Why Azelaic Acid Is the Underdog of Your Zits-Combating Routine

Dr. Inexperienced echoes Dr. Shirazi’s sentiments. Each professionals additionally observe azelaic acid’s antimicrobial and anti inflammatory properties, glorious for treating pores and skin circumstances like zits and rosacea, because it kills breakout-causing micro organism and reduces irritation. This versatile acid, additionally thought of a mild exfoliant, stimulates cell turnover as properly. As such, Dr. Inexperienced says that azelaic acid “will help scale back the looks of zits scars.”

Who can use azelaic acid?

The excellent news is azelaic acid is secure for all pores and skin varieties, however with that being stated, Dr. Inexperienced advises these with delicate pores and skin to start out utilizing the ingredient “as soon as a day, growing the frequency to twice a day after a number of weeks.” And, if you happen to expertise any irritation, it is best to seek the advice of your physician earlier than persevering with.

You additionally needn’t fear an excessive amount of about adjusting your total skin-care routine to include azelaic acid. Happily, Dr. Inexperienced and Dr. Shirazi agree that azelaic acid is usually mild sufficient and secure to make use of with different substances like vitamin C, AHAs, BHAs, and retinoids. Nevertheless, says Dr. Inexperienced, “You probably have prescription-strength azelaic acid, Retin-A, or different topical lotions, you must seek the advice of a dermatologist.”

Relying in your pores and skin sort and considerations, azelaic acid might be present in over-the-counter merchandise in all kinds of strengths, from as little as 1% to as excessive as 15%, with the best prescription-strength focus coming in at 20%, per Dr. Shirazi. Nevertheless, decrease concentrations might be simply as efficient and “might assist forestall pores and skin irritation” for these with reactive, delicate pores and skin, says Dr. Inexperienced. “Pores and skin-care merchandise with a low focus of azelaic acid might be useful relating to unclogging pores, stopping zits breakouts, and soothing pores and skin irritation,” he provides. For these with acne-prone pores and skin, decrease concentrations of azelaic acid are sometimes mixed with different actives like AHAs and BHAs for a multi-pronged method.

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When Attract checks a product, our editors take a look at it from each angle in an effort to greatest serve you. We evaluation substances, scrutinize model claims, and, when vital, look at peer-reviewed scientific and medical research. Along with testing each product that’s included in each evaluation, we depend on specialists who form their fields, together with dermatology, beauty chemistry, and drugs, to assist us vet the substances and formulation.