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 21, 2023
Product used: Skinoren (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Did not work for me - itching and burning after using, acne got worse
I am 35 years old female and I have struggled with acne on and off since 12 years old. I have always had blackheads and whiteheads which were more-less controlled with Dual gel (benzoyl peroxide with clindamycin). 3 months ago I have started developing painful inflamed acne on my jawline, cheeks, and around mouth after going through a very stressful life events (so potentially hormonal and stress-induced acne) and Dual gel did not seem to control it. My dermatologist prescribed Skinoren cream (Azelaic acid) to use in the morning and Aknemycin plus in the evening. My skin was itching after using Skinoren cream during every single use, often for hours after I applied it, no matter whether I put moisturiser, make up or let Skinoren alone. I persisted with it for 4 weeks, hoping my skin would get use to it and my acne would improve. However, I got several chemical burns from Skinoren and my acne got much worse. I decided to stop taking it after 4 weeks as itching did not improve. My skin seems to be too sensitive to this product. Perhaps combination with Aknemycin plus made my skin much more sensitive to Skinoren cream.
October 23, 2023
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Don't work for everyone
Used azelaic acid for pustules on and around nose and near chin area 0 affect on them .
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.
July 16, 2016
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
Eh
I certainly do not recommend this product! Before starting I would get a few pimples on my forehead but after using Azelex I have now had pimples everywhere. I also noticed a lot of whiteheads while using it as well as no improvement in my scarring. Please don't be discouraged by this review but be warned!!!! This didn't work for me but it might work for you, remember to never give up and stay persistent!â¤ï¸
April 5, 2016
Product used: Finacea (Azelaic Acid (15%) Gel)
Terrible initial breakout
I'm really not a fan of this stuff. I'm typically impatient, but ever since I've been using this I've had persistent spots that simply wont go away, and new painful cysts sprout up all over my cheeks. I think if you have sensitive skin do not use this stuff. Its only been a week but I'm not keen on continuing because i have a life to live!
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.
January 4, 2015
Product used: Finacea (Azelaic Acid (15%) Gel)
Do not use. No stars.
Hi there,
A specialist prescribed this as I have been recently diagnosed with rosacea and at a loss of which products and treatments to try. This product burnt my face. The next morning I woke up with more spots than before, redness and extremely sensitive, dry skin. Do not use or at least test on the inside of your elbow.
October 28, 2014
Product used: Azelex (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
try my routine instead for cycstic acne
I am 28 year old female and still used to get weekly ance. I do get deep cystic acne every once in a while. I started a new regiment 4 weeks (Listed Below) ago and by the looks of it I finally have clear skin with no signs of new pimples or cysts emerging: Took me years to find the right products for me - I have very sensitive skin My Skin Regiment:
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (AM/PM)
Citrus Clear Sensitive Moisturizer
Citrus Clear Grapefruit Spot Treatment
Fish Oil - pills (AM only) Other Things to Consider when trying to achieve great skin - Probably the most important too
64 - 128 oz of Water Daily
6 - 8 Hrs of Sleep a Night
1 Hr of Exercise per day (5 per/week)
August 19, 2015
Hello! Drop Cetaphil and go with something like Circadia Lipid Replacing Cleansing Gel. Cetaphil blocks pores. The rest of your plan is pretty cool. Good for you!
September 4, 2014
Product used: Finacea (Azelaic Acid (15%) Gel)
make my skin worse
My derm told me to use it all over the face, even on the area that has no acne. Days later, my whole face broke out even worse than before. And I'm getting pimple on the areas I didn't have pimples before. It also stings and itches really bad. I felt like I wanted to rip my face off and scratch it. I don't think the right thing for my skin.
November 8, 2013
Product used: Skinoren (Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream)
works for first months, not in long run
Skinoren cream. Used it for months and cleared a lot of my skin, after some month treatment (for weeks). After using it few months more it just stopped working and acne came back, and the skin was really terrible, did not stopped using it, but nothing did work anymore. I started taking accutane(took it 6 months) got clear for months but after stopped using it, acne came back almost the next day,, and I was still alive and did not had any side effects, "thanks god!":D. Doctor described again new medicine, that did not work at all.(don't go to the doctor). "Products that irritate your skin and cause more acne". My skin was sometimes really clear, did not know why, but now I realized that i was using a product with BP and should not have stopped using it(it was a exposed skincare kit, the daily serum(it's too expensive)). Now my skin is clear thanks to BP only, and I will use it daily, works now almost a year, I have pretty good skin. !!!!About the BP miracle (I had acne over 10 years, now my skin has scars) -- I have noticed more better results than BP clean solutions, I recommend Dr. Wolf , Acne fug (it's was the only thing with BP in my country, and now I can not stop using it!!!), Acne fug is 5% BP and has alcohol and some other clearing skin agents(it's stored something like 2-7 decrees) (the paper recommends it for hormonal acne (hormons cause acne etc), the acne that other products can't fight), I use it once a day and works much better than any BP solution so far (It can't get any better, so I stay at this product. If I will not use acnefug for several days(without showering etc) the acne comes back, some pimple or pimples appear, but if using this product they disappear after 2-3 days completely), no flakiness or anything(BP makes skin look a bit lifeless). Only once a day!!!!(I shower once a day!)(it's quite effective so please not use that often) I also use moisturizer with lipids and after that my skin is not try and feels good.
March 4, 2018
That's called purging. How long did you try it for?