I want I had identified about salicylic acid after I had been a teen. Again then, I spent hours irritating scrubbing my face and drying out pimples with toothpaste (I learn in a magazine it labored 🙄 ) after which questioned why my pores and skin regarded like a large number.
Salicylic acid is the skincare hero each girl (and man) with oily pores and skin wants. It kicks pimples off your face. Soothes the redness. Brightens your complexion. What are its superpowers? How can it do all this – and with out irritating pores and skin like so many different zits therapies do? Right here’s every part it is advisable to find out about salicylic acid for greasy and acne-prone pores and skin:
What Is Salicylic Acid?
Salicylic acid is the one member of the Beta Hydroxy Acid household utilized in skincare merchandise. For that reason, it’s usually referred to as BHA, too. Salicylic acid is of course discovered within the bark of the willow tree, however the kind utilized in your lotions and potions is often made in a lab. Nothing fallacious with that. It retains the prices down with out hurting your pores and skin.
Struggling to place collectively a skincare routine that banishes shine, pimples, and blackheads? Obtain your FREE “Finest Skincare Routine For Oily Pores and skin” cheatsheet to get began (it options product suggestions + proper software order):
Salicylic Acid Advantages
Salicylic acid is a multitasker. Right here’s every part it does to your pores and skin:
1. Salicylic Acid Exfoliates Pores and skin
Salicylic acid is a strong, if light, exfoliant. Like all kinds of chemical exfoliants, it really works by dissolving the “glue” that holds pores and skin cells collectively. Dermatologist Ellen Murmur explains: “It works by growing the quantity of moisture within the pores and skin and dissolving the substance that causes the pores and skin cells to stay collectively. This makes it simpler to shed the pores and skin cells.”
Need to know what occurs if you exfoliate the floor of your pores and skin? As outdated, broken useless cells depart option to new, brighter ones, your complexion feels softer to the contact. Mild higher displays onto your pores and skin, making you glow. And even your wrinkles look smaller. Common exfoliation is a fast option to look youthful and more healthy.
Plus, if you take away useless cells out of your pores and skin, they’ll’t get caught in your pores and trigger clogs that result in zits. You probably have oily or acne-prone pores and skin, utilizing salicylic acid as a part of your routine helps to maintain breakouts at bay.
2. Salicylic Acid Treats Pimples
I do know all of you wish to use glycolic acid as a result of it’s an anti-aging famous person, however when you have oily pores and skin, salicylic acid is the higher choice. Earlier than I let you know why, right here’s a reminder of how zits kinds.
When your pores and skin produces an excessive amount of oil, the surplus will get caught in your pores, the place it mixes with useless pores and skin cells and different particles. This combination will get caught within the pores, inflicting clogs that result in blackheads, whiteheads, and (if the combination will get infected with micro organism) pimples.
So what makes salicylic acid higher than glycolic acid to deal with zits? Salicylic acid is oil soluble. Whereas glycolic acid (and all its AHAs siblings) solely exfoliates the floor of your pores and skin, salicylic acid is ready to get by way of your pores and skin’s lipid barrier and into your pores. As soon as in there, salicylic acid rapidly removes all of the crap, like extra sebum and useless cells, which are clogging them earlier than they erupt in pimples.
Its skill to exfoliate the pores from inside additionally makes it a professional at each stopping and treating blackheads (and whiteheads). Whereas pore strips solely take away the black tip of the blackheads, salicylic acid additionally eliminates their tail too. Should you don’t eliminate that, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than the blackheads pop up onto your face once more.
Associated: AHAs Vs BHA: Which One Is Proper For You?
3. Salicylic Acid Reduces Pore Measurement
Unhealthy information first: the dimensions of your pores is genetically decided. You’ll be able to’t make it smaller.
Excellent news: clogs in your pores stretch your pores, so they give the impression of being greater to the bare eye. Take away these clogs and your pores return to their pure measurement.
This can be a job for salicylic acid. The one exfoliant that will get deep into your pores, it could actually take away all of the clogs which are stretching your pores. Within the course of, it removes pimples and blackheads, too. Whats up, clear pores and skin! Goodbye pore craters!
