How to apply Finacea gel

Always follow your prescription exactly. Wash your hands thoroughly and clean the affected skin with soap or a cleansing lotion. Apply the treatment twice a day or as prescribed. Gently rub the gel into the skin until it is absorbed. Approximately 0.5 g of the gel is sufficient for the entire face.

After using Finacea, do not cover the affected skin, as it may result in excess medicine being absorbed. Finacea may not take full effect until up to four weeks of daily use. See your GP if you do not notice improvements after using Finacea for 12 weeks.

Do not use Finacea cream on damaged skin (e.g. cut, dry, sunburned). Keep this medicine away from the eyes, mouth, nose or genitals.

Finacea gel side effects

Not everyone will experience side effects when they use Finacea, but for some they may include burning, stinging, itching or dry skin where the gel is applied.

Very common (>1 in 10 people):

• Burning
• Pain
• Itching

Common

• Rash
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Dry skin

Uncommon

• Contact dermatitis
• Acne
• Abnormal redness
• Scaling
• Warmth
• Skin discolouration

Rare

• Hypersensitivity
• Worsening of asthma

If you are concerned about these effects, or if the product affects you in any other way, stop using it and talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

For more information, read our full Finacea side effects page.

Finacea gel ingredients

The active ingredient contained in Finacea is azelaic acid 15%. Finacea gel also contains the following inactive ingredients to make up the complete product:

• Lecithin
• Triglycerides (medium chain)
• Propylene glycol
• Polysorbate 80
• Carbomer 980
• Sodium hydroxide
• Disodium edetate
• Purified water
• Benzoic acid

Finacea warnings

Reading the following warnings carefully to ensure you are selecting an appropriate product.

Topical Finacea gel is unsuitable for you if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.

Keep this medicine away from the eyes, mouth, nose or genitals.

Do not use other skin treatments while using Finacea gel.

Finacea gel contains benzoic acid, which can mildly irritate the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Propylene glycol may also have an irritant effect.

If you do get the gel in any of these areas, wash them immediately with a large amount of water. If the irritation continues, speak to your doctor. Wash your hands after each application.

It is advised that you avoid using alcoholic cleansers, tinctures, astringents, abrasives and peeling agents at the same time as using Finacea gel.

Cases of worsening asthma after using azelaic acid cream have been reported rarely during post-marketing surveillance.

There have not been any interaction studies performed between Finacea gel and other medications. The ingredients present in the gel give no indication of any undesired interactions that could adversely affect the safety of the product.

Pregnancy

There have been no well-controlled studies on the effects of topically administered azelaic acid cream in pregnant women.

Animal studies have shown some effects when Finacea gel is used during pregnancy, embryo-fetal development, parturition or postnatal development. These effects have been observed in animals with 3-32 times the maximum recommended human dose.

For these reasons, caution should be exercised when prescribing azelaic acid to pregnant women.

Lactation

The body absorbs less than 4% of topically applied azelaic acid gel and this does not increase azelaic acid exposure above physiological levels. 

Do not allow infants to come into contact with treated skin/breast.

Please read all packaging and the Patient Information Leaflet before taking any new medicine and inform your doctor of medicines you are taking or intend to take.

Delivery & Shipping Information

UK Orders

We offer FREE standard tracked delivery on orders over £40.

The following delivery options are available:

• Standard Tracked Delivery - 2/3 day delivery - £2.95
• Express Tracked Delivery - 1/2 day delivery - £4.45
• DPD Next Day - 1 working day - £6.95
• Special Delivery (Guaranteed before 1pm) - £8.95
• Saturday Guaranteed before 1pm - £10.45

Important Delivery Information

All our orders are sent out using Royal Mail (unless stated). We always aim to dispatch all Royal Mail orders received before 4pm the same working day. Any orders received after 4pm or over the weekend will be dispatched the next working day. We aim to dispatch all DPD orders placed before 3pm on the same working day. Orders will not be dispatched on weekends or bank holidays.

All orders are subject to approval by our team of doctors and pharmacists. Your delivery date in the checkout is subject to your consultation being approved by our healthcare team.

All orders can be fully tracked from your dispatch email and in your account.

