Finacea

What is Finacea?

Finacea is a gel that can be used ‘off-label’ to manage a range of skin conditions. Off-label prescribing is when medication is used outside of its licence when a clinician thinks doing so might be beneficial for you.^[1] The active ingredient in it, azelaic acid, is a naturally occuring acid derived from grains like barley and wheat. Because it has both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, it can help clear infections from your skin.

Azelaic acid is sometimes used to treat other skin conditions, like acne, melasma and rosacea.

How does Finacea work?

Folliculitis causes raised, red bumps that are painful and often itchy. It affects hair follicles (the small cavities found all over your body in areas where you have hair). It can come on suddenly, or it might be something you need to treat long-term. It typically causes the follicles to become infected,^[2] and this is how Finacea can help.

Applying the gel to affected areas of skin can help clear bacterial or fungal infections that are causing your folliculitis. Azelaic acid can soothe irritated and inflamed skin, and because it has keratolytic properties, can help break down rough, scaly skin.

How to use Finacea for Folliculitis

You should take care to use Finacea exactly as it’s been prescribed by a clinician. The gel is intended to be used only on your skin, so you should avoid using it on areas of skin close to your mouth or eyes.

To apply the gel:

• clean your skin thoroughly and then dry it;
• remove the cap from the tube and dispense a small amount of gel;
• apply Finacea by rubbing it gently into affected areas of skin;
• wash your hands and replace the cap on the tube.

Wash your hands after every Finacea application to avoid accidentally getting any gel in your eyes or mouth. A 2.5cm (or one inch) sized amount of the gel should be enough to cover your entire face, so you can use this as a rough guide for how much to apply to other areas of skin.

Are there different forms of Finacea?

Finacea is available as a gel only. You can apply it to any area of skin where you have hair follicles. If the gel causes your skin to itch slightly, or it becomes irritated, it’s usually just an indication that Finacea is working. If it causes serious aggravation, then you might need to try an alternative treatment.

Azelaic acid is sometimes used in other formulas for managing skin conditions that you can get over the counter. They usually contain slightly less of this active ingredient, and you might find using a formula that is gentler on your skin suits you better.