Imiquimod

• trade name is Aldara (5% topical cream)
• topical immunomodulator (applied to and acts only on the superficial layers of the skin to modify the local immune response)
• used to treat external genital warts (oh great, another addition to my list of MEDICAL CONDITIONS I REALLY REALLY DON'T WANT TO GET EVER), actinic keratoses (a skin condition that often precedes the development of skin cancer), and superficial skin cancers (basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas and melanoma that appear as a red scaling patch on the skin)
• increases the production of cytokines (signalling molecules that are similar in function to hormones), which activate the immune system (both innate and adaptive immunity), thus increasing the ability of the body (specifically, the skin) to deal with viral infections and cancerous growths
• since it has a relatively non-specific mechanism of action, it is likely also effective against other viral infections of the skin and superficial skin cancers
• may soon find work as an anti-aging agent since it has been shown to repair chronically sun-damaged skin associated with lentigo maligna (melanoma that hasn't begun to spread)