Skip to main content
HomeDrug Comparisons
Drug bottle and Pill

Compare Finacea vs. Minocycline

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Azelaic acid (Finacea, Azelex) and minocycline (Minocin) are both used to treat acne, but they work in different ways and are used for different types of acne. Azelaic acid is a topical treatment that you apply directly to your skin, and it also treats rosacea. It works by stopping the growth of certain bacteria and reducing inflammation. You need to use it twice daily, and it may take several weeks to see improvement. Minocycline, on the other hand, is an oral antibiotic that treats moderate-to-severe acne and various bacterial infections. It works by preventing bacteria from making proteins, which stops them from multiplying. Minocycline can make you more sensitive to the sun and can cause dizziness, while azelaic acid can cause skin irritation and dryness. Additionally, minocycline is available as a lower-cost capsule or tablet, whereas azelaic acid can be more expensive and comes in different forms like gel, foam, and cream.

  • Azelaic acid (Finacea)
    Minocycline
  • Azelaic acid (Finacea)
    Minocycline

  • Summary of Finacea vs. Minocycline

    Summary for Dicarboxylic acid
    Prescription only

    Azelaic acid (Finacea) is a dicarboxylic acid. It's a topical medication used to treat mild-to-moderate rosacea in adults. It works by easing skin redness and inflammation. Azelaic acid (Finacea) is applied to the skin twice daily, in the morning and evening. This medication comes as a gel and foam. Some side effects of azelaic acid (Finacea) include mild burning, tingling, and itching. It's available as brand name and generic medications.

    Summary for Tetracycline antibiotic
    Prescription only

    Minocycline is an antibiotic that treats many types of bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs) and sinus infections. It's also used to treat acne when medications that are applied onto the skin aren't working well. Some common side effects include headache, feeling tired, and dizziness. Minocycline can also stain children's teeth and make you more like to get a sunburn.

  • Indications of Finacea vs. Minocycline

    Indications for
    •Treatment of papules and pustules in adults with mild-to-moderate rosacea
    Indications for
    •Moderate-to-severe acne
    •Respiratory tract infections, including in the nose, throat, and lungs
    •Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia, gonorrhea, chancroid, and syphilis
    •Skin infections
    •Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
    •Rickettsial infections (usually from ticks, fleas, or mites), such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus fever
    •Other infections such as anthrax, plague, cholera, and more. Minocycline can be used to treat many other less common infections not listed here.

  • Pros and Cons of Finacea vs. Minocycline

    Pros and Const for Dicarboxylic acid
    Pros
    •Available as a gel and foam
    •Applied to the skin; convenient for people who don't like pills
    •Can wear cosmetics after it dries
    Cons
    •Might take months to see improvement
    •Can cause skin irritation, such as burning or dryness
    •Can cause skin color to lighten
    Pros and Const for Tetracycline antibiotic
    Pros
    •Works well against certain types of acne
    •A good alternative for some infections if you're allergic to penicillin
    •Can take with or without food
    •Might have a lower risk of infectious diarrhea than other antibiotics
    •Available as a lower-cost generic
    Cons
    •Can make you get sunburns easier
    •Can stain children's teeth during tooth development
    •Interacts with blood thinners and birth control pills
    •Not recommended if you're pregnant or breastfeeding
    •Not available as an oral liquid

  • Common Side Effects of Finacea vs. Minocycline

    Common Side Effects for

    Finacea foam

    •Pain (6%)
    •Itching (3%)

    Finacea gel

    •Burning, stinging, tingling (4-16%)
    •Itching (1-6%)
    •Scaly or dry skin (1-5%)
    Common Side Effects for

    For extended-release form:

    •Headache (23%)
    •Feeling tired (9%)
    •Dizziness (9%)
    •Itching (5%)

  • Warnings of Finacea vs. Minocycline

    Common Side Effects for
    •Loss of skin color
    •Eye and mouth irritation
    •Worsening asthma (gel only)
    •Flammable (foam only)
    Common Side Effects for
    •Harm to unborn babies
    •Color changes to teeth in babies and children
    •Infectious diarrhea
    •Severe allergic and skin reactions
    •Kidney and liver damage
    •High pressure in the brain
    •Darker tissue
    •New infection
    •Autoimmune problems

  • Prices with our coupons for Finacea vs. Minocycline

    Learn more about Azelaic acid
    Learn more about Minocycline

Compare other Rosacea and Skin Infection drugs

Epiduo vs FinaceaFinacea vs ClindesseFinacea vs DoxycyclineFinacea vs MinocyclineFinacea vs TindamaxKeflex vs FinaceaMetrogel vs FinaceaAccutane vs EpiduoAugmentin vs DoxycyclineCefdinir vs DoxycyclineCephalexin vs DoxycyclineCleocin vs MetrogelDoxycycline vs AzithromycinDoxycycline vs BactrimEpiduo vs Benzoyl PeroxideEpiduo vs ErygelEpiduo vs MinocyclineEpiduo vs TretinoinFlagyl vs MinocyclineKeflex vs ClindesseKeflex vs EpiduoMetrogel vs ClarisMetrogel vs FlagylMetrogel vs SoolantraMetrogel vs TindamaxMetrogel vs VancocinMetronidazole vs DoxycyclineMinocycline vs ClindessePrimaquine vs DoxycyclineQualaquin vs Doxycycline
View More

Browse medications

View All

Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.