4 Mistakes To Avoid When Using Azelaic Acid For Best Results
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Azelaic acid is the current “it girl” of skincare ingredients, and as you know, I am completely obsessed with it. However, there are some caveats when it comes to using this ingredient in your skincare routine, especially at the beginning.
So, today’s article is all about the four pitfalls I’ve come across that I want you to avoid, ensuring you get the best possible results on your azelaic acid journey.
If you don’t have time to read this post right now, why not save it for later?
4 Mistakes To Avoid When Using Azelaic Acid For Best Results
Mistake #1 : Inconsistent usage .
A common mistake many people make with azelaic acid is not using it regularly. Azelaic acid has a lot in common with retinol when it comes to the best way to use it to achieve results, Using it sporadically won’t give you the results you’re looking for. Azelaic acid is going to deliver the best possible outcome when you use it every single day, consistently. This really is the key to getting the best possible skin with your active ingredients. So don’t just apply it occasionally to blemishes or blocked pores. Building a daily habit of using azelaic acid is crucial for seeing results. Otherwise, you’re simply wasting your time and money.
Mistake #2 : using Wrong Dosage :
Using azelaic acid can sometimes lead to irritation, like many other active ingredients. You don’t want to dive in full throttle; however, it is perhaps a little more forgiving than retinoid , where going in full throttle at the beginning will tend to cause irritation like redness, dryness, and scaling. Azelaic acidhas more anti-inflammatory properties, making it somewhat forgiving. But you’re still going to want to start out carefully, and for me, that means always doing half the dose every other day for at least two weeks.
Now, One thing to keep in mind is that azelaic acid might cause some stinging at the very beginning. This is completely normal and happens in almost everyone, but it can be alarming for those with sensitive skin, who typically interpret stinging as a negative reaction to something doesn’t agree with their complexion. What you’ll find is that with persistent use, this stinging usually decreases and is often a sign of improved skin barrier function, which is a positive outcome.
Mistake #3 : Purging :
Let’s talk about purging now. When you use a product with active ingredients that clear out your pores, it helps your skin shed dead cells more easily. In acne and blemishes, these cells tend to stick together, causing issues. , Azelaic acid prevents that from happening, much like retinoids do. However, the corrective process takes time, and in the early stages, you might experience a flurry of new blemishes in your blemish-prone zones.
Don’t panic; it’s like feeling sore after starting a new exercise routine. Just keep at it. If it really bothers you can always decrease the frequency of how often you use the product – maybe switch to every other day or every third day.
But don’t stop. Remember, Consistency is crucial; inconsistency is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when using azelaic acid. Think of it as clearing away six months’ worth of blemishes in six weeks. You’re making progress!
Mistake #4 : Layering too many active ingredients At once
A common mistake in skincare is using too many active ingredients at once, especially layering them. Azelaic acid, however, plays very well with many other ingredients. But at first, you’ll want to use it in isolation in the evening and use other actives in the morning. Avoid layering it with other things unless they’re specially formulated together.
One important ingredient to steer clear of when using azelaic acid is benzoyl peroxide, which is often used in acne management. Layering these two together will cause irritation, redness, and soreness, so it’s best to avoid doing that. If you want to use both, apply azelaic acid at night and benzoyl peroxide in the daytime.
Similar caution applies to strong Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) since they offer similar benefits. When starting out with azelaic acid, it’s advisable to pause AHAs and reintroduce them later once your skin becomes tolerant.
As for physical exfoliants, they generally don’t have a significant place in many routines, especially when beginning with azelaic acid. For concerns like congestion, breakouts, redness, or pigmentation, using azelaic acid alone can provide enough improvement in cell turnover. Therefore, it’s best to set physical exfoliants aside.
Ingredients like retinoids, salicylic acid, and vitamin C pair nicely with azelaic acid. However, at the start, it’s recommended to use them separately at different times of the day rather than layering them with azelaic acid .
The Bottom line
So these were the 4 mistakes to avoid when using azelaic acid. By steering clear of these errors, I promise you’ll see the best results.
Have you made any of these mistakes before? If so, let me know in the comments.
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