Many acne products include adjuvants, which are ingredients that can help minimize the irritating and drying effects of acne actives like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Our team has developed a new adjuvant solution to work in synergy with salicylic acid called CURAZELIC^® 44 [INCI: Azelaic Acid (and) Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine], a pre-solubilized form of azelaic acid. Unlike salicylic acid, azelaic acid is not recognized by the FDA as a drug approved for acne treatment, and it’s typically used with approved actives in acne products.

Using new in vitro laboratory grown tissues in the form of a reconstructed human epidermis model treated topically with C. acnes, we tested salicylic acid in combination with CURAZELIC 44 to measure the degree to which it could help mitigate salicylic acid’s inflammatory effects.

We found that salicylic acid at 1% and 2% further increases the inflammatory response caused by C. acnes, the bacteria that grows abundantly when acne occurs, as measured with various markers known to be associated with skin inflammation. By adding 5-10% of CURAZELIC 44, the combined treatment can help mitigate salicylic acid’s inflammatory effects.

By adding CURAZELIC 44 to formulations that include salicylic acid, it can help reduce the redness and irritation associated with the acne treatment. This synergistic combination may also help to improve a subsequent condition to acne lesions known as hyperpigmentation, a darkening that occurs around acne lesions.