"Why is azelaic acid not working for me?" Mistakes to avoid when using azelaic acid | Dr Sam Bunting

I so agree about the consistency! I see a lot of benefits from using it on my acne-prone skin when used twice daily!

I’ve used the ordinary’s 10% Azaleic acid every morning for 2-3 years. I didn’t notice improvements for quite a while. My skin used to flush easily and I didn’t tolerate 1% retinol more than 3x/wk. and ascorbic acid was a total no go. I’m now using retinaldehyde 5x/wk and ascorbic acid daily. I think a lot of the reduced sensitivity is due to the Azaleic acid

I have used Finacea for a year and it helped with my acne. On the downside it seems my skin is more sensitive now and my perioral dermatitis comes back more easy.

The most I've used it was once a day - good results for general brightening and helping fading red scars. It hasn't done much for acne - not even when combined with a retinoid. I use Finacea - not sure how long is good for after opening. A tube lasts me forever but maybe it loses potency overtime

this was a good information, thank you for sharing, I'm glad azelaic acid works for me together with tranexamic, glutathione and aloe to name a few. I'm using the Unspotted night serum by Lion Pose. Bought it from Sephora.

I bought azelaic acid after hearing from you Dr Sam. You are an amazing teacher. Loving all your videos and thanks for sharing your knowledge. God bless.

Azelaic acid has really made a difference in my skin even just using 10%.

It burns and itches so bad. I cannot get it to calm down. Do I even have rocasea? Or could it be something else?

The skin changes after treatment because the issue is caused by demodex. When the demodex are gone or reduced in numbers the reactions stop.

I have been using azealic acid (Finacea 15%) every other day at night for almost a month now and I already see less comedones and only had one single spot since. I can feel a less tingling sensation now compared to the first days, so tolerance buildup is working too. On the days I don’t use AA I have started BR P50W, also at night. I’m all about learning how my skin reacts as I have gotten terrible reactions by overdoing in the past. Now wondering how and if these two products could be combined with a retinoid in the future?

Thank you, Dr. Sam. You have been very helpful. My face was severely damaged by a chemical skin peel, and I am now using azelaic acid and waiting to see what happens. Thanks.

I use 15% Azelaic Acid in my Tretinoin formula with Niacinimide . The combination with a Retinoid and Azelaic Acid is chefs kiss . I use a multiactive serum AM with 5% Azelaic Acid , it's such a superstar ! Love your content and thanks ❤😊👏🙌

Thank you! I have used 15% azelaic acid (Finacea) for many years (14 years) for in the beginning rosacea but then I got acne too in age over 30. Now since I turned 39 Finacea doesn't work for my acne anymore. How can that happen? Can the skin get tolerated to azelaic acid? I tried 20% azelaic acid too but it didn't work well either. I now try 2% salicylic acid instead but it seemes like azelaic acid is the best longterm?

Hello Dr Sam. I do alternate retinol (neutrogena 0,3%, as I can not tolerate Olay retinol 24)and Azelaic acid (finacea) at night because I have quite sensitive skin. I used to apply my moisturizer first. For the past week, I started to let go the moisturizer step, turning to one night with retinol and the other night Azelaic acid which seemed to work better. Is there any moisturizing effect with those 2 or do we absolutely need a moisturizer at night on top? With time I realized that when there are too many active ingredients at once I feel that I am loosing control without being able to target the irritation ingredient. In the morning, I use vit C, day moisturizing cream and sunscreen 50. Should I add Azelaic acid and where in my day regimen? Thank you for your help!

I was, as you said, not using AA every day so I upped it and then to twice a day and that really helped my Rosacea. 🙂

I recently bought your azelaic acid serum, Dr. Sam. I haven't started using it yet because upping my tret has messed up my skin (dry patches and over sensitivity), so I'm waiting for my skin to calm down a little to get started with the azelaic acid. Can't wait. I'm trying to tackle mild rosacea.

When you say you wouldn't want it around areas where fine lines exist, is it because azelaic acid collect in these lines causing it to thin and make it deeper?

Dr. Sam, I really appreciate the information you provide about Azeliac Acid. I have rosacea and my dermatologist prescribed Finacea. My skin reacts badly when using this gel. My skin gets itchy and fills with little white heads. I was told that the reaction is due to a "normal purge". I've purchased a couple of creams wirh a lower concentraton (10% instead of 15% azeliac acid) and I applied it only at night time. Sorry to say that I get the same reaction. Over the azeliac acid I wear my regular moisturizer (Khiels) which I have been using for years. Any tip you could provide me with? I truly feel that my skin does better without any acids or actives. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

I confess I'm a sporadic user lol - largely because I find slotting it in regularly quite difficult. At the mo, I use a vitamin c serum every morning and am building up to retinol every night. Fyi I have mild rosacea and some pigmentation on my cheeks. I don't know if I'd be better ditching the Vit C and using Azelaic acid every morning instead. It's a skincare minefield out there 🤣. Emma x

I honestly don’t know where to start with my skin anymore. I have always tried to take care of of it, but have so many issues to consider I don’t know where to start. I have oily skin, very large pores (actually large not just me obsessing) thanks to genetics, I’m 39 so starting to see early signs of aging, and redness. I really don’t know if it is rosacea or permanent redness and broken capillaries. At the same time my skin will suck the moisture out of any foundation I wear and appear dehydrated. I would love to have good skin and go makeup free confidently one day but I don’t think it will ever happen.