Azelaic Acid: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications

Xiaoyue Feng,1,* Jianli Shang,1,* Zhengping Gu,1 Junhua Gong,1 Yong Chen,1,2 Youting Liu1,2 1R&D Department, Beijing UPROVEN Medical Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, Daxing, People’s Republic of China; 2Beijing UPROVEN Institute of Dermatology, Beijing, Daxing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Youting Liu, R&D Department, Beijing UPROVEN Medical Technology Co., Ltd., Yard 5, Tianhua Avenue, Beijing, Daxing, 102699, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 18510256963, Email [email protected]: AZA is a non-phenolic, saturated dicarboxylic acid with nine carbon atoms, naturally produced by the yeast Malassezia. It has diverse physiological activities, including antibacterial, anti-keratinizing, antimelanogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. AZA is widely used in dermatology and is FDA-approved for treating papulopustular rosacea. It also shows significant efficacy in acne vulgaris and melasma. This review summarizes the mechanisms of action and clinical applications of AZA, aiming to provide theoretical support for its clinical and cosmetic use and to facilitate further research.Keywords: azelaic acid, mechanism, rosacea, acne, melasma, safety