Azelaic acid skin lightening

Do you suffer from:-

Skin discoloration, or
Acne?

Azelaic acid is made out of yeast. It was initially used for acne treatment and is supposed to be prescribed for that, but your doctor can prescribe it for hyperpigmentation as well, if you ask.

It is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and will protect against free radicals too. I think it would be a great thing to use for acne discoloration and hyperpigmentation in people who get breakouts - it will treat both conditions, and the initial redness the acne causes.

Now for the science!

Don't worry about the word 'cytotoxic' - Azelaic Acid is only toxic towards the cells producing the abnormal pigment, which is the whole idea. It is nothing to worry about. When the extract below compares it to 2% hydroquinone, 2% is the strength you can buy over the counter (or 3% at Walmart I noticed, with their usual respect for rules and regulations). 4% would be what your doctor would give you on prescription.

If you are looking for a good skin lightener to buy containing Azelaic Acid, I would especially recommend the Peter Thomas Roth Ultra-Gentle products. I found some of these and listed these further down the page, and Azelaic Acid is only one of its lightening ingredients in them. If your skin is sensitive, it might respond better to the Super Skin brightening cream. Both products have international delivery from the US.

Research extracts on the benefits and side effects of azelaic acid

(From "Topical Agents Used in the Management of Hyperpigmentation" by RM. Halder, MD and GM. Richards, MD)

"Azelaic Acid is a naturally occurring non-phenolic, saturated, nine-carbon dicarboxylic acid. Its use originated from the finding that Pityrosporum species can oxidize unsaturated fatty acids to dicarboxylic acids, which competitively inhibit tyrosinase. Azelaic acid was initially developed as a topical drug with therapeutic effects for the treatment of acne. However, because of its effect on tyrosinase, it has also been used to treat melasma, lentigo maligna and other disorders of hyperpigmention.

2,6 Azelaic acid has been reported to be effective for hypermelanosis [treating dark skin patches] caused by physical or photochemical agents, and.. other disorders characterized by abnormal proliferation of melanocytes [pigment producing cells]. Its mechanism of action is to inhibit DNA synthesis and mitochondrial enzymes, thereby inducing direct cytotoxic effects toward the melanocyte [killing the pigment cell].

Topical azelaic acid [azelaic acid cream] has no depigmentation effect on normally pigmented skin, freckles, senile lentigines [age spots], and nevi. This.. may be attributed to its selective effects on abnormal melanocytes. Azelaic acid can be used for postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in acne.

Free radicals are believed to contribute to hyperpigmentation, and azelaic acid acts by reducing free radical production. Azelaic acid 20% is currently available in the US and is only indicated [recommended] for the treatment of acne, although it has off-label use for hyperpigmentation [that is your doctor can prescribe it for that if you ask]. In the treatment of melasma, a 24-week study in South America found that a 20% concentration of azelaic acid was equivalent to 2% hydroquinone. In the Philippines, a study found that 20% azelaic acid was better than 2% hydroquinone."