PocketDerm has been hovering on my radar for a long, long time as a result, but my search for a gentle-yet-effective Azelaic acid option made me pull the trigger and grab my credit card. To everyone, not just the (many) bloggers who use them, like Kerry from Skinandtonics, Tracy from Fanserviced-b, Beauty vs Zombies, and just recently, Jude from 50 Shades of Snail. I went with the ' Acne' type, instead of the ' Aging' type, because my pores need Snesus.Īre their dermatologists so nice because they are exercising one's right not to wear pants when you work from home? I have no idea, but they're really nice. Welcome to the exciting new world of teledermatology: thanks to the boom of telehealth services, you can literally consult a dermatologist online, provide photos, fork over your credit card number for a very affordable subscription (no contract), tell them about your skin and your goals, and blam!Ī package arrives in the mail with your custom-blended prescription, an instruction card, and ongoing support from licensed professionals who are confoundingly nice. My Experience with Curology PocketDerm's Service

They're expensive, require a referral from a regular doctor (which is expensive), you have to go through the hassle of scheduling an appointment around your schedule and theirs, and then drive there (we're a one car household), tend to treat 'acute' skin conditions (not 'zomg tired of this mild acne + hyperpigmentation!') and can be be rude and dismissive/may give you crap for having a fancy skincare routine. I get misdirected questions that need to be addressed to a Dermatologist all the time, but I've never been to one myself. Sadly, Azelaic acid is not readily sourced over the counter, but it's something you can get from a Dermatologist. I wanted Azelaic acid in a kinder, more gentle form, and I wanted it easily available. Where does one find Polish OTC pharmacy goods?!Īs you can see, I wimped out far short of the 6 months I loved the effects that Azelaic acid had on my skin but it had all the tenderness of a berserking moose defending its territory. Where to get it: Honestly I have no idea. Repurchase? I'll let you know in 6 months when it's finished beating my misbehaving skin into submission. This is my first azelaic acid product, and it's intense. I purchased this from a friend in the UK she had an extra tube and offered to send it my way. Uniapharm Acne-Derm: Polish, azelaic acid cream chemical exfoliant PM routine: I use this 3 times a week, because it's like bringing my pores to a bar brawl. Here's the deets on the cream, from my Updated Multi-Step Korean Skincare Routine Summer 2015: Sheet Masks Galore post: She warned me that the cream, which she had gotten herself (or from relatives) in Poland, was effective but a bit harsh, and she wasn't kidding. Uniapharm Acne-Derm cream: feel your pores tremble. Why does Menthol have to be in everything?!) I complained to said friend that I needed a 'super-powered BHA' that I could just use a few times a week like AHAs and thus I learned of Azelaic acid. I'd also tried western BHAs, including Stridex (red box) and MUAC's 3% BHA 'peel' but frankly their effect vs irritation ratio on my skin wasn't good. use AHA only very rarely to avoid overexfoliating my skin. I was using BHA twice a day in a battle to keep the clogs in my skin at a standstill, which required me to 1.

You can read more about my routine (and the spreadsheet I use to track my stash and testing schedule) here: My Routine & Spreadsheet.Īctives photo from my Updated Multi-Step Korean Skincare Routine Summer 2015: Sheet Masks Galore post.Īfter a cursory read on the benefits of Azelaic acid + an overseas friend's offer to unload an extra tube she had, I decided to take the plunge and give it a shot, because my current acid routine wasn't working (enough) for me. I use both BHA and AHA daily-use chemical exfoliants regularly, and have even branched out to stronger versions that are labelled a 'peel' but were weak enough for regular use. I'm no stranger to chemical exfoliants, which is pretty entertaining for me to say because I used to be terrified of them. My First Experience with an Azelaic Acid Cream curling up with a cup of tea in a comfy chair to read the whole thing can skip out early. I've placed the 'Serenade to Azelaic Acid' at the very end, as this post is quite long and those who aren't interested in 1.

Update: PocketDerm has changed it's name to Curology, and added more ingredients and flexibility to their formulations.

Keep calm and carry on fangirl