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Azelaic Acid 15% Gel

In the Treatment of Papulopustular Rosacea

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Abstract

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring, straight-chain dicarboxylic acid which is effective in the treatment of rosacea, presumably on account of its anti-inflammatory properties.

In randomized, double-blind, multicenter studies involving patients with moderate papulopustular facial rosacea, twice-daily topical application of azelaic acid 15% gel to the face was significantly more effective than twice-daily administration of either its vehicle (two studies) or metronidazole 0.75% gel (one study) in reducing inflammatory lesion counts and erythema severity. However, neither active treatment had a clinically discernable effect on telangiectasia.

In all three studies, azelaic acid 15% gel recipients experienced continuous decreases in lesion counts and erythema throughout the 12- to 15-week treatment periods. However, the effects of metronidazole 0.75% gel plateauxed after 8 weeks.

In other efficacy assessments in these studies, azelaic acid 15% gel was superior to its vehicle and metronidazole 0.75% gel in both the investigators’ global assessment of rosacea and the investigators’ end-of-study evaluation of overall improvement, and superior to its vehicle in the patients’ end-of-study evaluation of overall improvement.

The most frequent treatment-related cutaneous adverse events during administration of azelaic acid 15% gel include burning/stinging/tingling and pruritus (itching); however, these events are predominantly transient in nature and mild-to-moderate in intensity.

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Notes

  1. Use of tradenames is for product identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adis International Inc., 770 Township Line Road, Suite 300, Yardley, Pennsylvania, 19067, USA

    James E. Frampton & Antona J. Wagstaff

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  1. James E. Frampton
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  2. Antona J. Wagstaff
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Correspondence to James E. Frampton.

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Frampton, J.E., Wagstaff, A.J. Azelaic Acid 15% Gel. Am J Clin Dermatol 5, 57–64 (2004). https://doi.org/10.2165/00128071-200405010-00009

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