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
July 21, 2013
Product used: Finacea (Azelaic Acid (15%) Gel)
Working well so far
Cons:
slight itching around pimples
made big pimples surface
I have only used this cream for about 4 days (just at night), but already I can see it working!
I was really worried that it would exacerbate my redness from rosacea, but it really didn't. I didn't experience any burning, just some itching around where I have pimples.
I now have a few big pimples on my cheeks, but from what I've read, these should go away as my skin adjusts to the Finacea. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I kind of feel like they're the last few that the Finacea is purging my skin of.
I have extremely fair skin, and any pimples that I have (whether I pop them or not) leave bright red or pink marks. Subsequently, my face looks red all the time, which isn't helped by my rosacea. In fact, the hyperpigmentation makes the rosacea look a lot worse. As I said, I've only been using this cream for about 4 nights, but already I can see the marks fading!
It also seems to be helping to limit my flushing from rosacea - although I have just cut back from two 50mg minocycline tablets a day to one (and some people find this medication to cause flushing, so it could be this that's helping rather than the Finacea).
At night, after I wash with Cetaphil, I leave my skin for about 5 minutes. Then I dab little dots of the Finacea all over my face and gently rub it in. Then I leave it for another 5 minutes before putting Cetaphil moisturising lotion over the top. This system seems to be working well.
I would definitely recommend giving this product a try - I am so sick of these pimples and red marks!
July 21, 2013
Product used: Finacea (Azelaic Acid (15%) Gel)
Best product for mild rosacea and hormonal acne
Pros:
Decreases redness
Smooth, clear skin
Decreases hyper-pigmentation
Cons:
Burns a bit if I try to use it twice a day.
I've struggled with my skin ever since I began having serious outbreaks in my mid-20s. I used isotrexin for three years with moderate success, but I noticed increasing general redness, particularly in my cheeks and was getting new broken capillaries at an alarming rate. I changed to finacea just two weeks ago and the redness is already nearly gone. There have been no new broken capillaries, and it has also been very effective in controlling my mild hormonal acne. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who has the combination of sensitive skin/mild rosacea with some hormonal acne. My skin has become very smooth and clear, and I can't wait to see any continued improvement over the next months.
May 24, 2013
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
no strong odor
clear on the skin
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.
September 22, 2017
do you still recommend it??
May 20, 2013
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
Doesnt cause skin to flake
Doesnt bleach skin or clothes
Non drying when used in combination with natural wash and rose hip oil
Cons:
Intitially stinging, after hour is fine
Doesnt sit well under makeup
use only once a day to stop irritation
I have used Azclear lotion for 3 weeks with great results.. In Australia it only costs $10 over the chemist counter with no prescription or insurance required...I use it once a day coz I found using it twice a day was too drying. Every third night I skip it and only use Akin 100% pure rose hip oil. Also I no longer use harsh washes with salystic acid or benozyl peroxide...they simply strip my skin too much. So now I use Akin Pure Cleansing Gel. Once a week I use a generic Calamine lotion for a 30 minute mask to calm skin and draw out impurities. Anyone who is serious about clearing acne should also minimise sugar, wheat, red meats, coffee, and hot spices...these are flamatory so cause the skin to excrete more sebum.
May 11, 2013
Product used: Finacea (Azelaic Acid (15%) Gel)
Pros:
less drying and irritating than Benzoyl peroxide
Cons:
Not as effective as Benzoyl Peroxide
I'm sensitive to Benzoyl Peroxide and so it was great to find an alternative active component - Azelaic Acid. I used this for a few months and it was much less irritating on my skin than the Epiduo that I had been using. However, I found it to be slightly less effective in controlling acne - although I've read other people say you need to use it for several months to get the full effect.
March 14, 2013
Product used: Finacea (Azelaic Acid (15%) Gel)
Pros:
Reduces red marks from scars/post acne marks.
Has a matte finish.
See slight results after every use.
Is clearing up my skin after a few weeks of use.
Cons:
Burns/itches... stick with it though and moisturize! Your skin will get used to it!
Makes your skin a little rough if you put it on before makeup (liquid).
These cons are nothing compared to most of the stuff I have tried. I really love Finacea.
I love this stuff! After trying many, many things for my red dark pitted acne scars and cysts this has made all the difference! I did see results overnight but it doesn't "clear" your face overnight if you have acne like mine. I am pale and this stuff looks very good on my skin. It has a matte finish and it reduces the redness. I have been using this product for a month now and have seen great results! I still have a ways to go but this cream has worked great! This cream does burn. It really burned when I first tried it. I had to keep using it though because I loved it so much. My skin got used to it after a few weeks and I am so glad I kept with it. I recommend 10-15 minutes after application putting on a moisturizer to ensure your face doesn't burn. I believe I dried my face out which caused the burning. I highly recommend everyone try this! Give it at least a month and I believe you'll like the results. Can't wait for this stuff to clear my face!
January 14, 2013
Product used: Finacea (Azelaic Acid (15%) Gel)
Pros:
Helped clear me up.
Cons:
Itches/burns a little in the early weeks of treatment. Not bad at all though. Its how I know its working!
This applied twice a day, as well as differin and nicotinamide oral, has cleared my skin 99% (27 year old male). Give that regimen a try. Took about 3 months or so, but I'm finally happy again.
January 3, 2013
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Pros:
Worked very fast, did not cause big cystic pimples.
Very impressed! I was kinda of concerned with the other reviews, thinking my breakouts would get much worse, they did not. Not kidding,By the first use I saw an improvement,not something I can say about any other product. Try it, you will be impressed, do not over use.
December 13, 2012
Product used: Finacea (Azelaic Acid (15%) Gel)
Pros:
less redness
less oily
reduction in blind pimples
porcelain -like complexion
no initial break out
smooth skin
works quickly
Cons:
occasional dryness
occasional itching
expensive
I have never had "bad" skin but for years I have suffered from hormonal zits. Every month (2x month) I would get a 1-2 of those blind cystic zits on my chin or around the mouth. They would pop up suddenly and between the swelling/residual redness would wreak havoc on my face anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks. It felt like every time I finally had clear skin another would be waiting to attack. I tried everything- proactive, BP,salicylic acid, sulfur, zinc, omega 3s but they were unavoidable. I avoided the derm for years because I went on Tazorac back in HS and it made my skin explode. Finally, now, at the age of 25 I went back to the derm with the intention of asking for spironolacutone but instead she prescribed Finacea and WOW. From day 1 my skin had a matte finish after applying. I used to have to wash my face midday but after using Finacea my once overly oily skin was not longer an oil slick by 2pm. Redness was also drastically reduced! I am a fair-skinned girl so I would have red marks from previous zits last for weeks on my face, since using Finacea I have had a porcelain -like complexion that is soft/smooth to the touch! I am not saying it is necessarily a magic cream- I still get a pimple here and there- but they are drastically smaller and easier to manage. If I see a blind pimple forming I dap a pea sized amount on the little devil and by the morning any forming bump is almost flat and all redness is kaput! Further, I have found that the Finacea brings some of the crud in your pores to the surface so they can be extracted easily without any zit appearing. I found the negatives of this cream to be so minor I am not even sure they are worth mentioning! I get some occasional dryness that can be rid with exfoliation and moisturizer Also, if I apply to much cream my skin will itch. Also, the cream is expensive. It is about $50.00 for a tube that will last 2-3 months when used 2x daily. If you are a women in her 20's with hormonal acne TRY IT! I
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 :(
Pros:
lightens post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
calms redness
could be contributing to less rosacea flushing