Azelaic acid 15% destroyed skin barrier

So, this has been a constant battle for me. I’ve been using azelaic acid 15% gel for years. I always start off using it twice a week, then 3, until every day. my doctor recommended twice a day, but I’ve never been able to do that. anyway, I started it again after an extremely damaged barrier last year. still not exactly sure what caused it, but pretty sure it was bakuchiol oil and the azelaic acid as they were my only actives. anyway, fast forward to now. the only active I have used is the azelaic acid gel every night. I started noticing the classic damaged barrier signs and stopped it abruptly. I havent been using anything on my face except distilled water and jojoba oil, as that’s what sort of fixed it last time. maybe…I don’t even know maybe it never really fully recovered. It’s been 5 days since I stopped the azelaic acid and my face is ON FIRE. I haven’t really had any rosacea symptoms since being on the azelaic acid and now my face is hot, red and breaking out. is this common when stopping azelaic acid? azelaic acid seems to work, but it ALWAYS ruins my barrier. what am I doing wrong? what should I try?