Topical Antibacterial
Reviews
3.8
505 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
May 21, 2011

Pros:

lights dark spots, calms redness in skin

Cons:

burns, tingles, and itches for a couple weeks after you first use it. This decreases as your skin gets used to it.

I love the way this medication has lighted my dark acne scars. I am a carmel complexed african american. Your skin will get worse before it gets better, but the irritation is worth the outcome. I found it is better to wait at least 30 mins after you wash your face to apply the medication. It doesnt burn or itch as much.
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October 22, 2009

Pros:

Feels very silky and smooth on your skin, also fades hyperpigmentation, there is no sensitivity to the sun

Cons:

maybe price if you don't have insurance

Works very very well, took two months to see AMAZING results, i had pretty bad acne but now it is 95% clear, just a few very very tiny bumps you can't even see unless you look really really close, also cleared up a lot of the hyperpigmentation and I would say in about a month it will be all gone, I have tried so many products and this has without a doubt worked the best!
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June 30, 2010

Pros:

Over 2 weeks in so far:

Seems as effective as BP at present

Calms down acne in terms of:
amount,
severety and
redness,

light white powder makes skin look nice and does not bleach anything (like BP does)

Does not cause foetal malformations like retin A (always speak to doctor about this anyway)

Does not cause as much irritation as BP

does not cause antibiotic resistance as it is not an antibiotic.

Does not cause sun sensitivity

Cons:

itchy for a while after applying
Light white powder can get onto dark clothes,
you end up using alot of it so make sure you get 180g for 4 weeks for one application a day and double that for 2 applications a day.

can lighten skin (I like this but I know its a con for some ppl, still doesnt bleach anything else)

may be expensive to buy if you aren't on the NHS or if you don't have insurance as you will need alot ofit for body acne.

I would reccomend this to anyone who has body acne as BP is often just too much of a restriction on your life. Cant sleep on friends sheets cause you will bleach them with BP, can't wear the sexy black dress or top cause if you sweat you will bleach it... etc etc its great stuff and since using it my skin has really improved, i dont like to review "too soon" but I prefer this so much I wanted to share the word as so few ppl know about this treatment. BTW I have been using once a day. I will do another review after 6 weeks xx
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August 1, 2015
The only thing that worked!
Hello, I'm 18 and I've had acne ever since I was 12. It had its ups and downs...mostly downs...and no matter to what dermatologist I went to, they just made it worse with all the products they would prescribe for me. Finally, about a month and a half ago I went to another dermatologist and she prescribed Skinoren for me, Aknicare lotion and a mattifying hydration cream. Honestly, its the first time in years my skin is clear, I get 2 or 3 pimples before my period but thats about it. My whole face was covered with whiteheads, blackheads, small cysts and they wouldn't go away, this is the only thing that helped me. I apply Skinoren once every night and if I stay indoors for the day I'll apply it in the morning too. Definitely apply it at night, because your pores open, meaning that Skinoren is given the opportunity to enter and hit the problem to its core(in a way) and giving you better results. I definitely do recommend this product, however, you should keep in mind that acne takes time to cure so be patient. Hope this helps :)
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August 30, 2015
How long did skinoren take to work ?
May 31, 2018
Some doctors said 2 months for its results to be seen
November 29, 2009

Pros:

Truly truly truly works! It got rid of cystic acne and made the reduced the redness.

Cons:

Slight tingling and burning when you first apply it. So worth it though!

You must not give up on this product. It truly does work if you are patient with it. I have only used this for about a month now and I can't believe how much my face cleared up. It looks and feels so smooth. I no longer have bumpy cheeks!
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December 13, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up my acne faster then any other product I've tried and I basically tried em all.

Cons:

None

This does sting when first applied, but it works bottom line. I'd much rather deal with the pain then with having acne. Come on people havent you ever heard the saying, "Beauty is Pain", toughin up it could be worse.
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November 24, 2009

Pros:

Clears non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne, smoother skin, anti-bacterial, non-irritating, not too drying, treats PIH, reasonably priced.

Cons:

None

Best topical I've ever used. Has really improved the texture of my skin. Very effective in killing acne... Reduces the lifespan of cysts and unblocks pores to purge comedones. Have been using this for 3 months and noticed slight improvement in PIH (takes about 6 months to see good results). Highly recommend it!
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October 6, 2009

Pros:

Results were immediate. Not too drying. No new breakouts since I started.

Cons:

Make sure you let your skin dry for 20 minutes after washing, before applying the Finacea. Keeps the itching down.

I have a history of acne and now I struggle with rosacea. I've tried it all. Tazorac, Ziana, differin, accutane once a week. Recently I had been using Ziana to improve texture and help with the rosacea breakouts. I didn't realize it was making my face worse. I was an oil slick by 2 pm! I began to get hard cyst-like pimples on my chin. The minute I stopped using it and switched to Finacea, my skin began to clear again.
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November 7, 2010

Pros:

it's simple (just a freaking cream) and it is the ONLY thing that has cleared my chest and back acne in over 12 years

Cons:

without insurance it's INSANELY expensive (I just paid $200, but if I don't use it, as I have stopped in the past because it is just so expensive, my acne came back with a bloody vengeance), doesn't work on my face acne

so my chest and my back are ridiculously allergic to benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid does absolutely nothing, so I just kind of always have had gross back and chest acne since 7th grade (I'm now in my third year of grad school, a good 12 years later). I went to the dermatologist, looking for a cure for my recently emerging (at 24, neat!) facial acne problem, and he suggested this product. i did not see any improvement in two months in my facial acne, but now my back and chest are clear! if I do get an errant back or chest pimple, however, azelex does nothing to make it go away, but it does an awesome job of keeping it under control. I think it's worth a try, and seriously, the tingling is nothing. so in short, works freaking miracles on the chest and back area (after 2 months mind you) but it didn't do anything for my newly developed adult acne.
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March 19, 2010

Pros:

This has cleared up 95% of the acne on my face and jaw line in a matter of weeks (3).

Cons:

Burns when first appiled. Initially dries my skin out, which is great but then my skin seems to overcompensate by producing more oil, turning me into an oily slick and requiring me to wash my face every couple of hours at work.

I've tried everything, to include accutane. This stuff works.
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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.