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Azelaic acid is a chemical compound naturally found in wheat, rye, and barley. It has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which make it useful in the treatment of various skin diseases. It’s fairly gentle and can be used up to twice a day.
Azelaic acid can clean your pores of bacteria, therefore curing acne, and preventing future outbreaks from occurring. It helps the skin heal faster, which means it can reduce the occurrence of pimples and blackheads. Plus, it has skin-lightening abilities, which make it effective at treating blotchy areas of skin. Azelaic acid is used topically to treat acne and rosacea, among other conditions.
It can cause several side-effects, including a burning or tingling sensation, peeling skin at the site of application, dry skin, and skin redness. You may also experience blistering, irritation, swelling, and hives, although these are rare. Make sure you wear sunscreen before you go outside, as your skin will be more vulnerable to the sun’s UV radiation.
A scar can form anywhere the skin is broken deeply enough to damage surrounding skin cells. With acne, most superficial blemishes will heal cleanly, leaving no visible evidence of prior breakouts. However, in the case of cystic acne, when a clogged pore leads to infection that travels deep into the dermis, ruptured cysts can break the follicle wall and cause the infection to damage surrounding skin cells. Collagen helps to repair the damage but leaves the skin more firm and tight than the rest of your skin. Some types of acne scarring leave a concave shape, called a pockmark. Contrary to some belief, not all acne scars are caused by picking or popping your blemishes. Some occur even if the acne is allowed to heal without picking.
To prevent sun damage from making acne scars more visible, it’s best to moisturize daily and wear sunscreen. Additionally, antioxidants protect the skin from free radicals that damage cells and speed up aging. Ingredients and nutrients like acai oil, alpha-lipoic acid, green tea extract, retinol/vitamin A, coenzyme Q10, caffeine, alpha-hydroxy acid and salicylic acid are all beneficial for preventing and reducing acne scarring. Jojoba oil is also good for reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, and keeping in moisture for healthier skin.
azelaic acid may be effective for acne scars, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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