4. Salicylic Acid Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Salicylic acid belongs to the identical household has aspirin, so it has anti-inflammatory properties. This implies it could actually cut back the redness that at all times tags together with pimple, settle down infected zits, and soothe confused and irritated pores and skin. This makes it superb for acne-prone and delicate pores and skin varieties.
Associated: 9 Methods To Soothe Irritated Pores and skin
5. Salicylic Acid Has Anti-Bacterial Properties
Salicylic acid additionally has antibacterial properties that weaken P. Acnes, the micro organism that causes zits. It’s simply inferior to killing it as benzoyl peroxide. I wouldn’t depend on salicylic acid alone to make your zits disappear, but it surely ought to undoubtedly be a part of your anti-acne toolkit. Each little bit helps.
Associated: Salicylic Acid VS Benzoyl Peroxide: Which One Ought to You Use?
6. Salicylic Acid Treats Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is a flowery approach for darkish spots. Any darkish spots, from melasma to the darker discolourations pimples generally depart behind after they heal. Any exfoliant can lighten darkish spots by eradicating the uppermost (most broken!) layers of pores and skin and exposing these extra even-toned layers beneath.
By itself, Salicylic Acid isn’t the most effective at treating hyperpigmentation. If you wish to fade away darkish spots, I wouldn’t suggest it as your first plan of action. However that doesn’t imply it’s not up for the job. In accordance with a examine revealed within the Journal of medication in dermatology, reveals that the mix of 0.5% ellagic acid and 0.1% salicylic acid produces comparable outcomes to 4% hydroquinone, the gold customary for treating hyperpigmentation.
It’s additionally extra appropriate for individuals of color. Whereas Glycolic acid, an exfoliant that belongs to the AHAs household, is simpler at fading away hyperpigmentation, it might additionally trigger erythema and worsen darkish spots in some circumstances. Salicylic acid is safer for darker pores and skin tones.
What Pores and skin Situations Can Salicylic Acid Deal with?
Listed here are all of the pores and skin situations Salicylic Acid can deal with:
- Pimples (together with blackheads and whiteheads)
- Calluses
- Dandruff
- Giant pores
- Psoriasis
- Solar harm
- Warts
Should you’re experiencing any of them, salicylic acid is a valuable ally in your skincare routine.
How To Use It
I like to recommend utilizing Salicylic Acid each different evening, proper after cleaning. The nearer to your pores and skin you utilize it, the higher outcomes you’ll get. After which word how your pores and skin reacts to it. “The secret’s to hearken to your pores and skin,” dermatologist Adarsh Vijay Mudgil recommends. “If it’s getting irritated, you’ll must take a day or two off and maybe be a bit extra vigilant with moisturizing.”
Can You Use Salicylic Acid As A Spot Therapy?
Sure, you may. However Salicylic Acid is such a beautiful exfoliant, why wouldn’t you wish to use it throughout your face? You probably have zits pimples, you would use Salicylic acid throughout your face each different nights. On the nights in between, you would apply it as a spot remedy. This manner, you eliminate the pimples sooner with out irritating the remainder of your face.
Can You Use Salicylic Acid Each day?
Until prescribed by a dermatologist, utilizing salicylic acid each day is simply too drying and aggravating for pores and skin. The exception? Salicylic acid cleansers. They’re light sufficient for use ONCE a day. The catch? Salicylic acid works quite a bit higher when left on the pores and skin for a number of hours. In a cleanser, it simply finally ends up down the drain along with grime. I like to recommend you utilize a salicylic acid cleanser solely when you have delicate pores and skin that may’t tolerate the acid in your pores and skin for a number of hours.
Who Ought to Use Salicylic Acid?
All pores and skin varieties can use salicylic acid. However, because it’s the ONLY exfoliant that may unclog pores, it’s superb for greasy and acne-prone pores and skin (together with dry AND acne-prone pores and skin). You probably have pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, clogged pores, a propensity to zits, or oily pores and skin, you want Salicylic Acid. No different exfoliant will work as properly for you. Interval.
