Azelaic acid (pronounced “az-uh-LAY-ik”) is a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid that’s present in wheat, rye, and barley. Additionally it is 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 pimples, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation.
Azelaic acid works by inhibiting the expansion of micro organism and fungi, lowering irritation, and selling cell turnover. Additionally it is thought to intervene with the manufacturing of melanin, the pigment that provides pores and skin its colour, which can assist to lighten darkish spots and hyperpigmentation. Azelaic acid is usually well-tolerated, with the commonest unwanted side effects being gentle pores and skin irritation and dryness.
