Role Of Salicylic Acid For Your Skin

Skincare enthusiasts are passionate about the things that can make them look flawless. They are curious about how the skin looks, feels, and its quality shouldn’t be compromised. They follow a proper skin regimen with over-the-counter products and home remedies to maintain overall skin health. 

In search of what serves your skin the best when its aggressive mode is on and pops up the pimple or acne, at some point, you've most likely come across an ingredient, namely, Salicylic Acid. Knowing about this OTC ingredient will leave you with many questions in your head, like what is it? How is it beneficial for your  skin? How will youget rid of acne with this? Etc.

Salicylic acid benefits on skin by invading that zit on your face that turns up just before an important event. It is acne's biggest enemy. Slathering it overnight will dry up the pimple making it less noticeable. Knowing this much won't be helpful; let's dig inside this interesting acne warrior and oily skin's BFF. 

What is Salicylic Acid?

An FDA-approved skincare ingredient- Salicylic acid, is considered one of the best topical treatments for acne. It is naturally present in willow bark, sweet birch bark and wintergreen leaves, but its synthetic version is also easily available and is beneficial for skin. It is a chemical exfoliant in the world of different skin exfoliants and an only beta hydroxy acid (BHA) used in skincare products. 

This wonder ingredient perfectly suits the oily skin type and is known for its potential to deeply cleanse the excess sebum/oil out of the pores and lower the oil formation. As this ingredient is efficient in making pores squeaky clean & unclogged, it prevents future pimples or acne from breaking out. It sheds away dead skin cells, and its anti-inflammatory properties make it a prime ingredient to treat psoriasis. 

For which type of acne does salicylic acid work?

Salicylic acid works best for whiteheads, blackheads, small red pimples and prevents the formation of future comedones. 

Which all conditions does salicylic acid treat besides acne?

Salicylic acid benefits in treating skin disorders like dandruff, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis of the skin and scalp, corns, common warts, calluses and plantar warts when used topically, depending on the dosage form and strength of the preparation. 

How is Salicylic Acid helpful in treating acne?

Salicylic acid is a classic ingredient that exfoliates skin deeply, used specifically for minimizing the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads. It penetrates the skin layers and loosens the attachment between the cells in the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin). These attachments are known as desmosomes that bind the skin together and dissolve the dead skin cells that block the skin pores.

Is salicylic Acid good for oily skin?

Salicylic Acid is a spotlight ingredient for oily & acne prone skin. It is oil soluble in nature and penetrates beneath the skin's surface to clear out the excess sebum from the pores and reduces oiliness. 

What is the dermatologist-advised form and dosage of salicylic acid for acne?

You should consult your doctor when you decide to use salicylic acid, as they will recommend it according to your skin's current condition. They might advise you to take it for 3 to 4 days, in a limited amount and apply it to the small portion of the affected skin to test whether it suits your skin type or not. After the patch test, use it on the entire face if it doesn't irritate or show any side effects. 

The National Library of Medicine has recommended the amount in which adults can use a topical product to vanish acne, such as:

FORM	PERCENT OF SALICYLIC ACID	HOW OFTEN TO USE
GEL	2-7%	ONCE PER DAY
LOTION	2%	1-3 TIMES PER DAY
OINTMENT	3%	AS NEEDED
PADS	0.5-2%	1-3 TIMES PER DAY
SOAP	0.5-3%	AS NEEDED
SOLUTION	0.5-2%	1-3 TIMES PER DAY

If you find any product with a higher concentration of salicylic acid, it can be used as an exfoliant. A higher salicylic acid benefits the face and is used as a peeling agent to treat acne & its scars, age spots, and melasma. 

Know some salicylic acid benefits for skin

Salicylic Acid has multitudinous benefits for the skin. To understand why this trendy ingredient you should be looking for in your skincare products, here are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin:

1. An exceptional way to exfoliate

One of the phenomenal benefits of salicylic acid is its potential to exfoliate the dead skin cells from the skin's surface. Many skin issues emerge due to dead skin cells accumulated on the skin's surface and congesting the pores. Salicylic Acid sinks into the skin pores and dissolves all the dead skin cells, and flaky skin seated on the skin surface and choked the pores. It efficiently removes dirt, impurities, bacteria and grime from the skin's surface, clearing up the clogged pores. It makes the pores free from irritants. The process of sloughing the dead skin cells & bacteria from the skin makes salicylic acid a potent ingredient to purify and exfoliate the skin imparting a healthy appearance and radiance. 

2. Wins the war against acne

Do you have acne-prone skin? Yes? Then salicylic acid is the ingredient that you should stick by. It mainly handles mild acne like whiteheads & blackheads. It is a promising ingredient that reduces acne breakout with its distinctive ability to break apart the attachments between the cells in the outer layers of the skin. This way salicylic acid unclogs the pores, which may lead to blemishes.

This ingredient is also lipophilic, which means it can penetrate oily skin and block pores to give you an experience of deep cleansing required by the skin to reduce severe acne breakouts. It is a crucial ingredient for oily skin types and beneficial in regulating sebum production and tackling acne breakout. One typical cause of acne is the excess production and presence of oil on the skin that jams the pores and leads to a pile-up of irritants on the skin's surface. So, salicylic acid should have a unique space in your daily skin regimen if you want to bid farewell to stubborn acne. 

