Topical Antibacterial
Reviews
3.8
506 Reviews
Topical Antibacterial
Efficacy
68%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Topical Antibacterial
Side Effects
Low-Medium
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.
Read All About Azelaic Acid
Compare To Other Treatments
5
34.6%
4
30.8%
3
18.2%
2
8.9%
1
7.5%

Used Azelaic Acid? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
June 14, 2012

Pros:

Less irritating than finacea, REALLY works. cystic acne is all gone! Fast results on whiteheads and can use moisturiser/ sunscreen over the top. I had hyperpigmentation from minocycline use (sunny australia Grr ) and It has really reduced the brown spots as well>

Cons:

takes 2-4 months to really clear cystic acne.
Tube is a lot smaller than finacea but it's also a lot cheaper and a little goes a long way! Do not stop suddenly- acne will come back.

It will work with patience! I would tell anyone with acne to give it a go. BP hurts when I use it this is the best topical for my adult acne I've tried. No probs with birth defects etc yay! persevere through the initial horror of getting worse skin and you will be rewarded with great reduction in acne, skin texture improvement and reduction in hyperpigmentation (from hormones, minocycline etc)
This Was Helpful

20 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 6, 2011

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.
This Was Helpful

20 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 18, 2010

Pros:

Clears acne, reduces redness, not as drying as many other topical treatments, works pretty fast.

Cons:

Causes some minor itching.

I had tried Differin and most over the counter products, but nothing helped. Skinoren saved me, it's truly amazing. Since my skin is really sensitive I only use it once a day, but after just a couple of days the redness around my nose area was almost gone, and within a week a lot of my little blemishes are gone. Now, after a month, most of my "bumps" are gone too. I put it on at night after washing with warm water, wait 15 minutes and then put on my moisturier. My skin looks healthy now, I dont even feel like wearing foundation. And it just keeps getting better day by day. I love Skinoren.
This Was Helpful

20 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 4, 2009

Pros:

worked for me, and i have been using it for 3 years. I used to have moderate-sever acne through out elemntary, middle, and high school. Then I found this my sophomore year, and it helped extremely.

Cons:

does sting & burn for the first week

Try skinoren, it may not give everyone the same results. However mine were amazing, I have so much more confidence from it. It is cheap, no prescription is needed, also worth it. There really is no harm.
This Was Helpful

20 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 11, 2009

Pros:

this works soooo well!!! I've had acne for years and have tried everything but nothing worked. My doctor prescribed this for me and literally as soon as I used it I noticed improvement. It's been two weeks and almost all of my acne is gone! =)

Cons:

none

just try it, you never know what will work for you. This worked wonderfully for me so I absolutely recommend you try it!
This Was Helpful

20 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 6, 2009

Cons:

no side effects

Clears skin in a few weeks,it is great product..
This Was Helpful

20 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 3, 2009

Pros:

Almost completly cleared my skin in about one week!!! No drying so no moisturizer (whoo!)

Cons:

You don't get much for 30 bucks. But I'll pay whatever the price is for clear skin

This stuff has changed my life! I've tried benzaclin and it was too drying. Then I tried ziana, ugh I cringe when I hear that name. I was in hell for about 5 weeks on that thing! I broke out worse than I ever have before and made my face extreamly oily! I wanted to through it out the window! I didn't want to go anywhere and I cried when I looked at myself in the mirror. Anyways... I was switch to finacea and I saw dramatic reasults in 3 days! Yes, I said 3 days. I went from a whole big pimpley mess to very tiny black and whiteheads that I can deffinatly deal with in about one week! I know this stuff will clear up the rest in the next few weeks. It doesn't dry out my face nor does it make it oily. I love it. I never thought that skin would clear this fast and mine did! TRY IT!!!!! It's my god sent cream I tell you. I would reccomend it to anyone who hates topicals like ziana!!!
This Was Helpful

20 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 25, 2011

Pros:

cleared up all acne on my nose and forehead. It didnt irrate my skin at all. It also prevented breakouts.

Cons:

never had any problems! I absolutley love this product.

Great product! I started using Azelex abouta year ago, and i havent seen a zit since! It doesnt bleach your skin like BP. My skin gets very dark in the summer, and this is the first product that hasnt caused any kind of discoloration in my skin. Also it was easy to apply and works anywhere you have acne! Overall great product. :)
This Was Helpful

19 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 5, 2010

Pros:

I cannot recommend this highly enough; non-drying, quick to absorb, fast working and doesn't irritate. Fades hyperpigmentation and kills p.acnes.

Cons:

Does itch a bit when applied and can leave you looking a bit greasy around 6-7 hours after application

The ONLY product that has 100% fully cleared my skin. I have tried near enough everything, 2 courses of roaccutane which has turned my moderate acne into mild-moderate - I generally get inflamed pustules on my nose and beard area. BP irritated my skin and never got me 100% clear, retin a made me look like Alex Ferguson. Salicylic acid worked pretty well but never got me 100% clear. This has worked wonders for my nose and I'm happier with my skin than I've been in a LONG time. I'm sure I'll still get the odd spot but Skinoren has pretty much saved my social life. There are practically no downsides other than the investment of time to see if it works for you; combined with Dans AHA+ I have finally found a regimen that works wonders for me personally.
This Was Helpful

19 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 23, 2015
Actual results!
I believe that I have adult acne(I'm 26 and it started a few years ago) caused by very minor rosacea; if you have acne vulgaris and not acne rosacea, this treatment might not work for you. Though I'd say it's still worth a try if nothing else works for you. So far, I have had consistent success with Skinoren(which I bought from an online pharmacy). The instructions are correct when they say that you have to wait between 4-8 weeks for results; for the first month, I suspected that it wasn't working because I was still popping pimples on my forehead like mad. But now it's been almost another month since then and so far I have almost no acne. I no longer have cystic acne and just a few really tiny, almost unnoticeable, whiteheads here and there. I'm very impressed! My skin is usually very sensitive(both salicyclic acid and benzoyl peroxide gave me worse acne along with rashes), yet Skinoren has given me no adverse reactions what so ever. I will say that even though it takes a while for the true results to show up, I did notice within the first week of using it that the texture and feel of my skin improved dramatically. My upper forehead felt much less flaky and got more soft and smooth. I am only disappointed that it hasn't reduced the blackheads or cloggy pores much and my skin still gets more oily than it should. But those things can be remedied in other ways, and it's no big deal if the rest of my acne is cleared! Great product. Now I can finally get back to dating with confidence!
This Was Helpful

18 user(s) found this helpful

Report
July 31, 2017
Thank you for your review. I'm 2 weeks into using Skinoren and I'm getting breakouts which are making me doubt it. I'm defo gonna stick it out though. Would be interested to hear if you still use it?

Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.