Azelaic acid topical for Acne User Reviews

• Acne...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2014

Finacea (azelaic acid) "27 yr old male and never had acne until a yr ago. Initially, I thought it was stress or something short term that would go away. It never went away and the last yr I tried everything Imaginable: OTC acne meds, changed my diet numerous times; cut out all sugar, ate only organic food. Quit exercising to see if sweat was causing it. I did everything possible.I never had acne and could not figure out why at 26/27 it started. I finally went to the dermatologist and was put on Retin A, this made my acne 20x worse. Gave me cystic acne everywhere. I used it for over a month but could not take it anymore. Luckily my mom had Finacea. Within a day I saw results and within a week it was all gone. My face is perfect. I wish I had more room to say how great it is."

• Kate
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2019

"I've tried 15-20 different acne tablets and creams, none of them I've found to be effective enough on my skin. Some would only work once my acne had appeared and some wouldn't work at all. Some burnt and bleached my skin and made it dry as anything. I've not been allowed on Roaccutane but I can 100% say Skinoren (azelaic acid) is better. I started using this on the 15th December and when I started I had 20+ spots, some small and some big and cystic. By Christmas Day, I had 2. The last ones are taking a little longer to heal as they were the big cystic ones. The good thing with this product is that it is prescribed for rosacea as well. So any redness and scarring are drastically reduced too. I know I shouldn't but I can't stop touching my forehead, it's not been spot free for over 6 years. This doesn't burn my skin and it doesn't make it dry. I'm absolutely amazed and fully recommend."

• niamhmc
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 31, 2015

Finacea (azelaic acid) "Finacea has worked wonders on my skin! As prescribed by my dermatologist, I use it once a day at night, after I wash my face and before I moisturize. I only need a pea-size amount of cover my whole face. In addition, I put on Acezone in morning (after washing and before moisturizing), and take a Doxycycline pill around dinner time, once a day. This combination of products has been a miracle! I went from having absolutely awful acne (so bad that I avoided going places for I was ashamed of my face) to clear skin in about 5 months! I didn't think it was possible that I could have clear skin. After countless drug store and beauty store products and prescribed creams such as Epiduo (which was awful), I have finally found my solution!"

• Tiffa...
• December 5, 2013

Finacea (azelaic acid) "I have struggled with acne in my adult life for about a year now. It wasn't that bad, then significantly got worse over the past 6 months. I had huge cyst like pimples and some small ones around my chin mostly and my cheeks started getting bad as well. I tried every single product out there. I finally went to the dermatologist. Since I got pregnant a few months ago, my acne got even worse. The dermatologist told me all she could give me was Finacea. It's azelaic acid. Literally after 2 days, my pimples started to go down and the number of them started decreasing. It stings a bit and itches but it's a small price to pay.. This is a God send and I'm so happy I found it!"

• cdn
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 26, 2019

"I cannot recommend this medicine enough. I had acne for nearly 20 years and I have been acne-free since beginning to use this product over a year ago now. I actually get compliments on my complexion— compliments!!! I never thought I’d see the day. I use this in combo with a sodium sulfacetamide wash twice daily and only wish I had discovered this combo sooner. My acne took such a toll on my self esteem and now, at age 31, I finally have the complexion I was always jealous of in others. So grateful."

• Ateam
• September 19, 2016

"I'm 22 years old and have some hormonal acne thats often cystic and painful. I went to the dermatologist and she recommended Finacea and doxycycline (for the first two months until Finacea became more effective) I didn't have horrible acne to begin with but it was just annoying huge ones that would spur up from time to time maybe two or three at a time. Once I started Finacea I got little pimples along with cystic ones on my jaw line and chin area (where I had them before) but now I was also getting pimples on my cheeks and forehead. I am wondering if Finacea makes acne worse before it gets better or if anyone else has found a solution for this/had this experience"

• RubyR...
• December 17, 2014

Finacea (azelaic acid) "In the last I have used Finacea along with Solodyn for my cystic acne. Because my acne is primarily around the jaw line it is considered hormonal. Well the Finacea really really helped with redness and lightening old acne marks. My dermatologist informed me it has a slight bleaching effect and it definitely showed. After a few years being off of it I am back on. Hopefully it has the same effects."

