SAN FRANCISCO — For treatment of acne or rosacea in pregnancy, think first, and last, of azelaic acid gel 15% twice daily, Dr. Joseph Bikowski advised.
“It is pregnancy category B. It's the Rice Crispies and Corn Flakes of therapy; you can eat the stuff. It's the one thing you can use for acne and rosacea in pregnancy where you'll never do any harm, and you may do some good,” Dr. Bikowski said in a therapeutic pearls session at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Other treatments for acne and/or rosacea are rated categories C through X, creating potential medicolegal exposure in the event of a bad pregnancy outcome, he noted. And although other formulations of azelaic acid are also rated category B, azelaic acid gel 15% (Finacea) is less irritating, said Dr. Bikowski, a dermatologist in private practice in Sewickley, Pa.
Dr. Bikowski disclosed that he is a consultant to and on the speakers bureau for Intendis Inc., which markets Finacea.