Azelaic acid + retinoid

What the source says

Allure quotes dermatologist Jessica Wu, MD, who compares tretinoin plus azelaic acid to balanced training, and says the pair suits many people because both help with acne, aging and dark marks. She also says many of her patients cannot tolerate tretinoin alone, and that the products have to be sequenced carefully so they do not cause more irritation. We have not tested this pair ourselves, and the article is about tretinoin, a prescription retinoid, so it does not prove the same for every retinol or adapalene product.

Who should not self-start

Retinoids are not advised in pregnancy or while nursing without a clinician, and skin that is sensitive or has eczema or rosacea may react badly. Stop a product that causes ongoing redness, stinging or peeling.

A cautious way to start

Introduce one product at a time, use sunscreen every morning, and patch-test first. If you are on a prescription retinoid, ask the prescriber before adding azelaic acid. Cosmetic guidance, not medical advice.