. Volunteers received Aldara Cream five times per week for four weeks. At predetermined intervals, the subjects were evaluated for both visible and microscopic-level changes to the underlying skin structures.

According to the results of this small study, treatment with Aldara Cream corrected the structural changes associated with photodamage caused by sun exposure. Additionally, use of Aldara visibly reduced fine lines and wrinkles, improved skin texture and resulted in more uniform skin color. At the end of the study, 80 percent of the subjects rated these improvements as "moderate" or "great." According to subjects' assessments, 90 percent expressed strong approval of the cosmetic benefits. The visible improvement in appearance was also documented by histological study of biopsies. Aldara Cream was well tolerated in the study and no volunteers reported irritation with redness, stinging, or discomfort

[Mary]

Well, I used Aldara for sBCC and had horrendous itching, stinging, weeping scabbing. After reading about Dr. Kligman I am now thinking that my horrible reaction was indeed the Aldara attacking the cancer cells and I wonder if I used the leftover Aldara on non-sBCC skin (I am 69) would it clear up my fine lines due to sun damage. I am blue-eyed redhead. I am leary of trying, though, because of the above symptoms I had on my shoulder. Hmmmm. Any comments

[Janet]

I'm 44 and have used Aldara for AK after having the areas treated with liquid nitrogen by my derm. I currently had two spots on my face frozen. To prevent the weeping/scabbing, I'm only using Aldara 2 x's a week for 8 weeks. There's a bit of sensitivity, but the skin is not broken. I read the same article about using Aldara for wrinkles so am trying it on the area above my lip. (My derm offered to laser the area for $750, so I'm trying a less costly option.) I've used it now for 3 weeks (3x's wk) and already I can see the change. There is no weeping and the deep lines are diminishing. I've had the weeping/scabbing issue on my arms/back before but I was using Aldara daily and I like to think it was a result of attacking the pre-cancerous skin. I'm a green eyed redhead. I have a lot of sun damage on my chest so will try Aldara on my chest next. My derm also wants to laser my chest because of sun damage (just $150 this time). I'm disappointed that she's more interested in making money than healing my skin.

[Janet]

Additional clarification - when using Aldara after liquid nitrogen therapy, you must wait for the skin to heal - about 2 weeks - before beginning the Aldara.

[willy the conquerer]

i had a red dot on my forehead at the start of the chinese olympics. as the appointment with the derm for biopsy took so long, i began treatment with aldara. the dot turned into a ring and then the doctor biopsied to tell me it was a skin cancer. i could no longer treat the open wound with aldara, but the treatment was already sufficient and the ring fell off.