We ensure all parcels are in plain packaging for discreet delivery of your medicines and pharmacy goods. Where possible, we will attempt to size all parcels to fit through your letterbox in tamper-proof packaging. By placing an order on our website, you confirm that it is safe and appropriate for a package containing medicines to be posted through your letterbox, if the carrier is able to do so. You should notify our customer support team if it is not safe for the package to be posted through the letterbox, for example due to animals or small children.

Deliveries containing pharmacy-only or prescription medicines may require a signature on receipt. 

Delivery is free for all NHS prescriptions.

Royal Mail

Royal Mail are the most widely recognised mail delivery company in the UK. Being on the UK’s 29 million doorsteps six days a week means they offer unparalleled price and convenience. The Independent Pharmacy uses Royal Mail’s Tracked 48, Tracked 24, and Special Delivery Guaranteed parcel services to offer reliable, fully-tracked delivery at very competitive prices. Your Royal Mail parcel will arrive with your normal daily delivery of post.

Please note: Royal Mail do not deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays - this should be taken into account when ordering. 

If you are not home to accept your delivery, a card should be left by the Royal Mail representative. This card will provide details of where you can collect the order or how to arrange re-delivery.

Should you be unable to collect your missed delivery or arrange for your medication to be redelivered by Royal Mail, the pharmacy can resend your medication to the same, or a different address provided it has been returned to us and this happens within a 30 day window.

Once a package has been shipped with Royal Mail we advise that you are bound to the terms and conditions of their use together with the terms and conditions contained herein.

You have the right to cancel your order up to the point when your treatment is dispatched. The pharmacist must destroy any medication within 30 days of it being returned, even un-opened boxes, so we are not able to offer refunds once your treatment has been dispatched.

DPD

DPD Local is the most innovative parcel carrier around. Thanks to their industry-leading Predict service, they provide parcel recipients with a one hour delivery window, notified by email, so you don't have to wait in all day. What's more, it enables receivers to watch the progress of their delivery on a real-time map, all the way down to a final 15 minute time-slot. 

As well as keeping customers informed at every stage of the journey, DPD believe in maximising choice and convenience. That's why DPD provide access to a suite of options both on the day of delivery and the night before, allowing customers to take delivery of their goods in a way that suits. If you wish to reschedule, you can:

• Select an alternative delivery date
• Opt for delivery to a nominated neighbour
• Have the parcel left in a specified safe place
• Collect the parcel from your local DPD Pickup Shop
• Upgrade delivery to By 12

Please note: DPD do not deliver on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays - this should be taken into account when ordering. 

Once a package has been shipped with DPD we advise that you are bound to the terms and conditions of their use together with the terms and conditions contained herein.

You have the right to cancel your order up to the point when your treatment is dispatched. The pharmacist must destroy any medication within 30 days of it being returned, even un-opened boxes, so we are not able to offer refunds once your treatment has been dispatched.

Forwarding houses

We are unable to ship orders to mailing or forwarding houses for onwards shipping to locations outside of the UK.

BFPO Postcodes

Unfortunately we are unable to deliver medicines to BFPO postcodes.

Remote Areas

Please be aware that Royal Mail Guaranteed services are not available to all customers in the UK, especially those that live in remote postcodes. Royal Mail advise customers of the following:

We deliver by 5.30pm the next working day in the following postcode areas:
AB30 - 39, 41 - 45, 51 - 56
GY9 Alderney (Channel Islands)
HS1, 3 - 9
IV21 - 28, 40 - 49, 51 - 56
KA27, 28
KW1 - 3, 5 - 15
KW16 Stromness Town only
PA20 (0&9)
PA28 - 38, 41 - 49, 76, 77
PH15, 17 - 26, 31 - 40, 49, 50
ZE1

We deliver within two working days by 5.30pm to the following postcodes areas:
GY1 Herm (Channel Islands)
GY9 Sark (Channel Islands)
GY10
HS2
PA60 - 75, 78
ZE2, 3

We deliver within three working days by 5.30pm to the following postcode areas:
KW16 - non-Town
KW17
PH30, 41 - 44

Please note: This applies to our 'Special Delivery' and 'Saturday Guaranteed' services.

International Orders

We are currently unable to ship orders outside of the UK.

We are unable to ship orders to mailing or forwarding houses for onwards shipping to locations outside of the UK.