If you're struggling with a skin concern like acne, rosacea, or uneven skin tone, you're not alone. Many people search for a magical skin-healing elixir to solve all their skin conditions. Although there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for your skincare necessities, there is an ingredient that may not have crossed your Google search path until now.
It’s called azelaic acid, and it’s quickly gaining popularity in the skincare industry because it has the potential to improve the appearance of multiple skin conditions—and its benefits don’t end there.
Whether you’re interested in adding products with azelaic acid to your current skincare lineup or you simply have a penchant for all things beauty, we’re here to give you all of the details on azelaic acid (including its potential skin-enhancing benefits).
Not sure where to start? We can help.
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What Is Azelaic Acid?
Although you can find azelaic acid in some grains, like wheat, rye, and barley [1], it's often produced by yeast that commonly grows on the outer layer of your skin [2]. Scientists are also able to make azelaic acid in a lab, and you can find the resulting ingredient in a variety of skincare products, such as [3]:
- Night creams
- Facial cleansers
- Gels
- Foams
What Are the Benefits of Azelaic Acid?
These days, azelaic acid is an active ingredient popping up in more and more skincare products—from cleansers to exfoliators and everything in between. Learning that many people are applying it to their skin every day may leave you wondering, what is azelaic acid good for?
Azelaic acid is responsible for a myriad of skin-enhancing benefits, but namely for its potential to improve the appearance of:
- Rosacea – Rosacea is a skin disorder characterized by inflammation and redness of the nose and cheeks [4]. Some individuals with rosacea also experience pimples and pustules similar to acne [5]. Although doctors don’t know exactly what causes rosacea, it often runs in families, and many adults start to notice its effects around age 30 and older [6].
- Acne – Like rosacea, acne is another inflammation disorder associated with the skin [7]. Acne occurs when dead skin cells, excess sebum (an oil produced by the skin), and bacteria become trapped inside a plugged hair follicle [8]. The results tend to be painful, inflamed, and reddened patches of skin that are covered in pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, and sometimes, even more severe forms of acne. Ance can appear in different areas of the face due to a variety of causes. Using an acne face map can help understand the stem of your breakouts and what lifestyle habits to change.
- Melasma – This skin pigment disorder can cause dark spots or patches most notably on or around the face [9]. Common color discoloration includes brown, tan, and gray spots appearing on the cheeks, nose, and forehead. It can affect men and women, however it’s more often seen in women, especially women who are pregnant or taking birth control [10].
How Does Azelaic Acid Work?
Some of azelaic acid’s beneficial properties include [12]:
- Antimicrobial properties – Azelaic acid is antimicrobial, meaning that it works to help rid your skin of the bacteria that can cause acne [13]. With consistent use, you may have less acne-causing bacteria (C. acnes) [14] on your skin, eventually resulting in fewer acne breakouts and less inflammation.
- Anti-inflammatory properties – Just like the name suggests, azelaic acid’s anti-inflammatory properties may reduce skin inflammation caused by rosacea and acne [15]. When consistently using products that contain azelaic acid, you may notice less redness, swelling, or discomfort.
- Comedolytic properties – Comedones (also known as skin bumps or acne) come in all shapes and sizes and can give the skin on your face the rough texture often associated with acne [16]. Ingredients that are comedolytic (like azelaic acid) may help to diminish blocked pores by loosening the plugged follicle and breaking down the bacteria and sebum trapped inside [17].
- Keratolytic properties – Karatolytic compounds like azelaic acid [18] embrace the saying, “out with the old and in with the new”. They do so by acting as a mild exfoliant that can slough off the outer layers of dead skin [19]. When used in conjunction with other skincare exfoliants, this can be an effective treatment for individuals who are looking to remove acne scars or darkened skin pigments to reveal fresh, clearer skin underneath.
When it’s all said and done, azelaic acid is definitely an overachiever in the skincare department—and we’re not complaining. To recap, some potential azelaic acid benefits include:
- Reducing inflammation of acne and rosacea [20]
- Exfoliating unwanted dead skin to shed light on a new layer [21]
- Fighting against the bacteria that can cause acne [22]
- Repairing redness and pimples associated with rosacea [23]
- Lightening skin tones by inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme that causes hyperpigmentation [24]
How to Find and Use Products with Azelaic Acid
From gels to cleansers, you can find azelaic acid in many different forms and levels of concentration depending on your needs and skincare goals. If you’re interested in adding a product with azelaic acid to your skincare regimen, you may be wondering where to start your search. Fortunately, PROVEN Skincare makes it simple.
Our personalized skincare set can be specially formulated with azelaic acid to meet your skin’s exact needs, whether that’s improving the appearance of rosacea, soothing acne breakouts, or treating dark spots. Plus, our customized cleansers are designed to cleanse, exfoliate, and tone, all with one easy-to-use product.
For example, how would you use your personalized cleanser to get the most effective results? Let’s break it down step-by-step:
- Step 1: Wash your hands with soap and dry them with a towel. This can help you avoid adding bacteria or other germs to your face.
- Step 2: Use lukewarm water to dampen your face. This will help the cleanser glide more easily onto your skin.
- Step 3: Gently rub the cleanser onto your face using the pads of your fingers.
- Step 4: Rinse off the cleanser using cool water, as colder water can increase blood flow to the affected area.
- Step 5: Pat your face dry with a soft towel before continuing the rest of your skincare routine.
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How Is Azelaic Acid Different from Glycolic or Salicylic Acid?
If you’ve ever used products with glycolic acid or salicylic acid, you may assume that azelaic is a close cousin of these commonly used hydroxy acids. But the truth is that this special ingredient is in a league of its own.
This begs the question, how do glycolic acid and salicylic acid differ from azelaic acid?
- Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). It works to exfoliate the skin and may help to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. It also has the potential to improve the skin’s texture to make it more smooth [24].
- Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA). It’s another keratolytic compound [26], so it also works to remove the outer layer of dead skin [27]. It’s often used for individuals with acne, as it may reduce swelling by unblocking hair follicles and helping pimples shrink [28].
Unlike glycolic acid and salicylic acid, azelaic acid is gentler on the skin while still providing light exfoliation where applied [29]. This makes it ideal for people of any skin type and particularly those with rosacea or sensitive skin.
Like azelaic acid, AHAs and BHAs can be found in a variety of concentration levels depending on your skin’s needs [30]. If you’re incorporating an over-the-counter product into your at-home skincare routine, it’ll likely contain a lower concentration of glycolic or salicylic acid. However, if you’re looking for more dramatic results, a dermatologist can provide a professional treatment that may use higher concentrations of these ingredients to penetrate and exfoliate your skin even more deeply [31].
Depending on the condition of your skin and your skincare goals, you could benefit from adding products that include one or all of these ingredients into your skincare routine.
Soak In the Benefits of Personalized Skin Care with PROVEN
Waking up with reddened or inflamed skin probably isn’t high on your list of ways you’d like to start your day. However, waking up with a smooth and clear complexion is possible when you implement the right skincare routine on a daily basis. But how do you figure out the best routine for you and your unique skin?
That’s the exact issue PROVEN Skincare is committed to solving.
Our experienced team of Stanford dermatologists will provide you with a personalized 3-step skincare routine with products that include those exact ingredients. So, whether you’re prone to breakouts, you have dry skin, or you’ve recently noticed a few fine lines or wrinkles, we can use our advanced technology to formulate a set of skincare products designed to address your concerns and help you achieve your skincare goals.
If you’re ready to get started, take our skin quiz and jumpstart your journey to clearer, smoother, and more radiant skin.
