Can I get it?
Yes, if a doctor decides it is right for you. Azelaic acid 15% is authorised in the EU and can be prescribed after a medical review.
Azelaic acid 15% · PortugalPrescription only
Online medical consultation for Azelaic acid 15% in Portugal.
An EU-licensed doctor reviews your case and, if eligible, issues an electronic prescription valid in any pharmacy in Portugal. Consultation €35, refunded if the doctor decides it is not safe to prescribe.
- Twice-daily gel, about 2.5 cm for the whole face
- Clears pores and calms inflammation without an antibiotic
- Authorised in the EU for both acne and papulopustular rosacea
Start consultationStart consultation · €35
Full refund if a review is not approved · Medication, if prescribed, is dispensed and paid for separately at a pharmacy.
IN PLAIN TERMS
What Azelaic acid 15% is, and how to get treatment
Azelaic acid 15% is used in weight management. Whether it suits you depends on your medical history, your other medicines and your goals — which is exactly what a consultation is for.
Azelaic acid 15% is an authorised medicine in the EU, so a licensed doctor can prescribe it when it is clinically appropriate for you.
What can I take instead?
Our doctors review every Dermatology option and recommend what fits your history and goals.
See all Dermatology optionsWhat do the studies show?
Every trial behind Azelaic acid 15% is listed below with how many people took part and whether the results are peer-reviewed or a company announcement.
Jump to the studiesLocal consultation facts
Can I get Azelaic acid 15% in Portugal?
Yes. Residents of Portugal can request an online doctor consultation about Azelaic acid 15% with Hi-Doctor. A licensed EU doctor reviews the case and issues a prescription only when clinically appropriate. If approved, the EU prescription arrives as a PDF for a pharmacist in Portugal, who dispenses the locally marketed equivalent containing Azelaic-acid.
Availability
Azelaic acid 15% is available to residents of Portugal through the online consultation. A prescription follows only if the doctor approves it.
- Country
- Portugal
- Language of service
- Spanish and English
- Prescription turnaround
- In less than 4 hours on average, only if the doctor approves
- Honoured locally
- PDF honoured locally for an equivalent containing Azelaic-acid
How the EU prescription works where you are: In Portugal, show the approved prescription PDF to a pharmacist. They honour it under EU cross-border rules and dispense the locally marketed equivalent containing Azelaic-acid.
VERIFIED EVIDENCE
Azelaic acid 15%: evidence and regulatory guide.
WHAT IT IS
How it works
A dicarboxylic acid that normalises shedding inside the pore, reduces acne-associated bacteria and dampens inflammation.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE
EU-authorised medicine
Trial register2 registered trials
Every NCT identifier links to its ClinicalTrials.gov record. A readout is not the same as peer-reviewed publication.
| TRIAL / NCT | POPULATION | PARTICIPANTS | STATUS | READOUT / COMPLETION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thiboutot 2003 (two phase III studies, azelaic acid 15% gel vs vehicle) | Adults with moderate papulopustular rosacea, twice-daily gel for 12 weeks (329 and 335 enrolled) | 664 | Read out | 2003 |
| Elewski 2003 (azelaic acid 15% gel vs metronidazole 0.75% gel) | Adults with moderate papulopustular rosacea, twice daily for 15 weeks | — | Read out | 2003 |
What the studies reported
Results are grouped by source and evidence grade so journal data and manufacturer announcements cannot be confused.
Peer-reviewed
Thiboutot D et al. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;48(6):836-845| DOSE OR GROUP | MEAN WEIGHT CHANGE | WEEKS |
|---|---|---|
| Azelaic acid 15% gel, twice daily (study 1) | 61% therapeutic success | 12 |
| Vehicle (study 1) | 40% therapeutic success | 12 |
| Azelaic acid 15% gel, twice daily (study 2) | 62% therapeutic success | 12 |
| Vehicle (study 2) | 48% therapeutic success | 12 |
These trials were in papulopustular rosacea, not acne. Therapeutic success meant a final rating of clear, minimal or mild. The acne indication rests on the product's EU authorisation and the NICE NG198 recommendation of azelaic acid as a maintenance option and in combination with an oral antibiotic for moderate to severe acne.
NAMED SAFETY SIGNALS
What has been reported with Azelaic acid 15%.
Application-site burning, itching and dryness
Listed as common in the EU product information, most often in the first weeks of use and usually settling with continued treatment.
Worsening of asthma
Reported rarely during post-marketing surveillance. People with asthma should mention it to the doctor and stop the gel if wheeze or breathlessness develops.
Hypersensitivity
Rare reactions including angioedema, facial swelling and dyspnoea are described in the SmPC. Stop and seek medical help if they occur.
FormTopical gel
FrequencyTwice a day
ResultsVisible from ~4 weeks, judged at 12
StatusPrescription only
About
What is Azelaic acid 15%?
Active ingredient: Azelaic-acid · Dosages: 15% gel, twice daily
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.
How it works in the body
Azelaic acid normalises the shedding of cells lining the pore so blockages clear, reduces the growth of the bacteria associated with acne, and dampens inflammation. In rosacea it also lowers the inflammatory signals that drive papules and pustules.
How it helps
How it clears your skin.
Keeps pores open
Normalises keratinisation inside the follicle so new comedones form less often.
No antibiotic
Reduces acne-associated bacteria without adding to antibiotic resistance.
Gentle enough for rosacea
The same gel is authorised for papulopustular rosacea, so it suits reactive skin.
What to expect
A simple twice-daily routine.
Apply a thin layer morning and evening to clean, dry skin. If it stings, your doctor may advise once-daily use for a while before returning to twice daily.
- Weeks 1-2 · Twice daily; mild stinging or itching is common
- Weeks 3-4 · Irritation settles; first improvement usually visible
- Weeks 4-8 · Continue; doctor review at 4 weeks
- Week 12 · Full response judged; maintenance or change of plan
Doses your doctor can prescribe
- Acne (face)15% gel, twice daily
- Papulopustular rosacea15% gel, twice daily
Your schedule is personal
These are typical steps only. Your doctor adjusts the plan to how you respond and tolerate it — and you can message them at any point.
Safety first
Safety, in full.
Azelaic acid 15% is an effective medicine — and like any medicine it carries risks. Your doctor screens for all of this before prescribing. Here's the honest picture, not just reassurance.
Used on affected facial skin for mild to moderate acne or papulopustular rosacea, according to the prescribed pathway.
- Use only as prescribed on the affected skin.
- Follow the treatment plan and review schedule your doctor gives you.
Who should not use it
- Allergy to azelaic acid or any ingredient in the gel.
- Broken, sunburnt or strongly irritated skin must recover first.
When to seek urgent care
For severe, sudden or unexpected symptoms, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department. Then let your doctor know through your account chat.
PRICING
You only pay if treatment is approved.
€25/month for weight loss or €15/month (billed €45 every 90 days) for hair growth. €35 one-off is available for sexual health.
Weight loss
ONGOING PLAN
€25/month
Billed €25 every 28 days · cancel anytime
28-day treatment cycle
For ongoing treatment and doctor-reviewed renewals.
Renewals reviewed by your doctor
Start consultation
Full refund if a review is not approved
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- First consultation included
- Renewals reviewed by your doctor
- Ongoing care with your doctor
- Cancel anytime
Hair growth
ONGOING PLAN
€15/month
Billed €45 every 90 days · cancel anytime
For ongoing treatment and doctor-reviewed renewals.
Lowest monthly price we offer
Start consultation
Full refund if a review is not approved
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- First consultation included
- Renewals reviewed by your doctor
- Ongoing care with your doctor
- Cancel anytime
Sexual health
ONE-OFF
€35 one-off
One consultation, one doctor, one decision.
Nothing stored publicly, ever
Start consultation
Full refund if a review is not approved
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Consultation reviewed by an EU-licensed doctor
- Electronic prescription if approved
- Full refund if not approved
Full refund if a review is not approved
For a one-off consultation, we refund the €35 consultation fee. For a subscription review, we refund that period's fee and cancel the plan.
Note: The medication, if the doctor prescribes it, is paid separately at the pharmacy at the price it sets. Hi-Doctor does not sell medications.
HOW THE DOCTOR DECIDES
A licensed doctor reviews your case, not an algorithm
An EU-licensed doctor reads your questionnaire and answers in less than 2 hours on average.
If the doctor decides it is not safe to prescribe, the consultation fee is refunded in full.
Follow-up happens in the private chat inside your account, under GDPR. No WhatsApp, no SMS.
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Find out if it's right for you
See if Azelaic acid 15% is appropriate for you.
Answer a few questions and a licensed EU doctor reviews your case in less than 2 hours on average. Refunded in full if it's not right for you.