• Finacea...
• July 12, 2015

Finacea (azelaic acid) "Several years ago my husband died unexpectedly, and the shock, grief, and stress caused my skin to react violently. I developed hives, rashes, and cystic acne all over my face, back, and chest. My dermatologist put me on steroids and Minocyclin. Those prescriptions worked to clear up my skin conditions, but whenever I tried to get off the antibiotics, the acne would flare up horribly. Three years later, I am still on Minocyclin. I am trying to wean my system off the antibiotics by skipping a dose once a week, then twice a week, etc. Finacea to the rescue! I have been using Finacea for two weeks, and I noticed a significant improvement in my skin in just the first day. When my skin erupts, the Finacea fights back, reducing inflammation."

• unsat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2019

Azelex (azelaic acid) "After struggling with acne, my dermatologist prescribed me Azelex 20%, and advised that I apply it twice a day and to mix it with moisturizer because it tends to dry out skin. After 3 days, it completely ruined my skin. Even after using *so much* moisturizer, it would burn my face and itch. After 2 days I figured I should keep giving it a chance. However on the 3rd day my face was just completely ruined. I woke up and my face was unbelievably DRY. My face formed wrinkles and I looked like an elder. Not to mention, my skin was peeling everywhere. It left dark patches of hyperpigmentation around my mouth, nose, and forehead. I was left with my face in a worse condition than when I started using Azelex. I don't know what to do know, I think it left me with a chemical burn or something of the sort. Now I'm left using homemade remedies to try to salvage all that I can."

• Becca
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2015

Finacea (azelaic acid) "I've been using this with doxycycline for about a month and a half and my skin has cleared up completely with the exception of some minor scarring. I put about a pea sized amount on at night and it goes on smoothly and doesn't leave a film or anything like some other topicals. Such a life saver!"

• GIVE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2015

"I've been battling acne for 8 years now. I am now 20. Although the severity of acne that I've experienced over the past 8 years has been very mild leaving no pitted scaring I do have some blemishes and hyper pigmentation on my cheeks, chin and jawline. Initially I was referred to azelaic acid (finacea) along side doxycycline. However, doxcycline triggered acne in places where Ive never had pimples before. Even after 3 months of doxy usage I gave up on it as it was making it worse. Currently, I use the cetaphil clearing wash and then apply finacea evenly to all areas with blemishes before bed. I recommend this product despite it having an initial burning effect when applied. Don't give up on it. I didn't see improvement until 3 months in!"

• Running...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 29, 2014

Finacea (azelaic acid) "45 yrs old and had acne my whole life, tried everything under the sun, including Accutane 11 yrs ago. This medication has done wonders for my skin over the past 8 months. It's truly a great product but it does cost $200 a tube with 15% off! I feel it's worth every penny."

• Anonymous
• July 25, 2014

Finacea (azelaic acid) "I have been using the product for approximately 1 month for my cystic acne. I have yet to notice any improvement in my acne. I do think my face is more smooth and less red, however. My adult cystic acne is very stubborn and related to my menstrual cycle. I hope it will improve with continued use!"

• Sunni...
• May 17, 2011

Finacea (azelaic acid) "I have been using it for almost a month now. My face has made a big improvement but I got lazy and didn't use it for a couple of days and my face exploded with pimples again in that short period of time. I will definitely keep up with it this time. My face has been suffering from hormonal acne due to pregnancy since July of 2010."

• Ame...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2015

"I love this. Trick is- wash your face, dry it, let it dry for 10+ minutes without lotion (yes this is uncomfortable for a while) then the stinging is greatly minimized or there's none at all. Also, use pea size. I've had cystic acne all over my face and chest since 15 and I'm 33 now. I also had red acne scars all over my face. They're gone. I've been on this medicine for 6 months and my skin texture is smooth and beautiful, red scars are gone, new stress pimples/acne are gone. I know medications aren't right for everyone, but for me, this stuff is awesome."

• Nikki...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2015

Finacea (azelaic acid) "Been using this product along with bactrum for about 1 week and already see in good results... had 3 big cystic pimples that was on my face for more then 3 months...and they have gone down in 1 week..can't wait to see what the next month or 2 brings."

