Skinoren
Medication features
- Acne treatment
- Daily application
- Contains 20% azelaic acid
- No longer than 12 months continuous use
Overview
Order Skinoren 20% Cream Online UK
Written by Clinical Pharmacist Hywel McGlinchy
You can request to order Skinoren cream in the UK from our registered online pharmacy and doctor service. After you complete an online assessment form, our doctors will review whether it’s safe and suitable to prescribe for you. We offer next working day delivery options.
What is Skinoren cream?
Skinoren cream is a prescription cream used to treat mild to moderate acne. The active ingredient in Skinoren cream is azelaic acid 20%. It can be used to treat acne affecting the face, as well as acne affecting the chest and back. Skinoren is a topical cream applied daily and should not be used for more than 12 months at a time.
It can sometimes be used alongside other acne treatments like oral antibiotics or hormonal treatments. This medicine is a cream and there is currently not a Skinoren gel product available.
How does it work?
The cream contains azelaic acid attacks a bacteria, called P.acnes, which plays an important role in acne. By killing this bacteria, it helps to remove one of the essential causes of acne. Skinoren can also reduce the growth of the harder outermost skin cells that block the pores of the skin to cause whiteheads and blackheads. Unblocking the pores can reduce the number of whiteheads and blackheads. It can also reduce inflammation of the sebaceous glands by reducing the number of bacteria on the affected areas of the skin.
It can also be useful at reducing pigmentation, which means it's particularly useful for darker-skinned patients whose acne spots can leave persistent pigmentation marks.
Topical azelaic acid is most often used alongside oral antibiotics in the treatment of acne. Many people are prescribed azelaic acid 20% alongside oral lymecycline or oral doxycycline to treat their acne.
How long does Skinoren take to work?
You should see a noticeable improvement in your acne after about 4 weeks of applying Skinoren daily. However, it can take several months of regular use for Skinoren to have a full effect. You should not use this medicine for more than 12 months at a time.
If you have used this treatment for several months and have not seen an improvement, talk to your doctor or pharmacist for advice. If you look at Skinoren before and after pictures online or read Skinoren reviews online, try to remember that what treatment works for one person might not work for another and vice versa.
Skinoren Cream Summary
Dose | Apply to the affected areas of skin ONCE or TWICE daily |
Type of medicine | Acne Cream |
Mechanism | Kills bacteria and reduces keratin that blocks pores to improve acne. |
Size | 30g tube |
Active Ingredient | 20% Azelaic acid |
Price | From £14.99 |
Side Effects | Can include skin dryness, redness, irritation, a slight burning sensation. |
Skinoren Prices
1 x 30g | £14.99 |
2 x 30g | £27.99 |
Skinoren cream alternatives
Many treatments can be prescribed for acne. If you find Skinoren isn’t effective for you, there are several other topical treatments that your doctor may prescribe. This includes Differin Gel (adapalene), Duac Gel (clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide), Epiduo Gel (adapalene and benzoyl peroxide), and Zineryt Solution (contains erythromycin and zinc).
Oral antibiotics are sometimes prescribed, such as lymecycline, oxytetracycline or doxycycline. Another medicine that’s used to treat severe acne is isotretinoin (Roaccutane). This can be very effective but can have serious side effects. For this reason, it can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor.
FAQ
What is Skinoren cream used for?
Skinoren cream contains the active ingredient azelaic acid 20% and it’s used to treat acne. The active ingredient can also be used to treat other skin conditions such as papulopustular rosacea.
Can I use Skinoren cream every day?
The cream is usually prescribed to be used every day regularly for several months. You should start to see the beneficial effects after about 4 weeks of using the cream. It should not be used for more than 12 months at a time.
What are the side effects of Skinoren cream?
More than 1 in 10 people may experience itching, redness, or burning at the application site. Up to 1 in 10 people may experience pain, discolouration, dryness, or scaling at the application site.
When should I stop using Skinoren cream?
If you think the cream is causing an allergic reaction, you should stop using it and seek medical attention. For some people, it can cause skin irritation that makes them stop using the cream.
Can I buy Skinoren cream over the counter?
Skinoren, in the UK, is a prescription-only medicine. This means you can’t buy Skinoren in the UK over the counter. You need a prescription from a doctor to obtain it. You can buy Skinoren online in the UK from registered online pharmacies like Simple Online Pharmacy. Our doctors can assess you online and provide a prescription to our online pharmacy team.
Compare
Treatment Comparison
Duac | Differin | Tetralysal | |
Ingredients | Clindamycin / Benzoyl Peroxide | Adapalene | Lymecycline |
Action | Dual action on bacteria; antibiotic and skin shedding | Helps unblock pores and reduce inflammation | Antibiotic kills bacteria |
Oral or Topical? | Topical | Topical | Oral |
Directions | Apply thin layer at night after washing. | Apply thin layer at night after washing. | Take ONE capsules DAILY (preferably in the morning) |
Side Effects
Skinoren side effects
Some people may experience skin irritation with Skinoren (azelaic acid), usually at the start of
treatment. In most cases, the irritation is mild and usually gets better as treatment continues. However, if the irritation is bothersome, you can reduce the amount of cream you apply each time or only apply it once a day. You can also stop using the cream temporarily.
More than 1 in 10 people may experience itching, redness, or burning at the application site. Up to 1 in 10 people may experience pain, discolouration, dryness, or scaling at the application site.
See section 4 of the patient information leaflet for a full list of the possible side effects. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you experience any side effects.
Reviews
Directions
How to use Skinoren cream
Before applying the cream, thoroughly wash the area with plain water before drying it. Apply Skinoren twice a day, unless your doctor has told you otherwise. As a guide for the amount of cream to be applied to the affected area, approximately 2.5cm of cream will cover the whole of the face. In other areas like your back or chest, you may need to use more.
If you have very sensitive skin, you should start applying the cream once a day in the evening. After the first week of treatment, you can then increase this to twice a day.
Read the patient information leaflet for further information on applying Skinoren.
Warnings
Warnings
You should not use this medicine if you’re allergic to azelaic acid or any of the ingredients in the cream.
Skinoren is for external use on the skin only. It should not come into contact with your eyes, mouth or other mucous membranes.
Ingredients
Skinoren ingredients
The active substance is azelaic acid. One gram of Skinoren Cream contains 200 mg (20% w/w) of azelaic acid.
The other ingredients are: Benzoic acid (E210), cetearyl octanoate + isopropyl myristate (PCL Liquid®), glycerol 85%, glyceryl stearate + cetearyl alcohol + cetyl palmitate + cocoglycerides (CUTINA CBS), propylene glycol, purified water, stearoyl macrogolglycerides.
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