
Redness/IrritationAcne Spot Treatment
10% Azelaic Acid Treatment — Reddit Reviews
Updated September 23, 2026
Azelaic acid 10% for acne, redness, and leftover marks; gritty at times.
What the community says
Studies found azelaic acid helps acne better than placebo and can rival tretinoin. Redditors use this 10% cream for acne, redness, texture, and leftover marks; the catch is gritty application, dryness, and occasional stinging.
What this means for you
Backed by 28 threads from r/SkincareAddiction, r/30PlusSkinCare and 5 more.
Read the threads ↓What people love
- OTC azelaic acid for acne and redness
- Helps fade leftover marks
- Layers better than a lot of other 10% azelaic creams
Watch out for
Product details
Use caution
Values
Product Traits
Key Ingredients
Where to buy
What the science says vs. what Reddit says
Acne
Strong evidence
Azelaic Acid: 22 studies tested it on its own. See all 31 studies
On Reddit: Azelaic acid 10% soothes redness and inflammation while improving post-breakout pigmentation and is gentle enough for AM or PM use. 10 mentions
What the studies found
- Most studies found azelaic acid helped clear acne
- It often reduced pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and red, sore spots
- It usually worked about as well as tretinoin and some other common acne treatments
- Some studies found it worked less well than benzoyl peroxide
- The most common side effects were local skin irritation, peeling, dryness, and stinging
Studied at 5–20%this product: 10%
Hyperpigmentation
Strong evidence
Azelaic Acid: 12 studies tested it on its own. See all 15 studies
On Reddit: 10% Azelaic Acid allows gradual buildup to daily use, easing irritation while fading post-breakout pigmentation. 11 mentions
What the studies found
- Most studies found azelaic acid helped fade dark spots or patches
- It faded melasma patches better than a placebo in several studies
- It often worked about as well as hydroquinone, and sometimes better than weaker hydroquinone
- It also helped fade dark marks left after acne in one small study
- The most common side effects were mild burning, stinging, itching, redness and scaling
Studied at 15–20%this product: 10%
Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.
Real Reddit threads — 151 mentions across 28 threads
Good Molecules 10% Azelaic Acid Treatment on Reddit, in one place — 28 threads from r/SkincareAddiction, r/30PlusSkinCare and 5 more, summarized.
“Good Molecules has a pretty good azelaic acid.”
Positive
“It's like $10.”
Positive
“I highly recommend this brand, they're vegan and cruelty free.”
Positive
“I’m starting out with good molecules.”
Mentioned
“It’s a cream & they also have a cleanser.”
Mentioned
“Not even a week in and I’ve noticed a big difference already.”
Mentioned
“I bought Good Molecules 10% first”
Mentioned
“then, after reading this sub and people's experiences, they stated that 15-20 is where you see the real change”
Mentioned
“I use both intermittently and now sometimes mix them together.”
Mentioned
“Good molecules azealic acid”
Positive
“the azealic acid in there is a smart move for fading leftover marks.”
Positive
“PM: cleansing oil again for sunscreen and makeup”
Positive
“Good molecules soothing Azealic acid cleanser”
Positive
“Current skincare routine:”
Positive
“I recently cut those out about a month ago and my skin is thriving.”
Positive
“PM: ... Good molecules azealic acid”
Positive
“PM: ... Tret”
Positive
“Smile lines and overall clarity.”
Positive





