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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Azelaic acid vs Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide

National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Data updated May 2026

Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide was dispensed 1.7× as often as Azelaic acid in May 2026 — 30,850 items versus 17,723 in England.

17,723items

Azelaic acid · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

30,850items

Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Azelaic acid versus Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide: national items dispensed by month

▬ Azelaic acid   ·   ╌ Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide

0 18k 35k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Adapalene and be… 17,723 Jan 2021: 8k Feb 2021: 8k Mar 2021: 9k Apr 2021: 9k May 2021: 9k Jun 2021: 9k Jul 2021: 9k Aug 2021: 9k Sep 2021: 9k Oct 2021: 9k Nov 2021: 9k Dec 2021: 9k Jan 2022: 9k Feb 2022: 8k Mar 2022: 11k Apr 2022: 10k May 2022: 10k Jun 2022: 11k Jul 2022: 9k Aug 2022: 10k Sep 2022: 9k Oct 2022: 8k Nov 2022: 10k Dec 2022: 9k Jan 2023: 10k Feb 2023: 10k Mar 2023: 11k Apr 2023: 9k May 2023: 9k Jun 2023: 9k Jul 2023: 11k Aug 2023: 11k Sep 2023: 11k Oct 2023: 10k Nov 2023: 11k Dec 2023: 10k Jan 2024: 12k Feb 2024: 11k Mar 2024: 12k Apr 2024: 13k May 2024: 13k Jun 2024: 13k Jul 2024: 14k Aug 2024: 13k Sep 2024: 13k Oct 2024: 13k Nov 2024: 13k Dec 2024: 12k Jan 2025: 14k Feb 2025: 12k Mar 2025: 15k Apr 2025: 15k May 2025: 16k Jun 2025: 16k Jul 2025: 16k Aug 2025: 14k Sep 2025: 16k Oct 2025: 16k Nov 2025: 15k Dec 2025: 15k Jan 2026: 16k Feb 2026: 16k Mar 2026: 18k Apr 2026: 19k May 2026: 18k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Azelaic acid versus Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide, May 2026
Measure Azelaic acid Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide
Items, May 2026 17,723 30,850
Items, last 12 months 193,489 389,700
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £129,718 £840,227

See the full profile for Azelaic acid or Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide.