Finacea

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Reviewed on Jan 19, 2026. by Dr Daniel Atkinson GP Clinical Lead Registered with GMC (No. 4624794) Next review due on July 04, 2028.

Last updated on Jan 19, 2026.

Product info

Finacea gel is a treatment for skin conditions like hyperpigmentation.
It contains azelaic acid, which kills the bacteria on your skin.
It’s usually used twice a day, with symptoms improving in four weeks.

Price checker

Prices include:

Express shipping
24 hour shipping by secure courier.
Consultation + Access to our clinicians
Ask our experts anything you like, any time you want.
Total
£39.95

Save £0.00 each order

Finacea: essential info
Finacea: instructions
Important stuff you need to know
FAQ

What is Finacea Gel?

Finacea Gel is a treatment for mild to moderate acne and rosacea that you put straight onto your skin—also called a topical treatment. It brings down the inflammation causing your spots or redness. It’s most efficient against bacterial acne, as it can also kill the bacteria causing the red, inflamed patches of skin.

How does Finacea Gel work?

Finacea Gel is a topical treatment containing 15% of the active ingredient azelaic acid. Azelaic acid is one of a type of medication called dicarboxylic acids. It kills the bacteria on your skin, so it works well to treat 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 an effective treatment for the symptoms of melasma as well as other causes of hyperpigmentation. ^[1] 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 treat your acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation or melasma, talk to your clinician. You may need to apply it more often, or they may suggest different, more effective treatments for you. Make sure to keep using it as long as your clinician says to see an improvement.

Finacea Gel comes in 30g packages. Besides azelaic acid, which is the active ingredient, the pack also contains other ingredients like benzoic acid, carbomers, disodium edetate, propylene glycol, lecithin, polysorbate 80, sodium hydroxide, triglycerides medium chain, purified water.

Treated trusted sources:

Schulte, B., Wu, W. and Rosen, T. (2015). Azelaic Acid: Evidence-based Update on Mechanism of Action and Clinical Application. JDDonline – Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson on July 04, 2025. Next review due on July 04, 2028.

How we source info.

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.

How to apply 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 applying 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.

If you have dry skin, it’s usually a good idea to apply unscented moisturiser before or after using 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 the gel to treat 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 applying 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.

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson on July 04, 2025. Next review due on July 04, 2028.

How we source info.

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.

Does Finacea Gel come with a risk of side effects?

Answer:

Like all medications, Finacea Gel can have side effects, but not everyone gets them. The most frequently reported side effects include pain, itching (pruritus) and burning at the application site. Usually, these reactions are mild or moderate and tend to improve as you keep applying the gel.

You should seek medical help straight away if you notice any of the following symptoms: rapid swelling under the skin, swelling of the eyes or face, or shortness of breath. That’s because you might have an allergic reaction to Finacea Gel.

Is Finacea Gel an effective treatment?

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 comes with a lower risk of side effects than traditional acne treatments.^[2]

For melasma, 20% azelaic acid cream has been proven more effective than hydroquinone (a common topical treatment for melasma), with 73% versus 19% of the patients having a good or excellent clinical response to the treatment. The treatment was also well tolerated, with the most common side effect being a mild skin irritation accompanied by itching and a burning sensation.^[2]

Azelaic acid, the active ingredient in Finacea Gel, has been shown to be an even more effective treatment for acne when used in combination with other topical medications like benzoyl peroxide 4% gel (applied twice daily), clindamycin 1% gel (used twice daily), tretinoin 0.025% cream (once a day), and erythromycin 3%/benzoyl peroxide 5% gel (applied twice daily).^[3]

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.^[4]

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?

Answer:

Finacea Gel is different from over the counter topical treatments for acne because it tackles the root cause of your acne, the inflammation, and it kills the bacteria causing it. So it’s a more effective treatment than creams and gels you can get without a prescription.

If you have hormonal acne, combined contraceptive pills like Dianette are usually recommended for you over treatments for mild to moderate 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.

For melasma, another commonly used topical treatment is hydroquinone cream, although azelaic acid has been shown to be slightly more effective.^[1] 0.1% tretinoin cream can also be used in the treatment of melasma, either by itself or in combination with hydroquinone or an anti-inflammatory medication like niacinamide. Treatment with retinoids, however, can leave your skin more sensitive to UV damage.

For more severe cases of melasma, where topical treatments haven’t worked well, you may be prescribed off-label tranexamic acid, which comes as a 500mg tablet that’s taken by mouth for 8-12 weeks.

Is Finacea Gel similar to any other treatments?

Answer:

Skinoren Cream is also used to treat 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.

Treated trusted sources:

Wardah, A., et al. (2023). Azelaic Acid Versus Hydroquinone for Managing Patients With Melasma: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. ProQuest, 15(7).
Fitton, A. and Goa, K.L. (1991). Azelaic Acid. Drugs, 41(5), pp.780–798.
Webster, G. (2000). Combination azelaic acid therapy for acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 43(2), pp.S47–S50.
Gollnick, H. and Layton, A. (2008). Azelaic acid 15% gel in the treatment of rosacea. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 9(15), pp.2699–2706.