Definition:

- a natural material produced by a yeast that lives on normal skin, Malassezia furfur (also known as Pityrosporum ovale)

Benefits:

Azelaic acid is used as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne, and may be combined with oral antibiotics or hormonal therapy. It is useful for both comedonal acne and inflammatory acne. Azelaic acid is an antibacterial which reduces the growth of bacteria in the follicle (Proprionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis), a keratolytic & comedolytic which returns to normal the disordered growth of the skin cells lining the follicle, and a scavenger of free radicals - i.e. it reduces inflammation. Azelaic acid also helps reduce pigmentation, so it's particularly useful for darker skinned patients whose acne spots leave persistent brown marks or who have melasma.