Acne.org Products
Topical Antibacterial
Acne.org’s Real World Take
At prescription strengths (15 - 20%) studies show it should help reduce mild-to-moderate acne by a significant and noticeable amount after 3 months or so of treatment, so that’s not too shabby. However, it is unlikely to completely clear the skin on its own.
Topical Antibacterial
How to Get It
Azelaic acid is available in 15% - 20% by prescription. Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one. Azelaic acid is also available over-the-counter in strengths 10% and lower. Here are some places you can find it online.
Used Azelaic Acid? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
September 24, 2007
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Cons:
Lots of itching and burning, I was afraid it was causing a chemical burn, but it did not.
I would definitely try it! Makes large pores tighter as well. Also decreased oiliness of skin.
July 3, 2007
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
Reduces red spots and lightens hyperpigmentation also helps with acne
Cons:
none
I have been using Azelex acid, Retin A Micro, Tetracycline, and BenzaClin for severe acne and scaring. First I started just using the Retin A Micro and it helped but not enough so my docter put me on Benzaclin and I was on this skin regimine for 3 months. However I was still unhappy so my docter put me on Tetracycline and my skin texture changed to "baby soft" and acne cleared up on my face, back and chest. I felt like a new person. Then I noticed I was left with no acne but ugly scars and red icky dots all over my face so I was put on Azelex acid and I have been on this for about a month. My skin looks ten times better. Scaring and redness is improving and with time and lots of time it will be all better.
May 11, 2007
Product used: Skinoren (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
light skin tone, reduced number of comedos, smooth skin, no redness
Cons:
stinging sensation couple of minutes upon application
after using differin for 2 months straight and the horrible initial breakout i was left with lots of redmarks and still more breakouts. i added skinoren to my treatment and it helped immediately, faded red marks, lightened my redish skin tone and stopped formation of new comedos and acne. it's getting better each day. i've been treating acne for quite some time and i've used everything except accutane, this works very well and the best thing is there's no irritation like with other acne medications.
March 26, 2007
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
Works Great!
Cons:
Slight burning and itchy feeling with the first few dosages...
I would recomend this to anyone who suffers from adult acne. I am a 39 year old male and have tried everything, from OTC to prescriptions, and this works for me. I bought this from a European website which requires no prescription (Skinoren) to buy it, and with less than a week of usage, I am happy!
My red spots from previous breakouts are going, and what pimples/cysts I have do not remain like they use to.
Try it!
January 16, 2007
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
Fading of red acne scars, some decrease in number of acne lesions
Cons:
Tingling/itching upon application, dry and peeling skin at first, may worsen or cause increase in cold sores, and some lightening of skin color
IF YOU HAVE NOT USED THIS PRODUCT FOR AT LEAST 12 WEEKS, PLEASE DO NOT POST ANY COMMENTS!!!! This product takes a full 12 weeks in order to achieve optimal results. If you are not willing to suffer through at least a month of moderate skin discomfort, this is not the drug for you. I have been on 6 prescription acne medications and countless OTC products before trying azelex. I am currently using azelex cream in the morning and tazorac at night. Although my acne has only decreased by about 50%, this medication seems to fade existing red marks from previous lesions (however, at a cost of looking pale for at least 12 weeks). For the first 30 days, your skin will be irritated and will peel off, but the irritation will eventually go away. I found that applying aveeno face lotion with chamomile after the azelex seemed to help with the irritation.
November 13, 2017
Product used: Finacea (Azelaic Acid (15%) Gel)
Not good at all
This was the worst decision I ever could have made for my skin. I have been struggling with acne since I was about 12. I began seeing a dermatologist when I turned 20. After about a year of trying antibiotics and several topicals, I finally asked to be put on Accutane. I did a 10 month round of Accutane and my skin was clearer than ever and continued to be even after finishing it last April. However, I recently switched from being obsessed with my acne to being obsessed with my rosacea and the redness/papules associated with it. My derm recommended Finacea gel to combat the rosacea. Within a couple of days, my regularly clear skin has broken out in many painful, inflamed cysts.. worse than my acne ever was pre-Accutane. I am now terrified that I just ruined all of the progress I had made by using this one product for less than a week. Here's to hoping my acne does not come back with a vengeance and have to begin a second round of Accutane.
November 17, 2016
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Azelex acid Purchased without prescription?
Can i buy Azelex without dermatologist prescribing it? If so where? Website?
December 1, 2016
I just bought a 10% Azelaic Acid Suspension from the ordinary skincare line (it's a UK brand under Deciem, [link removed]). The product itself was $7.90 for an ounce + $4.99 shipping and it took about 2 weeks to get to me. I also looked at Curology but most of the formulas they make for patients is only around 4% and it's $20 a month. I can't tell you how the Ordinary formula is working so far because I tried it for the first time last night but my inflammation has already decreased a bit and I didn't have any new spots this morning. Hope this helps!
January 18, 2017
I get mine on Amazon. It's called melazepam. It's 20% azelaic acid which is the highest I've found online without a prescription. I really like it and the tube is 2 oz.
September 22, 2017
Would you be able to share if the azelaic acid from the ordinary worked for you?? thank you! <3
April 30, 2016
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Um okay,I guess.
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.
November 26, 2015
Product used: Azclear (Azelaic Acid (20%) Lotion)
Azclear Azelaic Acid
I have just started using this again for a week after finishing my first tube & not replacing it. I have moderate acne, I am 36 & have had every treatment available from Roaccutane, peels, lasers, everything. I had a big break out due to PMS & had a huge, multiheaded pimple on the side of my nose where my glasses rest & on my chin. I had squeezed them, they got worse. Nothing was helping. I then remembered this & overnight after one application the large, scabbed area on my chin had reduced by half. My nose had all the swelling go down but not a size reduction. It does cause a purge of any other trapped sebum so I got about 5 more spots on my chin the next day but they have resolved quickly. I find this a really good way to reduce a very large pimple that seems to keep refilling. It is a bit of a circuit breaker for the horrible rogue spots. I have now seen it is meant to be good for hyperpigmentation, which I have due to 10 years of acne treatment & the pill. I am very happy to no longer have painful, scabed, continuing pimples that had lasted 3 weeks.
July 20, 2015
Product used: Azclear (Azelaic Acid (20%) Lotion)
Horror product caused bad skin reaction
I used this lotion on a small pimple on my chin. I squirted out a little too much so dabbed some on my cheeks. That night my face and eyes felt tight and hot. The next morning I had itchy skin under my eyes, puckered skin and red welts. I know this cream is the cause. I shall never use it again. My skin is still terribly irritated ten days after using it.
Pros:
Lightened up my hyper-pigmentation and scarring from monster zits. (I don't get many pimples, but frequently get the big painful ones that seem to last for weeks, with scarring that had lasted for months)