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Dermatology · Medicine

Azelaic acid 15%

Azelaic acid 15% is prescribed on Hi-Doctor when the licensed doctor considers it appropriate within dermatology.

€40once

Consultation price. The medicine is paid at your pharmacy.

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Azelaic acid 15%
About the medicine

What it is and how it works

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid. The 15% gel is authorised in the EU for mild to moderate papulopustular acne of the face and for papulopustular rosacea, and it is one of the few acne treatments that works without an antibiotic or a retinoid.

It suits people with sensitive or easily irritated skin, and NICE lists it among the maintenance options once a first 12-week course of acne treatment has worked. A licensed doctor confirms the diagnosis and reviews at 4 weeks and again at 12.

Who it is for

  • Twice-daily gel, about 2.5 cm for the whole face
  • Clears pores and calms inflammation without an antibiotic

Safety summary

Always read the patient leaflet supplied with your medicine. Your doctor reviews risks and interactions before prescribing.

Read the safety summary
Pricing

One consultation, one clear price

You pay for the doctor's consultation. If a prescription is issued, the medicine is paid at your own pharmacy.

  • Consultation reviewed by an EU-licensed doctor
  • Private follow-up in the in-app chat
  • Full refund if the doctor does not approve
One-off

Dermatology

One-offPhoto review included€40once
  • Consultation reviewed by an EU-licensed doctor
  • Photo review of your skin
  • Electronic prescription if approved
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Full refund if a review is not approved

FAQs

Your questions answered

Azelaic acid 15%13 questions
What is azelaic acid 15% gel used for?
Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid. In the EU the 15% gel is authorised for mild to moderate papulopustular acne of the face and for papulopustular rosacea. It helps keep pores clear, reduces inflammation and lowers the bacteria associated with acne, without being an antibiotic.
A thin layer twice a day, morning and evening, on clean, dry skin. About 2.5 cm of gel is enough for the whole face. Keep it away from the eyes, mouth and broken skin, and wash your hands afterwards. Your doctor may advise once-daily use for a while if the skin stings.
More questions
Burning, stinging, itching and dryness at the application site are common, especially in the first few weeks, and usually settle. Contact dermatitis is less common. Rarely, asthma has worsened in people using azelaic acid; stop and seek advice if you notice wheeze or breathlessness.
Improvement is usually visible after about 4 weeks; the full response is judged at 8 to 12 weeks. The doctor confirms that the diagnosis fits, asks about asthma, pregnancy and other topical products, and reviews at 4 weeks and again at 12 weeks. The gel is stopped if acne has not improved after 1 month, or rosacea after 2 months.
Write to your doctor in the private chat in your account: describe what you notice and when it started. The doctor can adjust the plan, pause it or suggest another option. If you have severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or chest pain, call 112 or go to an emergency department straight away.
It depends on what you take. List every medicine, supplement and herbal product in the questionnaire, including ones you use only occasionally. The doctor checks for interactions before prescribing, and your pharmacist checks again when you collect Azelaic acid 15%.
The doctor can choose another topical option for your skin, adjust how you use it, or refer you to an in-person dermatologist when your skin needs an examination or a treatment that is not prescribed online.
Skin treatments need several weeks to show a change. You can write to your doctor in the private chat about irritation or doubts, and at the end of the course a follow-up consultation with new photos decides whether to continue, change or stop.
Yes. Hi-Doctor runs 100 % online across the EU, so if you live in Madrid you can fill in the questionnaire and receive the medical review without travelling. The electronic prescription issued by the licensed doctor is valid in any EU pharmacy under Directive 2011/24/EU; in Spain it is dispensed directly from the prescription QR.
The doctor reviews its appearance and progression, your history, allergies, current products and clear photos when needed. If your skin needs an in-person examination, the doctor refers you before prescribing.
The private electronic prescription (Receta Médica Privada Electrónica) is issued by a licensed doctor in Spain. It is a PDF carrying every field required by EU Directive 2011/24/EU (patient, prescriber with country of registration, active ingredient, dose), which makes it legally recognised across all 27 EU member states. In Spanish pharmacies it is dispensed from the QR; outside Spain, the pharmacist dispenses the locally marketed equivalent of the same active ingredient.
1) Fill in an online medical questionnaire in about 4 minutes. 2) The plan is €25/month for weight loss or €15/month (billed €45 every 90 days) for hair growth; sexual health is €35 per consultation and a skin consultation is €40. 3) An EU-licensed doctor reviews your case and, if appropriate, issues an electronic prescription. 4) Collect it at any EU pharmacy. If the review is not approved, the applicable fee is refunded in full.
The plan is €25/month for weight loss or €15/month (billed €45 every 90 days) for hair growth; a one-off sexual-health consultation is €35 and a skin consultation covering acne, rosacea, melasma and ageing skin is €40. Each includes a licensed doctor's review and an electronic prescription if approved. If the review is not approved, the applicable fee is refunded in full. Medication is paid for separately at the pharmacy at the price it sets.
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All content on this page has been medically reviewed by: Dr. Alejandro Infante, General medicine, on 25 August 2026. Registration: 080869277 View profile

Pay nothing if a doctor doesn't approve your treatment. Every consultation is fully refundable. How refunds work