Who Shouldn’t Use Salicylic Acid?
Salicylic acid is superior, but it surely’s NOT for everybody. You shouldn’t use it if:
- You don’t have zits or oily pores and skin: Glycolic or Lactic acid could also be higher exfoliating choices for you.
- You wish to fade away darkish spots: Whereas salicylic acid can assist fade away darkish spots, it does so very slowly. Should you don’t have zits and fading darkish spots is your essential concern, go along with Glycolic acid as an alternative.
- Are on sure medicines: It may intervene with sure medicine, like blood thinners.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding: Taken orally in low doses could cause beginning defects. Small doses ( <2% ) utilized topically to the pores and skin are secure for mum and child, however simply to be on the secure facet, keep away from salicylic acid peels.
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How Typically Ought to You Use It?
The perfect frequency is each different evening. It supplies sufficient exfoliation to deal with and forestall blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples with out irritating pores and skin. In case your zits could be very extreme and your pores and skin very oily, you might get away with utilizing salicylic acid day by day and even twice a day, morning and evening. However I solely suggest this in extreme instances till the zits has healed. To maintain pores and skin clear after that, each different evening is greater than sufficient. As a rule, if you happen to’re experiencing dryness, irritation, and redness, in the reduction of utilization.
What Ought to You NOT Use It With?
Though you would use salicylic acid with different exfoliants, it’s NOT a good suggestion to take action. An excessive amount of exfoliation irritates pores and skin and dries it out. The one exception? Should you use a product, like Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Glycolic Night time Serum, formulated with a mix totally different exfoliating acids. They’re designed to provide the correct quantity of exfoliation you want – and quite a bit safer to make use of than you mixing a number of bottles or utilizing a unique exfoliant day by day. This additionally means you shouldn’t use salicylic acid with scrubs, konjac sponges, sonic cleansers and anything that might exfoliate pores and skin.
It’s additionally not a good suggestion to make use of salicylic acid concurrently retinoids. This mix is simply too harsh. As a substitute, alternate them. Use salicylic acid one evening and retinol or tretinoin the following. You’ll get the most effective of each world with out irritating your pores and skin.
How A lot Salicylic Acid Do You Want?
You know the way I at all times say that if you happen to solely add a sprinkle of an ingredient in a cream or lotion, it’s not gonna do a lot for you? Salicylic acid is the exception to the rule. It really works properly even at 1 or 2% concentrations. Actually, right here within the EU, you may’t use greater than 2%.
Acids are superior, however if you happen to abuse them, they’ll wreak some severe havoc in your pores and skin. And you recognize human nature. When one thing is sweet, you wish to use a ton of it to get higher outcomes after which surprise why your pores and skin appears like a large number. Should you can’t use greater than 2%, you may get pleasure from its advantages with none nasty unintended effects.
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Is Salicylic Acid pH Dependant?
Among the finest skincare actives, together with Glycolic acid and Vitamin C, are pH dependant. What does this imply? Easy. They work solely at a sure, often low, pH. If it’s too excessive, you might simply as properly splash water in your pores and skin.
Hearsay has it, salicylic acid is pH dependant too. If it’s increased than 4, it received’t work. That is NOT true! Research present that it’s an efficient exfoliant even with the next pH. That is nice information for delicate pores and skin. Low pH = increased probability of irritation. By maintaining the pH at a skin-friendly degree, you get the advantages of exfoliation with out the irritation.
Salicylic Acid VS Benzoyl Peroxide: Which One Is Proper For You?
Like Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide is a well-liked zits remedy. So which one must you use?
Benzoyl Peroxide works in a different way. Whereas it has a gentle peeling motion, it largely works by killing P.Pimples, the micro organism that causes zits. One of the best half? The micro organism doesn’t develop proof against it. However, it’s a lot harsher on the pores and skin and causes dryness and irritation.
In accordance with a evaluate in Scientific Therapeutics, “Comparative research of salicylic acid have proven it to be superior to benzoyl peroxide in lowering the full variety of zits lesions,” and it’s gentler on the pores and skin as well. FYI, that is true even on the subject of cleansers. A salicylic acid face wash works higher at treating zits than one with benzoyl peroxide, in response to a examine revealed in Scientific Therapeutics.
