Azelaic acid (pronounced “az-uh-LAY-ik”) is a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid that’s present in wheat, rye, and barley. It’s also produced by the Malassezia furfur yeast, which is a typical commensal organism on the pores and skin. Azelaic acid has been proven to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and comedolytic (comedone-reducing) properties, making it an efficient therapy for quite a lot of pores and skin situations, together with zits, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation.
Azelaic acid works by inhibiting the expansion of micro organism and fungi, decreasing irritation, and selling cell turnover. It’s also thought to intervene with the manufacturing of melanin, the pigment that provides pores and skin its coloration, which will help to lighten darkish spots and hyperpigmentation. Azelaic acid is usually well-tolerated, with the most typical uncomfortable side effects being gentle pores and skin irritation and dryness.
