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
August 18, 2013
Product used: Skinoren (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
skinoren experience
Cons:
force my face to breakout often
worsen my condition
didnt do anything for red marks
worst treatment i have, i had 1 pimple in a week then i started using skinoren and i have 1 new pimple per day!!! i used it for month then i gave up and after two weeks i still have new pimple everyday, i dont know whats wrong... even cyst i have which i never had before, it may help someone but my opinion hands off! and yeaa... didnt help with red marks after 1 mont a bit!
December 13, 2012
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
Nothing. (in my case)
Cons:
Everything... :(
Do not use any product which contains this acid, it's very painful. It made my skin dry and irritate it. My acne got worst, like a 60% worst. Right now I'm in a lot of pain and I just used it for 7 days! :( I'm not sure if my acne could still be called light acne, it looks more like moderate right now. 7 days of that acid meant dead to my face :(
July 18, 2012
Product used: Finacea (Azelaic Acid (15%) Gel)
Pros:
Nothing
Cons:
Burning, itching, redness, increases skin oil, made me breakout horribly.
I used it for 5 days, and from day 1 my skin blew up. It made my skin more red and more oily than it already was. It itched and burned like hell. I know you are supposed to continue with a product for a month, but I just couldn't do it. Something about it didn't agree with my skin and I couldn't continue with it. I see my derm in 2 weeks and I'll explain to him what happened. I'm also on doxycycline. I'm on a high dose so I'm hoping that helps my acne.
June 29, 2012
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
NOTHING
Cons:
This RUINED MY SKIN. I had a standard case of mild acne before trying this. While using it, all of my small pimples seemed to go away, but HUGE PAINFUL CYSTIC pimples cropped up on my cheeks. I used this for a month, thinking I was allowing some kind of purging process to occur and it would get better. I WAS HORRIBLY WRONG. I stopped using this about 2 months ago. Since then, I have had the ugliest and worst skin of my life. The pimples that happened while using this multiplied.
My skin has been a NIGHTMARE since using this. DO NOT USE THIS. I read a review or two with people claiming similar results and I shrugged them aside. I thought, "That won't be me!" Well, it was me and I feel horrible now. :'(
June 25, 2012
Product used: Skinoren (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
I'm sorry but for me there just weren't any pros
Cons:
Initial stinging
Didn't prevent new breakouts
I don't think it affected my acne very much at all
I was prescribed this cream from my doctor, alongside deoxycycline antibiotic, and must say it just didn't work for me sadly. I atleast thought the cream could prevent further breakouts however I did breakout where I applied the cream. I used it for about 2 weeks religiously but it ran out quite quickly, so instead my doctor prescribed me Duac once daily gel, which i prefer as I have seen improvement on my skin with only a few days use. Maybe this will work for you too!
March 11, 2012
Product used: Finacea (Azelaic Acid (15%) Gel)
Pros:
Effective in treating nodules and light acne.
Cons:
Burning/stinging of skin, sometimes lasting all day. Super expensive, even with insurance. Not effective on roseacea or whiteheads.
While this worked for some of my acne - especially stopping nodules - I saw very little difference with my roseacea or whiteheads. The burning sensation became intolerable so I stopped using.
September 6, 2011
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
-Didn't overdry skin.
Cons:
-Made my skin breakout worse than it had in years
-Very Expensive
I do not recommend this product. I was on it for 7 weeks and it continuously made my skin worse. I have been off of it for 2 weeks now and my skin is STILL worse. Some of the pimples it created have been on my face for over a month and will not go away. I only had moderate acne at worst, and now I have big pimples that I have never had before. I was so disappointed because I really thought this product would work.
August 28, 2011
Product used: Skinoren (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
I have been using this item for 3.5 months now. I am not happy with the results. I still have acne. I have been using it inconjunction with Tetralysal antibiotics. The areas affected by acne has changed, before I started is was my t-zone, but now it has moved to my cheeks. Now, I have to start all over again and try a new product and hope that it works :(
June 9, 2011
Product used: Skinoren (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
worked for 2 days. seems to work initially for first few hours when put on skin.
Cons:
after 2 hrs skin became extremely greasy. I was really suffering from whiteheads and blackheads (small zits), after using this cream for 1 week i now have 5 huge papules on my face with even more blackheads and whiteheads and make up just seems to slide off.
Stopped use after one week as skin is in much worse condition than when i started.
September 3, 2010
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Cons:
No notable changes or improvements
I used this products for 3 months and did not see any improvements in my acne, which was nodular and inflamed. This may work for some, especially those with non-inflammatory acne. For this with cystic or nodular acne, I do not think this topical helps at all. This product did burn my skin when I over-exfoliated, but I attribute this to my skin simply being a bit raw.
Pros:
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