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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.
Pigmentation is simply skin’s coloration, determined by the amount of melanin produced by the skin cells. This umbrella term can include a wide variety of skin pigmentation disorders that can affect small or large areas of the skin. It includes genetic conditions, as well as environmental ones, such as sunspots or liver spots. Hyperpigmentation, for example, refers to a darkening of the skin, such as with age spots and sunspots.
To prevent discoloration from damaging UV, 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, jojoba oil, green tea extract, retinol/vitamin A, coenzyme Q10, caffeine, alpha-hydroxy acid and salicylic acid are all beneficial for preventing and reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C is also a good brightening agent for hyperpigmentation. Hydrolyzed collagen also enhances the appearance of dull or damaged skin by reducing flaking and restoring the overall vitality of the skin.
azelaic acid may be effective for pigmentation, 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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