Finacea Gel is a treatment for acne and rosacea that you put straight onto your skin. It brings down the inflammation causing your spots or redness. It also helps to treat hyperpigmentation and melasma, returning your skin’s appearance to normal.
For hyperpigmentation and melasma, Finacea Gel is technically an ‘off-label’ treatment, so it’s not licensed for these conditions. We know it works and it’s safe to use, a clinician will just have to make sure it's right for you.
How does Finacea Gel work?
Finacea Gel contains 15% of the active ingredient azelaic acid. Azelaic acid is one of a type of medication called dicarboxylic acids. It has antibacterial properties, so it works well for bacterial acne. It also has anti-inflammatory effects, which can help with disorders like acne, rosacea and melasma.
The azelaic acid in Finacea Gel also creates hypopigmentation. It does this by binding to an enzyme called tyrosinase and stopping it from working as well. This means it’s effective for the symptoms of melasma as well as other causes of hyperpigmentation. So if you have any of these conditions, Finacea Gel can help.
What doses of Finacea Gel are there?
It only comes in one dose, a gel with 15% of azelaic acid. You’ll usually use it twice a day on the areas of your skin that are affected. 0.5g of gel, or about an inch, is usually enough to cover the whole of your face.
If this amount isn’t working well enough to bring down your acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation or melasma, talk to your clinician. You may need to apply it more often, or a different treatment might be better for you. Make sure to keep using it as long as your clinician says to see an improvement.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
FinaceaAzelaic Acid
How to use Finacea Gel
Follow your clinician’s advice on how exactly to use Finacea Gel.
Clean your skin with water or a mild cleanser and let it dry before using Finacea Gel.
Apply Finacea Gel to your affected skin twice a day, or as often as your clinician has told you to.
An inch of gel should be enough to cover your whole face.
Wash your hands well after applying Finacea Gel.
How long does Finacea Gel take to work?
How long you take Finacea Gel for will depend on your symptoms and what you’re using it for. Medications containing azelaic acid are often long-term treatments and you’ll usually use Finacea Gel for a few months. If you’re using it for acne, you’ll usually see a significant improvement by four weeks. If it hasn’t gotten better after this time, you should stop using Finacea Gel and try a different treatment. If you’ve been using Finacea Gel for rosacea, your skin will often look a lot better after four weeks. If you’ve been using it for two months and there’s no change, try a different medication. For hyperpigmentation and melasma, a clinician will tell you how long to use Finacea Gel. Because it’s an off-label medication for hyperpigmentation and melasma, a clinician will need to find the right treatment plan for you.
What should I do if I make a mistake while using Finacea Gel?
Make sure you don’t get Finacea Gel in your nose, eyes or mouth. If you do, wash it out thoroughly with clean water. If you get any symptoms, seek medical attention. If you use too much Finacea Gel, there shouldn’t be any problems. Just clean off any excess gel and talk to a clinician if you’re worried. If you forget to use Finacea Gel, just apply it as soon as you remember. If it’s nearly time to use Finacea Gel again, just skip that application and wait for the next one. Then keep using Finacea Gel at your usual times. If you have any questions and you’ve ordered Finacea Gel through us, you can just log into your account and message one of our clinicians.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
FinaceaAzelaic Acid
FinaceaAzelaic Acid
FAQ: Finacea
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
How effective is Finacea Gel?
Answer:
Finacea Gel has been proven effective for a range of skin conditions. For acne, Finacea Gel has been shown to be as effective as tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide, erythromycin and tetracycline tablets. It also had fewer side effects than traditional acne treatments.
When used for rosacea, Finacea Gel also created significant improvements, with the benefits getting better over time. A review of several clinical studies found it was safe and powerful, with no long-lasting or serious side effects. For melasma, Finacea Gel worked at least as well as hydroquinone and there were no significant side effects.
Do I need a prescription for Finacea Gel?
Answer:
Yes, you’ll need a prescription for Finacea Gel. It’s a strong topical medication, so a trained clinician will need to check that it’s right for you. If you have hyperpigmentation or melasma, they’ll need to make sure it’s the best option, as it’s an off-label treatment.
How is Finacea Gel different from other treatments for acne and rosacea?
Answer:
Finacea Gel is different from over the counter treatments for acne because it tackles the root cause of your acne, the inflammation and bacteria. So it’s more effective than creams and gels you can buy without a prescription.
If you have hormonal acne, combined contraceptive pills like Dianette are usually recommended for you over treatments for bacterial acne like Finacea Gel. Finacea Gel also differs from a lot of medications for rosacea because it’s not an antibiotic. So if you’re sensitive to antibiotics, Finacea Gel is often a good choice.
Is Finacea Gel similar to any other treatments?
Answer:
Skinoren Cream is another treatment for acne that also has azelaic acid in it. So they work in a really similar way, although Skinoren Cream has 20% of azelaic acid rather than 15%. Because Skinoren is a cream rather than a gel, you might find one works better than the other for you.
Skinoren also doesn’t treat rosacea, hyperpigmentation or melasma. So if you have one of these conditions, Finacea Gel will be better suited for you than Skinoren. You can also buy generic 15% azelaic acid. This will work in a very similar way to Finacea Gel because they have the same active ingredient. The generic version is often cheaper and has different packaging.
Why should I buy Finacea Gel online with Treated?
Answer:
If you’re interested in Finacea Gel, you can talk to us about your skin condition. We’ll talk over your symptoms and treatment options to find the one that suits you best. If you order Finacea Gel through us, we’ll prescribe it and deliver it straight to you.
Our clinicians will give you all the advice you need on how to take Finacea Gel. If you ever need guidance, just log into your account and message one of our clinicians. We’ll get right back to you with advice and help. We can help you get your skin back to normal again.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
If there’s a particular treatment or condition you’re looking for, tell us and we’ll look into it for you.
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