CosmeticBet
Acne and spot treatments

Azelaic acid

INCI: AZELAIC ACID

An acid from grains, used against acne and rosacea.

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C9H16O4188.22 g/mol
oxygencarbonhydrogen
3D shape from PubChem 2266

How common

All products0.03%

4 of 14,784 products with a full ingredient list in Open Beauty Facts.

What it is

  • A dicarboxylic acid found naturally in wheat, rye and barley, and also made by a yeast that normally lives on human skin (Malassezia).

    SourceHide
    Azelaic acid is a saturated dicarboxylic acid found naturally in wheat, rye, and barley. It is also produced by Malassezia furfur, also known as Pityrosporum ovale, which is a species of fungus that is normally found on human skin.[1] PubChem (US National Library of Medicine) · open source

Why it is in products

  • Against acne: as a 20% cream it helps mild to moderate acne, partly by stopping the growth of acne bacteria and keeping pores clear.

    SourceHide
    Azelaic acid is effective against a number of skin conditions, such as mild to moderate acne, when applied topically in a cream formulation of 20%. It works in part by stopping the growth of skin bacteria that cause acne, and by keeping skin pores clear.[1] PubChem (US National Library of Medicine) · open source

What it does

  • US acne guidelines recommend it, though only conditionally: less firmly than benzoyl peroxide or topical retinoids.

    Good evidenceskin2 sourcesHide
    Conditional recommendations are made for topical clascoterone, salicylic acid, and azelaic acid[2] Review · 2024 · open source
    Strong recommendations are made for benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, topical antibiotics, and oral doxycycline.[2] Review · 2024 · open source

  • In rosacea it reduces bumps and pimples: a review of 152 trials rated that evidence high. It comes as a 15% gel or foam, or a 20% cream.

    Good evidenceskin3 sourcesHide
    We included 152 studies (46 were new)[3] Review · 2019 · open source
    For reducing papules/pustules there was high-certainty evidence for topical azelaic acid and topical ivermectin[3] Review · 2019 · open source
    Azelaic acid is available as a 15% gel, 20% cream and 15% foam.[4] Study · 2019 · open source

Downsides and safety

  • Side effects pass and are mild to moderate, mostly burning, stinging or irritation; in rosacea trials about as many people had one as with the same base without the acid.

    Good evidence2 sourcesHide
    Adverse events were transient, mild‐to‐moderate intensity, with burning, stinging or irritation most commonly reported.[4] Study · 2019 · open source
    There was little‐to‐no difference in the number of participants experiencing an adverse event: 200 of 799 on azelaic acid vs. 143 of 760 with vehicle[4] Study · 2019 · open source

Where it works

SurfaceOuter layer(stratum corneum)Living layer(epidermis)Dermis

On the skin and in its pores, where it acts on acne bacteria.

Some evidenceSourceHide
It works in part by stopping the growth of skin bacteria that cause acne, and by keeping skin pores clear.[1] PubChem (US National Library of Medicine) · open source

Rules

European Union

  • No EU limit: it is not on the regulation’s lists of banned or restricted substances, preservatives or UV filters.

    How we checkedHide
    We searched Annexes II to VI of the EU regulation (consolidated text of 18 May 2026): no entry.open the list

United States

  • Not on the FDA’s list of prohibited or restricted cosmetic ingredients. In the US, cosmetics and their ingredients (other than colour additives) don’t need FDA approval before sale.

    SourceHide
    Under U.S. law, cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, do not need FDA approval before they go on the market[5] US Food and Drug Administration · open source
    We searched the FDA’s list of prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients: no entry.open the list

Sources

  1. PubChem: Azelaic acid (CID 2266), record description PubChem (US National Library of Medicine)PubChem (US National Library of Medicine)
  2. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris Reynolds RV et al., Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2024Review
  3. Interventions for rosacea based on the phenotype approach: an updated systematic review including GRADE assessments van Zuuren EJ et al., The British journal of dermatology, 2019Review
  4. Interventions for rosacea based on the phenotype approach: an updated systematic review including GRADE assessments† The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Study
  5. Prohibited & Restricted Ingredients in Cosmetics | FDA US Food and Drug Administration

Checked against these sources on 4 November 2026. Spot a mistake? Tell us.