Azelaic Acid Review
What is Azelaic Acid?
Azelaic acid is a prescription acne treatment based on saturated dicarboxylic acid which you will find in wheat, barley, and rye. It can be used to treat mild to moderate acne, is generally used in a topical cream in concentrations of 20%, and it can also be used to stimulate hair growth. It works as an antibacterial, and it reduces the growth of bacteria. It kills free radicals and reduces inflammation, and it can reduce pigmentation.
What Ingredients are in Azelaic Acid?
However, 20% is an extremely high concentration requirement for any acne product, and as we've seen, even in some prescriptions, you are unlikely to get 5%, let alone 20%. It has few side effects, but some women have reported hair growth on the face and neck with its use. It can also result in prostate enlargement for men and damaged hair follicles in general. But clinical studies are sparse in terms of its use in treatments in general.
What Else Should I Know about Azelaic Acid?
The side effects of this particular treatment are unusual to say the least. Generally we see redness, irritation, and inflammation with acne products of the prescription nature. But not with this product. Instead, we see increased hair growth on the face, prostate enlargement, and other less common side effects. With its unusual and sometimes severe side effects, it's not one we would consider a viable choice.
