Azelaic acid (pronounced “az-uh-LAY-ik”) is a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid that’s present in wheat, rye, and barley. It is usually 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 a wide range of pores and skin circumstances, 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 is usually thought to intervene with the manufacturing of melanin, the pigment that provides pores and skin its shade, which will help to lighten darkish spots and hyperpigmentation. Azelaic acid is usually well-tolerated, with the commonest unwanted effects being delicate pores and skin irritation and dryness.