Aldara modifies the body's immune response and works by stimulating a person's own immune system so that the body fights the HPV virus. As the body's defense systems fight the virus, the existing warts slowly disappear. In short, Aldara treats warts from the inside out.

In most people, genital warts disappear somewhere between 8 to 12 weeks after treatment begins with Aldara. Some people even see improvement in only 4 weeks, while others may take as long as 16 weeks to see results.

Aldara is not a cure for the HPV virus, so new warts may arise even while treating the original ones.