Finacea (Azelaic Acid) 15% Gel

What is Finacea gel?

Finacea is a prescription-only gel used to treat mild to moderate facial acne and rosacea. It contains the active ingredient azelaic acid, which helps to kill off the bacteria responsible for causing skin conditions such as rosacea. In doing so, it refines the surface of the skin, reduces the appearance of blemishes, and reveals a more even skin tone.

Finacea gel is suitable for adults over the age of 18 years that have tried other topical treatments that have not been effective. It should be applied directly to the affected skin on the face twice each day. In general, the benefits of this medication are felt after a month of use. More details can be found on our about Finacea page.

What is Finacea gel used for?

Finacea gel is typically used to treat rosacea, a common skin condition that causes redness, flushing, swelling and a bumpy rash to appear on the sufferer’s face. Although rosacea affects 1 in 10 people, its exact cause is unknown and there is currently no cure. It is thought to occur when peptides in the skin become inflamed.

People with rosacea will go through periods of flare-up and remission. Flare-ups can occur due to triggers such as stress, caffeine, alcohol, physical exertion, and certain types of light and weather. If a flare-up is particularly bad, a treatment such as Finacea may be prescribed. The azelaic acid in Finacea helps to unblock pores and sebaceous glands in the skin, preventing rosacea flare-ups and reducing redness and inflammation.

Finacea's effectiveness extends to treating mild to moderate acne, a condition that may affect up to one-third of UK adults in their lifetimes. By killing the bacteria responsible for causing acne breakouts, Finacea gel treats existing acne and prevents the appearance of spots, pustules, and papules on the face, resulting in a clearer complexion with fewer flare-ups.

How does Finacea work?

Finacea gel works by blocking the body's natural production and growth of keratin surface skin cells, which are responsible for clogging up pores. By tackling the production and growth of these surface skin cells, the azelaic acid in Finacea gets to the root cause of acne and rosacea, helping to unblock pores and sebaceous glands.

As a result of using this azelaic acid gel, papules, pustules, and spots are much less likely to develop on the face. This also means that the skin swelling and redness normally associated with rosacea decreases too.

The azelaic acid in Finacea gel also works by killing off the skin bacteria that are associated with acne and rosacea. This bacteria — propionibacterium — feeds off your body's sebum and produces fatty acids and waste products. These lead to irritation of the sebaceous glands, which inflames them (causing redness and swelling) and creates spots and bumpy rashes on the face.

What is azelaic acid?

Azelaic acid is a saturated dicarboxylic acid that's found naturally in barley, wheat, and rye. Malassezia furfur (Pityrosporum ovale), a type of fungus found on human skin, also produces azelaic acid naturally.

Azelaic acid possesses anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, making it an effective treatment for common skin conditions such as acne and rosacea. Azelaic acid can help address skin issues in the following ways:

• Encouraging cell turnover to promote faster skin healing and scarring reduction.
• Clearing the bacteria that causes rosacea and acne from skin pores.
• Diminishing the visibility of rosacea and acne by reducing inflammation.

Despite its potency, azelaic acid is safe for all skin types, so it’s suitable whether you have normal skin or sensitive skin. It’s generally effective at helping those dealing with acne, rosacea, or patches of dull or impure skin.

How long does it take for Finacea to work?

If used correctly, Finacea gel can reduce the visible effects of rosacea over a few months. You can usually see improvements in rosacea or acne within the first month of using the gel. If you don't see improvements to your skin after four weeks or your skin worsens, you should get advice from a doctor or pharmacist.

However, it's essential to mention that you need to be consistent with your use of Finacea: improvements will only occur if you're regularly applying the gel twice a day to the area. Any breaks in your use of Finacea will impede the success rate of the gel. This is because the azelaic acid in the gel will no longer unclog the pores and glands on your face or kill the bacteria on your skin.

Does Finacea work for everyone?

Finacea has a relatively high success rate when it comes to treating rosacea and acne, and many users report an improvement in their condition thanks to Finacea. However, Finacea doesn’t work for everyone. Some people may find that Finacea makes no difference to their rosacea or acne and will need a stronger medication. Alternative treatments can be found over on our rosacea advice page.

Alternative rosacea treatments

At The Independent Pharmacy, we stock a number of other rosacea treatments, including oral antibiotics such as Efracea and Erythromycin and topical over-the-counter creams such as Dermalex, a clinically-proven rosacea treatment that helps to restore the skin's natural protective barrier.

There are also various prescription-only topical alternatives to Finacea, which mainly comprise different active ingredients. We've compared Finacea with some of the most prevalent alternatives below.

Finacea vs. Rozex gel

The most notable difference between Finacea and Rozex rosacea gel is that Finacea contains azelaic acid, whereas Rozex gel contains the antibiotic metronidazole. Both are prescription-only topical treatments that are designed to kill the bacteria responsible for causing rosacea. Find out more about Rozex in our guide: What is Rozex?

Finacea vs. Soolantra

Like Finacea, Soolantra is a prescription-strength rosacea treatment. Soolantra cream contains the active ingredient ivermectin, which has anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic properties. While Soolantra can help to improve the appearance of bumps and blemishes, it is also shown to have fewer treatment-related side effects than many rosacea medications.

Finacea vs. Mirvaso

Another prescription-only rosacea medication, Mirvaso gel contains the active ingredient brimonidine tartrate, which belongs to a group of medicines called alpha agonists. Mirvaso may be more suitable than Finacea for people who suffer specifically with rosacea-related skin redness, as the treatment decreases blood flow to the treated area to reduce redness.

Alternative ways to treat acne

Though it is primarily prescribed to treat rosacea, Finacea is also proven to be effective at treating acne. However, it is just one of many available acne treatments: at The Independent Pharmacy, we stock a range of medications for acne, from an oral antibiotic treatment such as Oxytetracycline to a mild cleanser like CeraVe Blemish Control Cleanser.

These are some of the other acne treatments you can use:

• Acnecide gel. A leave-on treatment for acne and spots, Acnecide gel kills bacteria on the skin and unblocks pores. It contains the active ingredient of benzoyl peroxide.
• Differin Cream or gel. A prescription-only topical acne treatment which contains the active ingredient adapalene, Differin helps to reduce blocked pores and exfoliate the skin.
• Epiduo gel. A prescription combination acne treatment, Epiduo gel contains two active ingredients, benzoyl peroxide and adapalene, which help to kill bacteria, unblock pores and exfoliate the skin.
• Skinoren Cream. Finacea gel and Skinoren cream contain the same active ingredient but at different strengths. Skinoren cream is stronger and used to treat mild, hormonal, and cystic acne.

You could also try non-medicinal alternatives to treat acne, such as tea tree oil or mild soap. If you need help establishing which acne treatment is right for you, let us know. One of our experts will be happy to discuss your condition with you and determine the best course of action.