A-Control 10% Azelaic Acid Serum — Reddit Reviews

• Acne

  Strong evidence

  Azelaic Acid: 22 studies tested it directly. See all 31 studies→

  Both ingredients for acne

  Azelaic Acid · Strong evidence

  • Most studies found azelaic acid helped clear acne
  • It often cleared acne better than a placebo
  • It usually worked about as well as tretinoin
  • It sometimes worked less well than benzoyl peroxide-based treatment
  • Side effects were usually local and moderate, with fewer local side effects than tretinoin in one trial

  Studied at 5–20% · this product: 10%

  Niacinamide · Some evidence

  6 studies tested it directly. See all 17 studies→

  • Most studies found niacinamide helped acne
  • It often worked about as well as clindamycin when put on the skin
  • Some studies found it reduced red, sore spots and other pimples
  • Some research found the results were uncertain or showed no clear difference

• Rosacea

  Strong evidence

  Azelaic Acid: 15 studies tested it directly. See all 17 studies→

  What the studies found

  • Most studies found azelaic acid helped rosacea more than a placebo or some other treatments
  • It often reduced rosacea spots and redness
  • It worked about as well as metronidazole in some studies, and better in others
  • It did not seem to help visible blood vessels
  • Side effects were mainly mild to moderate, and stinging and skin barrier damage were not major problems

  Studied at 15–20% · this product: 10%

• Hyperpigmentation

  Some evidence

  Azelaic Acid: 9 studies tested it directly. See all 12 studies→

  Both ingredients for hyperpigmentation

  Azelaic Acid · Some evidence

  • Most studies found it helped fade dark spots or patches, especially melasma
  • It often lightened melasma better than a placebo
  • It worked about as well as hydroquinone in some studies, and better in others
  • Results were mixed for other pigment concerns, with no benefit seen for some sun spots
  • The most common side effects were irritation, burning and stinging

  Studied at 15–20% · this product: 10%

  Niacinamide · Some evidence

  4 studies tested it directly. See all 17 studies→

  • All 4 studies that tested it directly found it helped fade dark spots or patches
  • It reduced facial dark spots better than a moisturizer without niacinamide
  • Women with chloasma saw darker patches improve more when nicotinamide was added to salicylic acid
  • Studies also found facial skin looked lighter as dark spots faded

• Anti-Aging

  Some evidence

  Niacinamide: 2 studies tested it directly. See all 8 studies→

  What the studies found

  • Both studies that tested it directly found it helped with signs of aging
  • It improved skin firmness and elasticity, so skin looked firmer
  • It reduced wrinkles, dark spots, redness, and yellowing
  • It helped skin hold more water and reduced water loss through the skin

• Skin Barrier

  Not proven yet

  Few or mixed studies. This claim isn't established.

  Niacinamide: 1 study tested it directly. See all 17 studies→

  What the studies found

  • The one study that tested it directly found it helped the skin barrier
  • It lowered water loss through the skin
  • It increased the thickness of the outer layer of skin

Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.