The list of skin care ingredients is seemingly endless. From salicylic acid and retinol to prickly pear and niacinamide, it can be quite overwhelming. But there's one unsung hero you definitely need to know about: azelaic acid. What is azelaic acid?
Content What is azelaic acid?What skin types or concerns are best suited for azelaic acid?How does azelaic acid work?At what stage of skin care should azelaic acid be used?Can azelaic acid be used in combination with other ingredients?Is there side effects of using azelaic acid?Best skin care products with azelaic acid
This ingredient has become increasingly popular over the years: it is increasingly prescribed by dermatologists, and more and more brands are adding it to beauty products. Now azelaic acid is finally getting the attention it deserves, so WomanEL is here to tell you everything you need to know about this skin care ingredient.
What is azelaic acid?
Dr Sam Bunting, skin and founder of Dr Sam's Skincare, told Stylist about her. “This natural acid is a byproduct of yeast that lives all over our skin. Specifically, it is a dicarboxylic acid that can be found in grains such as barley.”
What skin types or concerns are best suited to azelaic acid?
Those with acne, redness, or rosacea will benefit the most from incorporating azelaic acid into their daily routine.< /p>
How does azelaic acid work ?
“In addition to reducing skin inflammation, it also acts as an antibacterial and reduces the tendency of skin cells to clog pores,” explains Bunting. “Collectively, these actions make it incredibly useful in treating and preventing acne. It also inhibits the action of tyrosinase, which means it reduces the skin's tendency to develop pigmentation, making it useful for reducing acne marks, scars and melasma.”
At what stage of skin care should I use azelaic acid?
“I usually start in the morning, but over time—and if you like the benefits—it can be used at night,” says Bunting.
Can azelaic acid be used in combination with other ingredients?< /h2> 
“Yes, he is a great team player. It can be combined with retinoids, bakuchiol, niacinamide, as well as other substances such as BHA or hyaluronic acid,” she says.
Are there any side effects from using azelaic acid?
“Like any active ingredient, if used too vigorously initially, it can cause redness and irritation. But given that we use azelaic acid for rosacea with good effect, this occurs much less frequently than with many other active ingredients,” says Bunting.
Best skin care products with azelaic acid
- Dr Sam's Flawless Brightly Serum;
- Drunk Elephant Bouncy Brightfacial;
- Ren Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic;
- Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster;
- The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%.
If you're concerned about acne scars, here's a helpful guide on how to get rid of them once and for all.