Azelaic acid is a natural material produced by a yeast that lives on normal skin, Malassezia furfur (also known as Pityrosporum ovale). Azelaic acid is:
* Antibacterial - it reduces the growth of bacteria in the follicle (Proprionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis)
* Keratolytic & comedolytic - it returns to normal the disordered growth of the skin cells lining the follicle
* 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.