The key difference between Azelaic acid and niacinamide is that azelaic acid help in calming sensitivity and reducing post-blemish marks, whereas niacinamide helps in minimizing pores and offers barrier-repairing properties.
Both azelaic acid and niacinamide are commonly used in the cosmetic industry and skincare routines to keep smooth and clear skin with beauty care products. Both these are antioxidants that can offer numerous skin tone-improving benefits. However, there are separate uses for each compound other than this common use. For example, niacinamide can minimize pores in the skin, while azelaic acid can calm the sensitivity of the skin.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Azelaic Acid
3. What is Niacinamide
4. Azelaic Acid vs Niacinamide in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Azelaic Acid vs Niacinamide
What is Azelaic Acid?
Azelaic acid is an organic compound having the chemical formula HOOC(CH2)7COOH. This compound comes under the category of dicarboxylic acids because it has two carboxylic acid functional groups. Azelaic acid appears as a white-colored powder, and this acid typically occurs in wheat, barley, and rye plants. Moreover, azelaic acid is the precursor for many compounds, including polymers and plasticizers. Besides, it is an ingredient in many hair and skin conditioners.
The molar mass of azelaic acid is 188.22 g/mol. It is an aliphatic molecule having carboxylic acid groups at the two ends of a chain of carbon atoms. In industrial-scale applications, this compound is produced by the ozonolysis of oleic acid. However, it is naturally produced by some forms of yeast that live on the skin. Moreover, bacterial degradation of nonanoic acid also gives azelaic acid.
What is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide is an organic compound having the chemical formula C6H6N2O. It is also known as nicotinamide and is a form of vitamin B3. This vitamin occurs in some foods (such as meat, fish, nuts, mushrooms, etc.), and it is also available commercially as a dietary supplement. This dietary supplement is important in treating and preventing pellagra. Moreover, this substance has the ability to flush skin, and it is used to treat acne on the skin.
As a medication, niacinamide has minimum side effects, which include liver problems at high doses. Moreover, normal doses are safe to be taken during pregnancy. Niacinamide can be produced industrially through the hydrolysis of nicotinonitriles. This reaction needs a catalyst: the enzyme nitrile hydratease. This enzyme allows the selective synthesis of niacinamide. Moreover, we can make this compound from nicotinic acid.
The medical uses of niacinamide include the treatment of niacin deficiency, treating acne on the skin, decreasing the risk of skin cancers, etc.
What is the Difference Between Azelaic Acid and Niacinamide?
Azelaic acid and niacinamide are important in skincare product manufacturing processes. Azelaic acid is an organic compound having the chemical formula HOOC(CH2)7COOH while niacinamide is an organic compound having the chemical formula C6H6N2O. The key difference between Azelaic acid and niacinamide is that azelaic acid helps to calm sensitivity and reduce post-blemish marks, whereas niacinamide help to minimize pores and offers barrier-repairing properties. Moreover, azelaic acid is mostly suitable for normal to oily skin, whereas niacinamide is suitable for dry skin.
The below infographic presents the differences between Azelaic acid and niacinamide in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Azelaic Acid vs Niacinamide
Azelaic acid is an organic compound having the chemical formula HOOC(CH2)7COOH. Niacinamide is an organic compound having the chemical formula C6H6N2O. The key difference between Azelaic acid and niacinamide is that azelaic acid helps to calm sensitivity and reduce post-blemish marks, whereas niacinamide help to minimize pores and offers barrier-repairing properties.
Reference:
1. Watson, Kathryn. “Azelaic Acid for Acne: Uses, Benefits, and Precautions.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 19 Dec. 2018.
2. “Azelaic Acid (Topical Route) Proper Use.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 1 Feb. 2022.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Azelaic acid 3D ball” By Jynto (talk) – This image was created with Discovery Studio Visualizer. (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Niacinamide” By SubDural12 – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia