If you’ve been searching for an effective rosacea treatment, but haven’t had any luck with metronidazole or zinc-based creams and gels, Finacea might be for you. Finacea, made by Intendis, is a 15% azelaic acid prescription gel designed to treat both the redness and bumps caused by rosacea. This water-based gel is fragrance-free and alcohol-free, so it won’t irritate or dry out sensitive skin. The active ingredient in Finacea is azelaic acid, which is naturally found in wheat, rye, and barley and in the skin itself. The other ingredients are benzoic acid (a preservative), disodium-EDTA, lecithin, medium-chain triglycerides, polyacrylic acid, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, purified water, and sodium hydroxide.
So how exactly does Finacea work to treat rosacea? Actually, the makers themselves aren’t entirely sure. As the clinicians put it in their trial report, “The mechanism(s) by which azelaic acid interferes with the pathogenic events in rosacea are unknown.” (Source: patient handout) What is known about azelaic acid is that it’s anti-bacterial, reduces inflammation, and restores a healthy growth pattern to disordered skin cells. All these properties combine to help treat rosacea symptoms.
How to Use Finacea
Just wash and dry your face as usual, then pat on a thin layer of Finacea gel and gently massage it in. Once the gel dries, you can apply make-up if you want. Most dermatologists will suggest doing this once or twice a day, depending on how bad your rosacea is. (Source: medicinenet.com) The good news here is that the gel is light and quick-drying, you won’t have to hassle with wearing greasy creams over night or waiting for oil-based gels to sink in.
Finacea Test Results
Finacea was tested on people with mild to moderate rosacea, who had an average of 18 papules or pustules. The study didn’t include people who had only redness without papules and pustules or people with nodules, rhinophyma (enlarged nose), or ocular (eye) involvement. After 12 weeks using Finacea, most participants’ rosacea was classified as “clear” or “minimal.” The term “clear” was defined as having no papules or pustules, no or very little redness, and no or mild telangiectasia (tiny dilated blood vessels near the skins’ surface). “Minimal” meant rare papules or pustules, mild redness, and mild to moderate telangiectasia.
Keep in mind that during the testing, patients were still told to avoid spicy foods, alcohol, temperature extremes and other typical rosacea flare triggers. So unfortunately, if you’re looking for a rosacea treatment that will control your rosacea no matter what your diet or lifestyle, Finacea alone won’t do it.
Long-term Improvement
A lot of the popular rosacea treatments bring about improvement in rosacea symptoms for up to four to eight weeks, but after that the effects start to level off. During clinical trials of Finacea, though, those using the gel saw regular improvement for the full 12 weeks of the trial. Of course, that doesn’t mean Finacea works instantly. Although the most dramatic improvements came within the first four weeks, it often took some time for participants to start seeing any improvement.
Understand, though, that Finacea isn’t marketed as a cure for rosacea. While patients with mild rosacea saw their symptoms almost completely disappear, many still had a slight residual redness.
Finacea Side Effects
Naturally, no medication is without some side effects. A lot of Finacea users notice a mild stinging or burning, dryness, and/or increased redness when they first start using the gel. For most, the problems weren’t uncomfortable enough to make them stop using Finacea and they discovered that, with time, these side effects went away. In people with dark skin, azelaic acid has been known to cause hypopigmentation, so if you’re dark complected keep an eye out for any changes in skin color. In rare causes, during the clinical trials, patients with asthma or cold sores (oral herpes) found Finacea made these conditions worse.
Who Should Not Use Finacea
If you’re allergic to propylene glycol, don’t use Finacea. Not enough studies have been done to be sure it’s safe during pregnancy or nursing, but currently it’s recommended only if absolutely needed. The effects of Finacea on children and those over 65 are also uncertain. Although Finacea isn’t known to interact with other medications, if you use other medications and notice problems after starting Finacea, let your doctor know. (Source: patient handout)
Azelaic acid gels and creams may not be the first treatment dermatologists suggest for rosacea, but some rosacea sufferers have found they work when more popular treatments don’t.