3. No unwanted shine on your face

Salicylic acid benefits for face is that it reduces the overproduction of oil in the skin, combats acne and fades blemishes. It is a whole cycle that leads to another as excess oil formation leads to acne that further leads to blemishes as it clogs the pores and obstructs the natural phenomena of shedding dead skin cells. 

The presence of excess oil on the skin's surface traps the bacteria & irritants that further make the skin inflamed. When you use salicylic acid, it breaks down the fatty elements present on the skin, such as oil & sebum. It clears the excess oil from the skin and balances sebum production. 

4. Thanks to its astringent properties

The astringent properties of salicylic acid benefit the skin by minimizing the appearance of pores. The large visible pores get squeezed in size by tightening & reducing the oiliness of the skin. These benefits give the skin a youthful, smooth and flawless appearance. 

5. Disappears the blemishes overnight

The less known benefit of salicylic acid is that it has the power to fade the appearance of blemishes and hyperpigmentation on the skin. It evens the skin tone & minimizes skin discoloration due to its astringent properties. 

6. A gain without pain

Salicylic acid is naturally found in the willow bark & has a chemical known as salicin. Related to aspirin, salicin is augmented with the goodness of anti-inflammatory properties that soothes irritation and calm inflammation. It is effective in reducing acne redness, soreness and puffiness. 

When to use salicylic acid in your skincare routine?

There are two ways in which you can indulge salicylic acid in your skincare routine:

1. Use salicylic acid with an exfoliant

How to do it in chronological order?

It will be for the PM skincare routine:

a) Makeup remover
b) Cleanser
c) Exfoliant (it can be in the form of cream, gel, mask or serum with Salicylic Acid)

Note: Use it in the PM skincare routine only (once or twice a week)

d) Toner
d) Serum + Spot treatment
e) Eye Cream
f) Moisturizer
g) Face Oil

2. Use salicylic acid with toner & targeted treatment

How to do it in chronological order?

It will be for AM skincare routine:

a) Cleanser
b) Toner (with salicylic acid and use it twice a day)
c) Treatment (it can be in the form of gel, cream or serum with salicylic acid & use twice a day)
d) Moisturizer
e) Sunscreen

How to use Salicylic Acid?

Before involving salicylic acid for your entire face, do a patch test. 

How to do it?

• Apply a small amount of salicylic acid product in your PM routine to a small area on your forehead. 
• If there is no side effect like redness or irritation, apply a thin layer of salicylic acid to your entire face.
• If you find any irritation, redness, peeling or flakiness within 24 hours, then try to go for any other product with less concentration of salicylic acid.

Why is it recommended to apply salicylic acid to your entire face?

Salicylic acid works best when applied to the entire face. You should avoid using it near your eyes, lips and mouth. It helps slough away the dead skin cells from your pores & cleans out excess oil from pores. 

Note: Less is always more when it comes to salicylic acid. Apply only a pea-sized amount or less that covers your entire face. Overdoing it can lead to irritation.

Which products of Nourish Mantra have Salicylic Acid?

Acne Clarifying Serum and Exfoliating Serum have salicylic acid. Where acne clarifying serum works harmoniously with your skin without hindering the skin's pH and texture. It also balances the oil production, clears congested pores and diminishes acne marks and blemishes. And exfoliating serum works constructively against free radical damage, sloughs dead skin cells and reduces open pores. Both salicylic acid serum benefits the oily, acne-prone, normal and combination skin. 

FAQ’s

Does salicylic acid damage your skin?

Overdoing anything can be harmful, and salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliant; using too much of it can irritate your skin. The major negative impact of salicylic acid is that it irritates the skin and makes it dry. Sensitive skin types are advised to take extra care of their skin, so they should be mindful while applying salicylic acid. 

Is it recommended to use salicylic acid every day?

Products based on salicylic acid should be used as directed. Every skin type has a tolerance power of taking any ingredient you put on the skin. Oily, normal and combination skin types can use salicylic acid daily as it works harmoniously for them. If your skin type is dry or sensitive, this acid may cause some irritation. So before applying it daily, do a patch test. 

Shall I use sunscreen after applying a product with salicylic acid?

Protection from harmful UV rays is necessary. It is essential to apply sunscreen every day, irrespective of any season or time of the year. Using sunscreen when indulging salicylic acid in your skincare routine is crucial as this ingredient's exfoliating nature can expose your skin to UV rays. It is recommended to take extra care and protective measures against sun damage while using salicylic acid. 

Which ingredients can go well with salicylic acid?

Niacinamide/ Hyaluronic Acid/ Alpha arbutin goes well with salicylic acid. They can either be used together or in the morning & evening.

Which ingredients should you avoid using with salicylic acid?

Retinol & glycolic acid should not be used together with salicylic acid. Combining these ingredients with salicylic acid may result in extreme dryness, sensitivity and increased skin photosensitivity.