I like to recommend you begin with Salicylic Acid and, if you would like serving to hand, use Benzoyl Peroxide as spot remedy solely.
Salicylic Acid VS Glycolic Acid: Which One Is Proper For You?
Glycolic acid is a part of the Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) exfoliating household. Like Salicylic Acid, it dissolves the “glue” that holds pores and skin cells collectively, to allow them to slough off and reveal the brighter pores and skin beneath. However Glycolic acid doesn’t get inside your pores, so it could actually’t do something to your zits.
As a substitute, glycolic acid has two totally different superpowers: it hydrates pores and skin and fades away darkish spots. You probably have dry pores and skin otherwise you’re extra involved about fading away darkish spots than eliminating the off blackhead, glycolic acid is for you. However when you have any kind of zits, doesn’t matter what your pores and skin kind is, salicylic acid will you provide the finest outcomes.
Facet Results Of Salicylic Acid
Though Salicylic acid is gentler than different exfoliants (*cough* Glycolic Acid *cough*), it could actually nonetheless dry out and irritate pores and skin if you happen to use an excessive amount of. Overexfoliation is rarely good. Useless cells are there for a purpose. To guard the newer pores and skin beneath that’s not totally developed and able to come to the floor but. Just a little exfoliation brightens pores and skin. An excessive amount of exposes uncooked pores and skin – it’s ugly and painful.
Like all exfoliants, Salicylic Acid can even improve pores and skin sensitivity to the solar. For that reason, it’s finest to make use of it at evening, when the solar isn’t round.
Lastly, Salicylic Acid could trigger purging. A purge is totally different from a breakout. A breakout occurs if you use components that clog pores and provide you with zits. Take away the offender and you’ve got clear pores and skin once more. A purge occurs when your pores and skin is already clogged beneath the floor. On this case, exfoliation brings all that crap, within the type of pimples and blackheads, to the floor sooner, so it may be cleared up.
Should you’re experiencing a breakout after utilizing salicylic acid, it’s regular. Salicylic acid isn’t supplying you with extra pimples. It’s clearing each layer of your pores and skin, so you may take away all of the gunk in a single go and luxuriate in lovely pores and skin afterwards. Relying on how clogged your pores and skin is, it could actually take as much as 6 weeks to finish the purging course of.
What Are The Finest Merchandise With Salicylic Acid?
Choose one product. In case your moisturizer has salicylic acid, you don’t want a separate exfoliant. Should you exfoliate with salicylic acid, you don’t want it to be in your toner, too. You get the purpose. Now that’s out of the best way, listed below are my fave skincare merchandise with salicylic acid:
- Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night time Serum ($90.00): Don’t let the title idiot you. This exfoliant has each salicylic acid to unclog pores and glycolic acid to fade away the darkish spots pimples generally depart behind. Obtainable at Cult Magnificence, Sephora and SpaceNK.
- Paula’s Selection Pores and skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ($29.00): The cult exfoliant from the model, it unlclogs pores and treats blackheads and zits. The feel’s somewhat sticky, however if you happen to can take that, this is likely one of the finest salicylic acid exfoliants on the market. Obtainable at Cult Magnificence, Dermstore, Internet-A-Porter, Paula’s Selection, Sephora, and SpaceNK.
- The Inkey Checklist Beta Hydroxy Acid (£9.99): A easy, no-frills salicylic acid exfoliant for individuals on a price range. Obtainable at Cult Magnificence and Sephora.
The Backside Line
You probably have oily, combo or acne-prone pores and skin, it is advisable to add salicylic acid to your skincare arsenal now. It’ll vanish blackheads, fade darkish spots, banish pimples and soothe your pores and skin. What extra might you ask for?
About Gio
Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that can assist you obtain your finest pores and skin day ever – day by day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising and marketing jargon that can assist you determine what’s well worth the splurge and what’s finest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally provide skincare consultations that can assist you create the most effective skincare routine to your distinctive wants.
