All About Azelaic Acid

Azelaic acid is a dicarboxylic acid found in grains like wheat and barley. It is suitable for even the most sensitive and rosacea acne prone skin and offers a wide variety of benefits like:

• Reduces Inflammation & Skin sensitivity
• Improves redness and rosacea
• It is antibacterial and Removes dirt, bacteria and oil from pores
• Improves the appearance of acne, acne scars, hyperpigmentation and helps brighten skin.
• Improves skin texture.

Will Azelaic acid cause purging? 

Any skincare ingredients/treatments that increase our skins natural exfoliation process are likely to cause purging. Azelaic acid is known to be a gentle exfoliator. 

Can we reduce Azelaic Acid purging?

You may not be able to prevent azelaic acid from causing skin purging entirely, but there are some ways you can reduce its severity.

1. Incorporate this ingredient slowly in your routine: If you do not experience any irritation following patch test, Apply pea size amount to your whole face in the evening. If your skin has shown no signs of irritation after a week and you wish to go from gentle treatment to a more intense one, you may use AA product morning and night.
2. Use soothing skincare ingredients alongside Azelaic acid.
3. Moisturize: One of the issues with AA is that it may be irritating and drying, so its always a good idea to follow it with a moisturizer.

Is it safe to use while pregnant!?

Yes, it is safe to use during pregnancy and while breast feeding.

Can we use Azelaic acid with other potent ingredients!?

Azelaic acid is a fairly stable component. You don't have to worry about it degrading and being useless when combined with other components.

• Azelaic acid and Vitamin C: This combo helps with hyper pigmentation. Due to the moderate exfoliating properties of AA, using it in the same routine as acidic vitamin c might cause irritation. better to use vitamin c in the morning and AA in the evening.
• Azelaic acid and Retinoids: AA may be used in conjunction with retinoids, but bear in mind that both may dry your skin out.
• Azelaic Acid and AHA/BHA: AA can be combined with both if you want to treat your acne. 

How long does Azelaic Acid take to work!?

You can expect to see improvements in your skin in between 5 to 10 weeks.

Few Azelaic acid based products in the market: 

1. Paulas choice BOOST 10% Azelaic acid booster-It includes azelaic acid at 10% concentration. As well as salicylic acid(BHA) and liquorice root extract making it a formidable acne fighter.
2. Naturium Azelaic acid Topical Acid 10%- This serum combines AA, vitamin c,  niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, glycerine and vitamin e making an excellent choice for those with hyperpigmentation. 
3. Aziderm 10% gel (otc)

PS: My only warning is that you should wear sunscreen while using azelaic acid. That being said, you should wear sunscreen anyway!