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
December 1, 2006
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Cons:
Deal with the stinging for 1 month - its so worth it. After that, it never stings again. It DOES make my skin feel a little shiny, but dabbing it w/ napkins a couple times a day in the bathroom is so worth the clear skin that comes along with it.
USE IT! It works...btw, my acne was mild-medium....but still i hated it! was on accutane twice in my life and my acne came back, but am so happy with this!!! Your confidence will sky rocket :-)
November 13, 2006
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
has made my skin look and feel calmer
Cons:
stings when you apply it also can dry your skin a bit but oil free mousturiser is ok for that
i have been using azelaic acid for about 7 days now and already i can feel an improvement in my skin it feels smoother and looks a lot less red it isnt clear yet but i have only been using it for a week
October 29, 2006
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
making my skin tone more even, lasts for a long time
Cons:
i thought it would work faster. have to wash your hands right after b/c it has a slight bleaching effect and may bleach your clothes if you are not careful.
i've read previous posts and i have to say - i have never had any stinging sensation after using this medicine and have been using it since August. I put it on once a day in the morning after using a 6% benzoyl peroxide face wash and never had any stinging or redness. it does feel a little too dry at first, but a little moisturizer over it works fine (i use cetaphil w/ spf15). i was put on this medication b/c my acne went away, but left me with dark scars on my skin which aren't going away. the derm wanted me to try this since it has the bleaching effect to even out my skin tone. it has worked pretty well, just wish it would work faster!!
October 12, 2006
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
I've used this on my face for over 7 years; it's the only thing that works consistently over time. Yes, it takes a while to get used to the stinging, but after a couple of weeks, it was fine for me.
Cons:
You need to keep on top of it and use the product every day. I have lapsed and the acne comes back. Depending on whether you have insurance coverage or not, $ 100 USD every few months might be quite a bit of money to spend than some folks have.
I've used Accutane and while that worked to stave off cystic acne for many years, it was so difficult to go thru the harsh initial breakout and dryness symptoms that I cannot imagine using Accutane over Azelaic ever. I have also used skin systems like Obaji that included Retin-A, if eliminating deep pigmentation isn't an issue, I'd stay with Azelex and a topical antibiotic.
Pros:
AWESOME!!! within days my skin tone was clear and the littler acne I had was gone. Withing 2 months I was 85% clear, and COMPLETELY clear in 3 months. It's been 5 months and i cant remember my bad skin. And it lightens my scne spots. LOVE IT