Needless to say, how this affects self-esteem and creates complexes. Often people with this disease experience a feeling of awkwardness, and this, naturally, interferes with relaxed communication, and in general can take away all the joy of life.
In order to get rid of these inconveniences, many resort to pharmaceutical drugs . At first glance, choosing an effective product is not so difficult, because advertising everywhere is replete with enticing offers, and reviews on the Internet promise to fight acne forever with the help of a wide variety of creams, ointments, gels, talkers and the like.
One of the most popular anti-acne remedies is Skinoren . This drug has been recommended on the market for a long time not so much because of advertising, but because of positive reviews from real people.
However, recently, cosmetologists and consumers are increasingly abandoning this gel due to its cost and using much more budget-friendly analogues. In this article we will take a detailed look at the most effective cheap analogues of Skinoren.
Medicinal composition and packaging
Skinoren (cream and gel)
created on the basis of the same active ingredient – azelaic acid. Both drugs are intended for external use. The difference between dosage forms lies in the concentration of the active substance, consistency and set of auxiliary components included in the composition. The result of exposure to azelaic acid:
- normalization of epithelization processes in hair follicles;
- suppression of pathogenic bacteria;
- decreased activity of melanocytes - cells that influence focal hyperpigmentation.
Gel Skinoren
– a jelly-like substance of whitish-yellow or white color, containing 15% of the active substance. Packaging in tubes of 15, 30 or 50 g is very convenient to use. Glycerin stearate, glycerides, cetostearyl alcohol, etc. are used as auxiliary components that determine consistency. Skinoren in the form of a cream contains 20% azelaic acid. The color of the substance is matte white. Packaging: 30 g tube. The composition additionally includes sodium hydroxide, lecithin, propylene glycol and other excipients. A higher concentration of the active substance does not mean an increase in efficiency, but only determines the specifics of application.
Application of funds
Skinoren drugs are most often used in the treatment of acne and acne, as well as rosacea. The products are especially effective for preventing the appearance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Instructions for using any form of Skinoren are very simple:
- Preparing the skin for the procedure by cleansing (mild detergent or cosmetic).
- After the moisture has dried, the gel or cream is applied, lightly rubbing, in a thin layer to the affected areas of the skin.
- Hands are washed thoroughly with soap.
For a sustainable result, it is desirable that the course of treatment be at least 3 months, but the results of use are noticeable after 3-4 weeks. The procedures are carried out 2 times a day, usually in the morning and before bedtime. The possibility of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug should be taken into account. The dosage and duration of use are determined individually by the attending cosmetologist. Exceeding the amount may reduce the effect of application. Inadmissible contact of drugs with mucous membranes and eyes is eliminated by rinsing with running water.
The choice of dosage form depends on the type of skin pathology and skin type. For oily skin, it is better to use a gel, and for dry and normal skin, a cream. Skinoren cream is optimal for course therapy of hyperpigmentation, acne and seborrheic dermatitis, as confirmed by patient reviews. However, the versatility of the therapeutic effect of the drugs allows the use of any form for the treatment of skin diseases. The course of treatment should be at least a month.
As reviews show, Skinoren gel is most effective in the treatment of acne and rosacea. This dosage form has a faster effect because, due to its consistency, it penetrates the skin faster. The gel can be applied once a day, so it is ideal for maintaining a positive result in the treatment of the above diseases. To treat acne and pimples, the combined use of drugs is very often practiced. Courses of therapy can be repeated, if necessary, at intervals of 1-2 months. For hyperpigmentation, it is advisable to carry out repeated preventive courses of treatment using additional sunscreens.
Azelaic acid preparations are effective, but other agents are usually used for basic treatment of a specific skin disease. Medicines based on retinoids show the best effect on acne, and products with benzoyl peroxide are indispensable for treating acne. Skinoren combines perfectly with basic medications, enhancing their effectiveness and accelerating the healing process.
Skinoren: instructions for use, composition
Pharmacological action of the drug Skinoren:
- Comedolytic effect - this means that preparations with azelaic acid promote the slow dissolution of the fatty substrate that makes up comedones (acne).
- Reduces follicular hyperkeratosis – follicular hyperkeratosis (FH), along with hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands, are the main pathogenetic mechanisms for the formation of acne and pimples. FG consists of a sharp thickening of the layers of keratinocytes in the hair follicles and a violation of their desquamation. Azelaic acid normalizes keratinization processes in hair follicles (24stoma.ru).
- Antimicrobial activity – azelaic acid has weak bacteriostatic activity against the main bacteria that play an important role in the pathogenesis of acne. These include primarily the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes (P.acnes), and also, to a slightly lesser extent, the bacteria Streptococcus epidermidis (S.epidermidis).
