15% Azelaic Acid Gel.

"This is Finacea Gel. The active ingredient is 15% azelaic acid. This is in United States at least only available by prescription. Also comes as a foam. Foam tends to be a little bit less irritating and better for more sensitive skin. That being said, the gel we can get in the generic form now, so it's easier to get covered by insurance. This percentage of azelaic acid is backed by multiple randomized control trials for rosacea. In these randomized control trials, which are like the big studies, it demonstrated significant improvement in things like redness and inflammatory lesions within 12 weeks. Now, make a note 12 weeks is not very fast, so works pretty slow, but it works well. The key ingredients in the gel is azelaic acid 15% which is the clinically proven anti-inflammatory and pigment reducing compound."

"The prescribed version, the 15% gel, in my opinion is quite an impressive formulation. Azelaic acid is a fantastic ingredient for reducing acne type lesions. It's got the added benefit that is something called a tyrosinase inhibitor, it inhibits melanin production, and therefore for people of skin of color such as me it also helps post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. So when I get a spot I don't go red, I go darker, so it will help all skin types in that whole journey of a spot from the beginning all the way to the end. It can be combined with other skincare ingredients slowly. Don't start too high, start low, go slow, and you can work up. You've got to be a bit careful about maybe not damaging your skin barrier because it can dry out the skin a little bit, so you've got to moisturize afterwards."

"Finacea Gel is literally prescription azelaic acid it usually comes at higher percents. Azelaic acid is a pretty friendly ingredient if you wanted to layer it with other things or mix it with other things. It really plays well with other things and there aren't any major concerns when it comes to putting it into your routine. I would recommend it in leave-on products and not in rinse-off products, for example an azelaic acid cleanser might be okay but might not be the best use of your money. I would get it in a serum or a moisturizer type of formula that you could leave on the skin and that gives it the chance to penetrate and work. Yes, it can work in as little as 60 days."