Azelex : Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream

My doc gave it to me mainly because of red marks(which later turned out to be Post Inflammatory Erythema)..Didn't really use it on spots since I was on Topical clindamycin HCL.Helps PIH a great deal.However,recently,I found it to be doing well on cystic and pustular lesions.

i just started using azelax yesterday and maybe im just seeing things but my skin looks different. looks a little less inflamed and a little softer. im concerned about one thing i see everyone feels burning i didnt feel anything what so ever when i applied this cream. could that be bad? hoping this stuff really works. ill write another review soon w my results.

I am still giving it a 3 rating and recommending it (with caution) because it is not necessary that it will give an allergic reaction to others and in all honesty, if I overlook the allergy, it was the one thing that was working for me. I am writing this review as a word of precaution to all other users. I used it on my face, neck and upper chest. For the first 2weeks, I had NO problem, not even the tingling that was mentioned in the leaflet and my acne was so much better. On the beginning of 3rd week there was a slight tingling-burning sensation, more on my neck and chest than face which I ignored. The sensation was more on my neck so I stopped using there but restarted yesterday and..........I woke up night feeling terrible. My face, neck and chest had turned red and I have huge urticarial patches all around. I never thought when the tingling started that I could be allergic. I thought I am having the side effect of tingling as mentioned in the leaflet.

After 3 months on Accutane my acne went from moderate to ligh/non existant...I get an occasional pimple. I was put on Aczone to maintain my skin(that stuff is amazing) I ran out and decided I wanted to give Azelex a try..I applied it to my forhead and chin since those are my problem areas. It made my skin dry at first but I used moisturizer afterwards and then my skin returned to it's normal condition. About a couple hours later my skin felt like I had this thick film over it, I took out my blotting sheets and I was amazed at how oily this made my skin! It's not a coincidence since it's only oily in the areas I applied Azelex, that and the fact I haven't been oily for over a month. Everyone is different since some people say it's too drying. Try it because it might work for you.

I was using 2.5% bp and had been for years. I recently stopped bcp and started getting big cysts and pimples on my jawline and chin. The derm gave me an rx for finacea, to try something new. I then stopped the bp completely to use the finacea instead. The first few days were amazing! My face hadn't had such a fair, lovely glow to it since before I was a teen. I couldn't believe what a miracle gel it was. It burned only slightly for the first 5 mins, but nothing intolerable. However, day after day I began breaking out more and more and telling myself it was a "purging" stage. But it continually got worse and the finacea was doing nothing to stop the acne! Finally I realized that I should never have stopped the BP so suddenly. I don't know know how much the finacea contributed to or just didn't stop the breakout, but I had to stop it. I do, though, def recommend this to try. It could be a wonderful topical for some, just not for me! On a separate note: DONT stop bp cold turkey!!!

didnt really help

As far as getting rid of my acne, this stuff is on the borderline of not working and making it worse. It also seems to exacerbate my oily skin problem and redness (caused by the acne that it doesn't kill).

Will continue to use it for a couple of months to see if it lightens the discoloraton. So far, the product is easy to use and there appear to be no side affects.

I was only on this for 7 days so I'm not the best judge. I was on Clyndamycin and switched to this and I had to spend the next week locked up in my apartment. I never quit medication no matter what but I just couldn't stay on this one. You say to yourself that the itching is no big deal but when you combine incredible itching with steps in the wrong direction it was an easy decision. I can't imagine that this wouldn't turn anyone's skin into a crust filled wasteland but then again everyone is different. Definitely use at your own risk!!

Switched to azelaic acid as I can't use Benzoyl Peroxide cause my skin gets a really bad reaction to it, and I end up with a horrible red rash down my neck. I found that the azelaic acid isn't really working, although I have only been using it for about 2 weeks. Going to start in Differin and use the azelaic acid in the morning instead. Hope it helps. I would recommend it because it didn't leave me with a bad reaction. May work for some people, for others it may not. Worth a try anyway..