Zyclara

What is Zyclara?

Zyclara 3.75% cream is a treatment for actinic keratosis. It contains the active ingredient imiquimod, which stimulates your immune system to clear your symptoms. Actinic keratosis (also called solar keratosis) is a skin condition that’s identified by dry, scaly patches of skin, often caused by sun damage. The patches can be rough, itchy, and range in colour. Although most of the time it’s not serious, continued exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer, so it should be treated early on.

How does Zyclara work?

Zyclara’s active ingredient, imiquimod, is an immune response modifier. This means it activates your immune system and induces a response. This response kills the damaged cells and promotes anti-tumour activity, helping to prevent the condition from becoming cancerous.

What doses of Zyclara are there?

There’s only one dose of Zyclara available: 3.75%, which comes in individual sachets with 250mg of cream. The clinician will recommend the dosage, with the maximum being two sachets per application. If this dosage isn’t working for you though, let our clinician know. They’ll discuss future options with you.

How to apply Zyclara

Always follow your clinician's advice when applying Zyclara.

• Apply the cream before going to bed.
• Wash both your hands and the affected area with mild soap and water. Then allow them to dry.
• Open a new sachet and squeeze it onto your fingertips. Don’t use more than two sachets in a single application.
• Apply a thin layer to the affected area and rub gently until it’s absorbed. Try to avoid contact with your eyes, lips and nostrils.
• After application, wash your hands with soap and water again.
• Leave Zyclara on your skin for eight hours. During this time, don’t shower or wash the affected area.
• After eight hours have passed, wash the affected area with soap and water.

How long do I have to use Zyclara?

Zyclara is used in two-week periods for a total of six weeks. The treatment starts with a daily application for two weeks, followed by a rest period of two weeks. It then continues with another two weeks of daily application. After this, the treatment ends.

If your actinic keratosis does come back, it can be treated again with Zyclara for two more cycles. However, between the two cycles, there should be a 12-week treatment pause.

It’s important to note that your symptoms may become more visible or prominent at the beginning of your treatment. This is because Zyclara ‘unmasks’ previously hidden scars before treating them. So don’t worry if you notice this, it’s a normal part of the treatment which actually means it’s working properly.

What if I make a mistake while using Zyclara?

If you accidentally use too much cream on the affected area, wash away the excess with soap and water. If you forget to apply a dose, wait until the next night to apply it. Don’t apply it more than once a day. If you have leftover sachets after the two weeks, don’t use them, Zyclara shouldn't be continued after this period.