TY - JOUR
T1 - The versatility of azelaic acid in dermatology
AU - Searle, Tamara
AU - Ali, Faisal R.
AU - Al-Niaimi, Firas
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - Azelaic acid has numerous pharmacological uses in dermatology. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties are thought to correlate with its efficacy in papulopustular rosacea and acne vulgaris, amongst other cutaneous conditions. We conducted a review of the literature on the use of azelaic acid in dermatology using key terms ‘acne’, ‘azelaic acid’, ‘dermatology’, ‘melasma’, ‘rosacea’, searching databases such as MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed. Only articles in English were chosen. The level of evidence was evaluated and selected accordingly listing the studies with the highest level of evidence first using the Oxford Center of Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 guidance. This review found the strongest evidence supporting the use of azelaic acid in rosacea, followed by its use off-label in melasma followed by acne vulgaris. Weaker evidence is currently available to support the use of azelaic acid in several other conditions such as hidradenitis suppurativa, keratosis pilaris and male androgenic alopecia. Azelaic acid, as a monotherapy or in combination, could be an effective first-line or alternative treatment, which is well-tolerated and safe for a range of dermatological conditions.
AB - Azelaic acid has numerous pharmacological uses in dermatology. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties are thought to correlate with its efficacy in papulopustular rosacea and acne vulgaris, amongst other cutaneous conditions. We conducted a review of the literature on the use of azelaic acid in dermatology using key terms ‘acne’, ‘azelaic acid’, ‘dermatology’, ‘melasma’, ‘rosacea’, searching databases such as MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed. Only articles in English were chosen. The level of evidence was evaluated and selected accordingly listing the studies with the highest level of evidence first using the Oxford Center of Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 guidance. This review found the strongest evidence supporting the use of azelaic acid in rosacea, followed by its use off-label in melasma followed by acne vulgaris. Weaker evidence is currently available to support the use of azelaic acid in several other conditions such as hidradenitis suppurativa, keratosis pilaris and male androgenic alopecia. Azelaic acid, as a monotherapy or in combination, could be an effective first-line or alternative treatment, which is well-tolerated and safe for a range of dermatological conditions.
KW - Acne vulgaris
KW - azelaic acid
KW - hidradenitis suppurativa
KW - keratosis pilaris
KW - melasma
KW - papulopustular
KW - rosacea
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089027141&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09546634.2020.1800579
DO - 10.1080/09546634.2020.1800579
M3 - Review article
C2 - 32730109
AN - SCOPUS:85089027141
SN - 0954-6634
VL - 33
SP - 722
EP - 732
JO - Journal of Dermatological Treatment
JF - Journal of Dermatological Treatment
IS - 2
ER -