- Reduces the content of free fatty acids - normally, the secretion of the sebaceous glands should not contain free fatty acids (there should only be triglycerides).
However, when the ducts of the sebaceous glands are colonized by pathogenic microflora, bacterial enzymes break down triglycerides into monoglycerides (free fatty acids), as a result of which their number increases to 20% of the total volume of lipids in the secretion of the sebaceous glands. Free fatty acids are comedogenic (that is, they promote the formation of fatty plugs in the hair follicles), and they also disrupt keratinization processes - both inside the hair follicles and on the surface of the skin. In addition, free fatty acids have “chemotaxis”, i.e. they cause the migration of neutrophils to the follicles. This contributes to the development of inflammation in the follicles - the formation of pustules and papules (pimples) in their place.
Composition of Skinoren gel (in terms of 1 g):
| Active substance: micronized azelaic acid – 0.15 g. |
| Excipients – propylene glycol 0.12 g, polysorbate 0.015 g, lecithin 0.01 g, polyacrylic acid 0.01 g, triglycerides 0.01 g, sodium hydroxide 0.002 g, disodium edetate 0.001 g, benzoic acid 0.001 g, purified water 0.681 G. |
* Please note that Skinoren gel does not have the translucency that is typical of traditional gels. It has an intense white color (a slight yellowish tint is allowed).
Composition of Skinoren cream (in terms of 1 g):
| Active substance – azelaic acid 0.2 g |
| Excipients: benzoic acid 0.002 g, macrogol glyceryl stearate 0.05 g, a mixture of glyceryl stearate, cetostearyl alcohol, cetyl palmitate and glycerides of fatty acids, coconut oil 0.07 g, cetostearyl ethyl capronate 0.03 g, propylene glycol 0.125 g, glycerol 85% - 0.015 g, purified water – 0.508 g. |
* Skinoren cream has a characteristic uniform white color.
→ Skinoren cream official instructions (PDF) → Skinoren gel official instructions (PDF)
What is better to choose – gel or cream?
The gel is especially suitable for patients with oily skin, but the cream should only be used for patients with dry and/or sensitive skin. You probably noticed that the dosage of azelaic acid in the cream is slightly higher than that of the gel (20% versus 15%), but this does not mean that the cream is more effective. On the contrary, an increased concentration of azelaic acid in the cream is necessary to more or less compensate for its lower effectiveness.
Therapeutic effect of drugs
The mechanism of skin diseases that are treated with azelaic acid preparations has long been revealed and understood. The fatty secretion produced by the sebaceous glands enters the skin surface through the lumen of the hair follicles and protects it. Due to various processes, skin pores become clogged with fat and dead epithelium, which can lead to the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and the occurrence of pathology.
Skinoren effectively inhibits the growth of bacteria and staphylococci on the skin. Reducing the inflammatory process in turn prevents the formation of new blackheads or acne. Effectively reducing the proliferation of epidermal cells reduces and normalizes the number of keratinized skin scales. In essence, the gel and cream accelerate the resorption of sebaceous plugs in the pores of the skin, melting them.
Blocking with Skinoren drugs the excessive production of melanin pigment, which directly affects skin color, allows you to effectively combat age spots. With regular treatment, areas with darkened skin turn pale and become almost invisible.
Neutralizing the development of acne, rosacea and other skin pathologies using a cream or gel is very effective, which is confirmed by many clinical applications. Despite deep penetration into the skin, azelaic acid practically does not enter the blood, so the use of the drugs is completely harmless.
Instructions for use of the drug Skinoren -
The drug Skinoren cream or gel should be used 2 times a day (morning and evening before bedtime). Before using the drug, you need to wash your face with a mild cleanser and dry it. The drug is applied and lightly rubbed into acne-prone areas of the face.
When can you expect results? You will be able to see the very first result no earlier than 4 weeks from the start of therapy. If we talk about a noticeable reduction in the number of acne elements, this will happen no earlier than 3 months from the start of use. A good, lasting result is usually achieved after 4-5 months, but the full course of treatment takes as long as 6 months. Therefore, you will definitely have to be patient.
Due to the fact that the author of the article had to deal with his own acne, I would like to add the following. My personal experience with drugs containing azelaic acid was not very successful (although I did not use Skinoren, but its analog Azelac-gel). Having not seen any noticeable effect after 4-6 weeks of use, I could not stand it and switched to drugs with topical retinoids. But for the sake of objectivity, it is worth noting that drugs with azelaic acid have advantages that topical retinoids do not have.