• jswtjh
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2015

"I just started this medication about 3 days ago. I have horrible, deep, pustule acne, with nodule and cystic acne as well. Since i've started this medication, the inflammation is practically GONE...no new pimples have come up, and my face actually feels smoother, IN JUST 3 DAYS. I'm in shock. I just found out that i'm pregnant, as they were in the process of getting me started to try accutaine...i'm glad i was pregnant because, i'd rather use this stuff if it works first, rather than a harsh med. So hopefully this continues to help, and i will be sporting beautiful skin in a month or so. I've never had skin so smooth as it is already now, so i'm super excited. I've been suffering with acne for over 10 years, so this is really a relief"

• Anonymous
• October 25, 2009

Finacea (azelaic acid) "I have suffered from adult acne for years. I have found that the most effective treatments I have used have often been for products for rosacea like Prosacea which is over the counter. It worked well for about a year and then slowly became ineffective. So my dermatologist prescribed this. It worked wonders after just 2 days. I rate it a 10! :)"

• Adis
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2020

"I have been on Finacea foam 20% for 11 weeks for hormonal cystic acne from coming off the pill and it has done NOTHING- except possibly make it worse. My dermatologist said my skin was purging and to give it 12 weeks...but I think I would have seen SOME sort of improvement by now. I am so discouraged as I went from having no acne at all, to lots of painful cystic acne on my chin, jawline, and lower cheeks, all because of getting off birth control. I didn’t even have much acne at all BEFORE going on the pill 7 years ago, so I’m not sure what to do now!!"

• kaykay
• November 5, 2015

"My idiot dermatologist prescribed me finacea for acne. Absolutely terrible for me. I used it for 2 months during the summer, made my skin so much worse than it was in the beginning and gave me huge cysts on both my cheeks. Self-esteem had never been lower. Do NOT TAKE for acne. It was also very expensive ($80). Biggest waste of money."

• Hanna
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 11, 2017

"I was prescribed Finacea gel 15% roughly 2 years ago for my Acne and Perioral Dermatitis. It does absolute wonders to reduce the papules and pustules associated with PD. Sometimes I’ll stop using the finacea and it only takes my skin a week to start breaking out again with horrible puss filled demons. Using the Finacea consistently keeps these spots at bay but after using for a month straight I tend to get blackheads where I’ve applied the gel. For this I use Retin-A to increase my skin’s turnover. I apply the Finacea in the morning, with the retinoid at night. This combination leads to wonderful skin. Combine this with any Avène moisturizer and you’ll be well on your way to perfection."

• Maddie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 11, 2014

Azelex (azelaic acid) "I retried Azelex because my first time which I used for two weeks I got no results. The second time I've tried this product for over three weeks and have noticed an extreme difference with many people complimenting me on my skin. It burns and tingles for 5-10 mins but then subsides. I have sensitive skin and this did not dry my skin out at all which is great. I would definitely recommend."

• BhamG...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2018

"I have been using Finacea for one week so far. I have been struggling with cystic acne after getting off birth control. My breakouts are mainly on the bottom half of my face and I am getting reoccurring cystic acne on my chin (ouch!). My doc prescribed this because it is safe to take when pregnant. I have been using Finacea morning and evening and my acne has calmed down and has gotten less red. (I was also icing my cystic bumps in the evening for an hour when they were really inflamed and painful and that really helped!) I am still getting new white heads but haven't gotten a new cyst. Hopefully as I keep using Finacea both will continue to lessen. It does itch after you put it on. I try to wait a bit after washing my face before applying and use a moisturizer or serum with it and that helps. Even with insurance I had to pay $65 but when my skin is breaking out really bad I will pay good money for something that works. If your doctor prescribes this I would give it a try!"

• Adult...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 29, 2020

Azelex (azelaic acid) "I experience hormonal acne (now 45yo.). Only 1-2 will appear, but they are large, cystic like. After pregnancies, acne appeared on the thin skin under the eye area/upper cheek. Stress acne can appear back of neck or on my back. Not many, but a few large ones. And I do scar. I used Retin-A occasionally in past, but Azelex works the best for this type of acne for me. I apply it every other day to combat any potential mild burn, but daily during PMS. I don’t use Azelex on my entire face, just in prone areas or on spots where I could feel a bump is forming. I can usually stop it from growing! One tube will last me for an entire year. My skincare routine includes daily moisturizers and cycle AHA, Vit C and niaciminide throughout the week. If I had to only keep one thing, it would be Azelex. It keeps my cystic acne calm, so I won’t get that ice pick look. My insurance recently changed and this now cost over $400+...hoping it will be available as generic very soon."

• Larker
• March 22, 2016

"I had super bad acne for about half a year and it was awful. My dermatologist, at first put me on creams like Aczone and Epiduo and an antibiotic called Doxycycline Monohydrate. My skin started to look better.The dermat switched my antibiotic to a different drug called minocycline. This cleared up my face, but started making some of my acne scars look even darker! I then switched back to my normal, until last December I began having a major allergic reaction to the Epiduo. It was awful! I stopped using it and continued with the pill and with the Aczone. I started to break out again, and I'm hoping that starting Finacea, it will keep me acne free again!"