What Is Azelaic Acid?

Azelaic acid seems to be a topical medication. Individuals may receive it as a foam, cream, or gel. Doctors may ask patients to apply this medication in a thin layer twice a day. Patients appear to need follow-up appointments when they use this medication. This may help their doctor monitor their progress and adjust their dose as necessary. However, patients may want to inform their doctor if they do not see improvement in one to three months, depending on their condition.

Doctors may recommend azelaic acid as a prescription acne treatment. It seems to work as an acne scar treatment as well. However, some individuals may try other treatments for acne. This appears to include antibiotics for acne and acne home remedies. This medication may also be a rosacea treatment. Of course, patients may need to understand how this medication works first.

How It Should Work

Azelaic acid seems to be a dicarboxylic acid. This type of medication may lower how much keratin a patient's body creates. Keratin may trigger the growth of bacteria that may result in acne. Thus, taking azelaic acid may help with this. It appears that this medication may also prevent an action that may be responsible for turning cathelicidin into LL-37, a skin peptide. If this happens, patients may find that it reduces swelling caused by rosacea.

Reports indicate that this medication may also be a tyrosinase inhibitor. This should mean that it reduces melanin synthesis. Thus, azelaic acid appears to help patients deal with skin discoloration and hyperpigmentation.

Continue reading to reveal the potential uses next.