What Does Azelaic Acid Do for Rosacea?

What Does Azelaic Acid Do for Rosacea?

We’ve focused a lot on azelaic acid recently, as mentioned in previous posts you will know it is a high performing skin ingredient that offers an impressive amount of benefits. One of the most interesting is the fact it is able to combat acne and redness in the skin, such as rosacea.

The reason these two benefits are so unusual to find in an ingredient is due to the fact that (quite often) anything formulated to target breakouts, such as spots and blackheads can often become drying on the skin and if used incorrectly results in irritation and redness. Azelaic acid demonstrates again how it is a one of a kind ingredient by perfecting the balancing act of treating flare-ups in breakouts and redness so effectively.

This brings me round nicely to today’s topic and answering a question we have found reappearing often which is- “What does azelaic acid do for rosacea?” I’ve done some digging around and will share with you what results you can expect to see when using azelaic acid in your skincare routine and how it can combat any redness or rosacea.

Does azelaic acid reduce redness?

Yes, there are a lot of clinically proven studies surrounding azelaic acid and the benefits it can provide for the skin, particularly reducing any inflammation and post breakout redness and hyperpigmentation. It has the ability to do this by preventing the overproduction of melanin to cause the pigmentation to darken on any areas or patches of discolouration. This then leads to another ability of azelaic acid to improve the appearance of swelling caused by visible blood vessels that result in a flare-up of rosacea and other forms of redness.

Although azelaic acid provides exfoliation that often irritates rosacea and skin inflammation it delivers this in a gentle and effective way without stripping the skin of the vital oil it needs remain healthy and doesn’t penetrate too far down the lower layers of the skin making it feel severely dry, tight and uncomfortable.

Just as a side note- you must ensure you speak to your doctor about introducing azelaic acid into your skincare routine, particularly if you have a hyper-sensitive and dry skin type.

How long does azelaic acid take to work on rosacea?

Let’s start at the beginning and the best way of starting your azelaic acid skin journey: 

  1. First you want to double check with a dermatologist that the concentrate and formulation is safe to use by you at home.
  2. Next you should perform a patch test by applying some of the product to your forearm and leaving it for 24 hours to ensure there will be no reactions to the skin.
  3. If at any point you find the product begins to make your skin burn, sting or itch, wash it off immediately and avoid using it in the future.
  4. To get the best idea of how azelaic acid works for the skin and signs of rosacea you should use it for consistently for 3 months.
  5. The time in which you see results varies between each person, some see a difference with an improvement in areas of pigmentation after 1 week.
  6. For redness and areas of rosacea you may see the benefits within four to six weeks, or even sooner for some depending on the severity of the rosacea.

There you have a guide of how to introduce azelaic acid to your skin and how long it takes for it to work on rosacea and redness. You can also help the process by ensuring you follow these top tips on keeping your skin healthy and happy when using new acids on the skin. 

  1. Always ensure you are applying a daily SPF to protect the skin from sun damage.
  2. Help azelaic acid penetrate the skin by removing the barrier of dead skin cells that gather on the surface of the skin with AHAs, such as lactic acid.
  3. Avoid using BHAs, such as salicylic acid and other potent ingredients to prevent the skin becoming too dry and irritated.
  4. Team your azelaic acid products with others that are enriched with ingredients that contain humectant traits such as hyaluronic acid to help draw moisture into the skin and lock it in place.
  5. Remember that slow and steady wins the race, plan out and develop your routine to include products that will combat signs of rosacea whilst nourishing and protecting the skin barrier.

Which acid is best for rosacea?

There are many acids available that provide many skin benefits but which one exactly is the best for applying to help with rosacea? Well, it’s Azelaic acid! No really, it is the best one and here’s why:

Azelaic Acid

Not only does it kill the bacteria known for creating spots and blemishes, also contains anti-inflammatory properties helping to reduce symptoms of rosacea flare-ups of the skin. It is able to do this whilst still remaining gentle on the skin. 

Ascorbic Acid

Also known as vitamin C, this acid does also provide rejuvenating benefits for combating rosacea but can be quite irritating to the skin.

What you must also remember is that azelaic acid and ascorbic acid are best avoided to be used together as they have a tendency to counteract each other. You can find out more about this in our previous blogpost about using vitamin C and azelaic acid together in your skincare routine.

Hyaluronic Acid

This ingredient will help in many ways due to the fact it is able to lock in moisture into the skin helping to repair the protective barrier. It is also safe for all skin types to use and you may find when teamed with azelaic acid will provide impressive skin results. 

There you have some examples of which acids are best to use when wanting to combat signs of rosacea and other areas of redness. Don’t forget if you ever have any concerns or questions about any of these ingredient and how you can add them to your skin, it is best to consult your GP or a dermatologist.

Can I use azelaic acid twice a day?

Yes, it is perfectly safe to use azelaic acid twice a day preferably once in the morning and again later in the evening. If you are wanting to target your rosacea effectively and reduce any inflammations we would suggest using it consistently to see quicker results and achieving your skin goals. Once your skin has built a tolerance and become used to how the rest of the products in your routine work you will be able to have the confidence that your skincare routine is delivering the best benefits giving you an all-over improvement of the health and appearance of your complexion.

So, now I hope you have a better understanding of azelaic acid and how using it in your skincare routine will improve the appearance of rosacea. If you  have any questions or fancy joining the skin chat come and follow us on Instagram, look forward to seeing you there!


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