Some spots and superficial skin cancers can be treated with creams or gels called topical treatments. They may contain immunotherapy or chemotherapy drugs, and are prescribed by a doctor.
Only use them on the specific areas that your doctor has asked you to treat. Don’t use leftover cream on spots that have not been checked by your doctor.
Learn more about:
Immunotherapy cream
Imiquimod cream is a type of immunotherapy that causes the body’s immune system to destroy cancer cells. It’s used to treat sunspots and superficial basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). You may need a biopsy (if you haven’t had one) before using this cream. Your doctor will explain how and when to apply the cream. For superficial BCCs, the cream is often applied at night, usually 5 days a week for 6 weeks.
What to expect after
Within days, the treated skin may get red, sore or tender. It may peel and scab over before it gets better.
Some people experience pain or itching in the affected area, fever, achy joints, headache and a rash. If you notice any of these more serious side effects, stop using the cream and see your doctor immediately.
Chemotherapy cream
A cream called 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a type of chemotherapy drug used to treat sunspots and sometimes squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ (Bowen’s disease).
5-FU works best on the face and scalp. Your doctor will explain how to apply the cream and how often. Many people use it once or twice a day for 2–4 weeks. It may need to be used for longer for some skin cancers.
While using the cream, your skin will be more sensitive to UV radiation and you will need to stay out of the sun.
What to expect after
The treated skin may become red, blister, peel and crack, and feel uncomfortable. These effects will usually settle within a few weeks of finishing treatment.
Other treatments
As at October 2025, there are no Australian guidelines or recommendations on the use of topical radiation creams such as Rhenium-188. Information on its effectiveness and side effects is needed before it may be considered a standard treatment.
→ READ MORE: Photodynamic therapy
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All updated content has been clinically reviewed by Prof Victoria Mar, Director, Victorian Melanoma Service, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, VIC and Prof Anne Cust, Acting Director, The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW, and faculty member, Melanoma Institute Australia. This edition is based on the previous edition, which was reviewed by the following panel: Prof Victoria Mar (see above); Tracey Bilson, Consumer; Raelene Buchan, Consumer; Alison Button-Sloan, Consumer; Dr Margaret Chua, Radiation Oncologist, and the Skin Radiation Oncology team, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Prof Anne Cust, (see above); A/Prof Paul Fishburn, Skin Cancer Doctor, Norwest Skin Cancer Centre, NSW and Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland; Danielle Goss, Melanoma Clinical Nurse Specialist, Amie St Clair Melanoma (part of Melanoma Institute Australia), Wagga Wagga, NSW; Louise Pellerade, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Dr Shireen Sidhu, Head of Dermatology, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Dr Amelia Smit, Research Fellow – Melanoma and Skin Cancer, The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW; Dr Tony Tonks, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Canberra Plastic Surgery, ACT. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title. Thanks also to Sydney Melanoma Diagnostic Centre for providing the dysplastic naevus photograph on page 11, A/Prof Paul Fishburn for providing the sunspot photograph on page 10, A/Prof Andrew Miller for providing the age spot photograph on page 10, and Prof H Peter Soyer for providing the other photographs on pages 9–11.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
