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Azelaic, Salicylic, Glycolic, Lactic- which one is the best?
  • Jasmine
    I am an unfortunate victim of adult acne and I'm being bombarded with different advice from doctors, cosmetologists etc on different creams that all basically do the same thing- mildly exfoliate. 

    I am however using a 20% salicylic acid peel every 10 days to get rid of scars and "unclog my pores". A relative who is a doctor suggested I try azelaic acid instead- having indian skin. 

    So my question is: Is there really a difference between these? Do they act on the skin differently? Perhaps molecule size makes a difference?

    What is your opinion and experience? 
  • pompom
    Welcome aboard. I have been thru so many products for my Acne Rosacea - Salicylic acid, Azelaic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, Clindamycin, Nadoxilin etc.
    I am Indian as well.
    What worked for me is a product called "Papulex". they have a cleansing gel and an Oil Free Cream. It is easily available in India and retailed by Invida.
  • sarahf
    Azelaic acid is gentle and doesn't exfoliate the way the others you mentioned do.  It does help reduce inflammation, hyperpigmentation, and acne, though.
  • pompom
    Azelaic irritated my skin very badly and exfoliated to an extent that I had scales hanging on my face. I only used the 10% cream.
  • Ally E.Ally E.
    o_O did you read any reviews suggesting it happens to others? was it just your reaction to it? some sort of allergy or sensitivity? when I started using salicylic acid I remember reading advice to start with 1% and increase over time, maybe the same applies to azelaic acid? Sorry to hear that though...
  • girliea
    to Ally E...

    For me Salicylic acid works very well, well it happen that i had a very oily skin and had a bad pimples that are coming out all over of my face (you cannot believe but its not an acne) and after i decided to use a product that contains 2% of salicylic on it,and after patiently allowing it to works on my skin well,  it reaalllly works on me. now i have a clear skin... :)  (i didn't increase any dosage of it though)

    to Jasmine

    It depends though whether its in your blood or hormonal imbalance. :)


  • sarahf
    I have the most sensitive skin I know, and I only got mild irritation from a 20% azelaic acid cream (I used a product called azclear from australia; currently I'm using the 15% US Finacea product).  For reference, I can't tolerate salicylic acid or AHAs at all, and I can only use retinol products diluted--and even then not daily.  With azelaic acid topical, there is no recommendation to start off gradually like with retinoids.  What pompom describes sounds like an unusual reaction from what I have read of the most common side effects.
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