Firstly, their use will not require the mandatory use of sunscreen in the spring and summer (since azelaic acid does not increase skin sensitivity to the sun). But here we need to make one caveat: although it does not increase, you will still have to use products with SPF 50. Because Solar radiation causes hyperkeratosis of epidermal keratinocytes, which also contributes to the formation of acne and then pimples.
Well, the second point is that azelaic acid is a tyrosinase inhibitor, which means that its use will prevent the development of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation at the site of resolved acne (papules and pustules). And thirdly, in patients with sensitive skin, topical retinoids can cause irritation (redness, dryness, itching), which, however, gradually goes away. In turn, preparations with azelaic acid have less irritating effects on the skin.
Benefits of Skinoren
There is a wide variety of drugs based on azelaic acid that are successfully used to treat skin pathologies. The most popular analogues of Skinoren in our country are Azogel and Azelik gels (Russia), as well as Azix-derm (India) and Acne-derm (Poland) creams. The concentration of the active component coincides with the German development, but the composition of the excipients is somewhat different.
The main advantages of the drugs over analogues:
- Milder effect (does not cause excessive dryness and irritation).
- There is no increase in sun sensitivity, so there is no need to combine with sunscreens.
- Can be used both for the treatment and prevention of skin pathologies.
- Easy to use.
- Lower price.
It should be noted that there are cheaper analogues, but their effectiveness, according to experts and patient reviews, is much less.
Skinoren or Azelik? What's better?
Medical gel Azelik is prescribed by a dermatologist for the treatment of rosacea and acne. It has a depigmenting and anti-acne effect on affected skin.
With the help of its bacteriostatic activity, it is possible to reduce the synthesis of fatty acids, which, in fact, provoke the appearance and further development of acne.
Azelik, like Skinoren (gel), contains 15% azelaic acid , which achieves the following:
- the top layer of skin is cleared of dead cells,
- the process of formation of new comedones is suppressed,
- The activity of melanocytes decreases, which leads to hyperpigmentation of the dermis.
Contraindications and side effects
Are there any restrictions on the use of Skinoren drugs? The instructions for use clearly stipulate that the only obstacle may be individual hypersensitivity or the presence of allergic reactions. Indirect evidence of the safety of the products can be the possibility of their use even during pregnancy. Before using the products, it makes sense to find out your skin type from your doctor.
Side effects occur quite rarely, are moderate in nature and decrease with therapy. Main types of manifestations during treatment:
- dryness or slight numbness of the skin;
- the appearance of slight swelling with rosacea;
- itching or burning in the area where the cream or gel is applied;
- skin peeling;
- the appearance of spots;
- feeling of discomfort;
- allergic reactions;
- urticaria in the area where the drug is applied;
- worsening of other diseases.
If at least one of the above manifestations occurs, you should temporarily reduce the dose of the drug and be sure to consult your doctor. The reasons for the manifestation can be very diverse. Skinoren cream is not recommended to be applied after warming procedures - baths, saunas, etc.
Additional Information
When using a cream or gel, you should be careful not to get the composition on the mucous membranes of the mouth, eyes, or open wounds. If this happens, the accidental contact site must be rinsed with plenty of water.
Skinoren cream is effective only in the treatment of melasma located in the epidermis and dermis. The drug has no effect on those located only in the dermis.
When treating rosacea, you should avoid using cosmetics that contain alcohol, abrasives, or exfoliants.
Reviews
Excluding cases of skin hypersensitivity, Skinoren gel and cream have excellent patient reviews. Many users note that these drugs helped in many cases when other remedies were powerless. There are complaints about the high cost of drugs, but generally people understand that the effectiveness of treatment is worth the money spent. Reviews mainly concern the treatment of acne and pimples, but good results are also noted by those who have used the products to eliminate problems with skin pigmentation.
How does Skinoren work?
The therapeutic effect of Skinoren is due to the healing properties of azelaic acid, which can reach the deep layers of the epidermis, but practically not enter the general circulatory system.
According to the instructions for use, Skinoren has an effect in four areas:
- cleanses the skin of acne by suppressing the growth of bacteria located on the skin and causing blockage of the sebaceous glands;
- relieves inflammation, thereby preventing the appearance of new acne;
- helps exfoliate dead skin particles from its surface;
- fights skin pigmentation due to the ability to block the production of melanin in excess.
With regular use of the gel or cream, acne, manifestations of rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis, and increased pigmentation of the skin disappear.
A noticeable effect can be seen after 14-28 days of proper use.
Thanks to its more liquid consistency and the absence of an oily base, the gel penetrates the dermis faster and gives faster results compared to cream. In addition, the gel is more suitable for people with oily skin, as it has a watery base.
