Azelex : Azelaic Acid (20%) Cream

My rosacea got pretty bad over the last 2 weeks. The cheecks and chin are red like beets, feels like I'm runnig a fever and the face is covered with tiny white bumps that itch. It was getting progressively worse and my doctor prescribed me azelex. She didn't tell me much what it does and the pharmacist said it was an acid, so I was reluctant to use it twice a day, especially that it burns. I used it maybe a cople times and then had to wash it off with water after 1-2 hours of non-stop mild but anoying burning. After reading some of the reviews I sucked it up and started using it as prescribed. It improved my skin condition significantly. Although I'm still red, the bumps are smaller now and the whiteheads come off. I have oily skin and this creme helps to keep it dry. I'm surprised to find out that it supposedly works for blackheads, so I'll try to use it on my nose and forehead as well. Reading all the reviews it looks like it works differently for everyone, but is worth try

When I first used this all my lumpy gross pimples were FLAT but my skin was pink, this didn't dry out my skin. It may be a little expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it. It lightened my skin a little bit but nothing major. I will continue using this:)

DON'T USE IT!!!

Had rosecea for years,spots and broken skin on my nose with redness... anti biotics didn't work, it was starting to get me down a bit so I self prescribed myself with a tube of azeliac acid from eBay, worth atry for 8 English pounds I thought, I cleanse my skin before bed and apply the cream, washing it off in the morning, within a week the rosecea was totally gone, I now cleanse and apply every other night, I now have a worry free social calendar, no more worrying about going out with a nose like coco the clown!

Currently using Finacea gel 15%. If you are one of the unlucky ones, you may experience unbearable stinging and itching which lasts for a half hour after application. But after 3 weeks, the itching and stinging subsides to about one tenth of the pain, to a slight tingling. Other than that, I was determined to stick with it, and it has improved my skin to some degree, like speeding up healing time. It doesn't seem to do much for my cystic acne, though. I'll stick with it for another 2 months and report back if it miraculously clears my acne. It has also helped with redness and red marks and my skin overall looks a lot less dull.

a wonderful product for acne as well as hyperpigmentation.

This stuff burned like fire ants on my face when I first started using it... It was HORRIBLE!!! Tough it out... after two weeks no more burning just clear smooth skin. It didn't do a lot for getting rid of redness or hyperpigmentation... but no more huge hard zits!

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.

This stuff is fantastic. I tried everything to clear up some hormonal body acne (after going off birth control pills) for months: salicylic acid body wash, BP, AHA, Retin-A. I had bright red, rashy acne all over my chest, neck and back and after a week, it's 80% gone. GONE. This started to work after only four days (applied twice a day). Coincidentally, that is how long the burning and itching occurred after use. It was almost unbearable the first 4-5 times of using it (for about 30 minutes after application) but it gradually got better and by the fourth day, there was no irritation at all. Stay with it!

I am still giving it a 3 rating and recommending it (with caution) because it is not necessary that it will give an allergic reaction to others and in all honesty, if I overlook the allergy, it was the one thing that was working for me. I am writing this review as a word of precaution to all other users. I used it on my face, neck and upper chest. For the first 2weeks, I had NO problem, not even the tingling that was mentioned in the leaflet and my acne was so much better. On the beginning of 3rd week there was a slight tingling-burning sensation, more on my neck and chest than face which I ignored. The sensation was more on my neck so I stopped using there but restarted yesterday and..........I woke up night feeling terrible. My face, neck and chest had turned red and I have huge urticarial patches all around. I never thought when the tingling started that I could be allergic. I thought I am having the side effect of tingling as mentioned in the leaflet.