Salicylic Acid Acne

The use of salicylic acid for acne treatment is quite common, given that this is an ingredient used for making OTC acne products. It contains beta hydroxy acid, which creates a fighting action against skin inflammation such as that of acne. Salicylic acid is also used as an ingredient in various skin care products such as creams, lotions, soaps, toners, or cleaners that are intended to treat acne.

To determine just how effective is salicylic acid on acne, it is important to delve into how it works to produce relief from acne or scars. It starts by correcting abnormalities in the desquamation process of your skin, which makes it more prone to acne formation. Moreover, it creates an exfoliating action that eliminates dead skin cells.

One reason why salicylic acid acne treatment is popular in the market is due to its ability to penetrate your skin follicle. Therefore, it address the root of the problem instead of just covering up the symptoms of acne. This process eliminates all form of blockages on your skin pores eventually reducing the amount of skin breakouts.

Almost all of the people have acne problem. Acne could be caused by environmental conditions, or hygienic habits of a person or skin problem. Whatever the reason of having acne, it does not look good especially on the skin where they are clearly visible like face.

Salicylic acid has been used for treating acne from a long time.

Salicylic acid is beta hydroxy acid commonly used to treat non-inflamed acne. Salicylic acid is the common ingredient for lots of skin care products such as cream, lotion, sunscreen, etc. in a low concentration. It is available as over the counter medicine and does not cost very much.

The question is does Salicylic Acid work for acne or is salicylic acid good for acne. Acne is mainly due to the dead skin cell blocking the pores. Salicylic acid helps corrects the abnormal way of sloughing and replacing the dead skin cells. It acts as a mild exfoliator by clearing the pores and providing healthy glowing skin. It reduces the pore blockages and breakouts on the skin. Salicylic acid is the most commonly used substance to treat acne.

When using Salicylic acid acne treatment, begin by using salicylic acid pad or lotion, or cream or salicylic acid acne gel. It is best to pick one which is suitable. There is no point in using a combination of two or more. Using several salicylic acid products will excessively dry the skin and will not help.

Apart from treating the acne, salicylic acid is also used for acne scars. Salicylic acid fades away the scars caused by acne as well as generally purifying the skin.

Are there any possible side effects in using Salicylic acid? Can Salicylic acid make acne worse? These are probably the questions on the minds of someone who never had acne treatment with salicylic acid. You may have heard that Salicylic acid can cause birth defect when taken by pregnant woman. Pregnant woman will need to take large doses of salicylic acid orally to be any danger to the unborn child. However, pregnant women are advised not to use salicylic acid as it penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream to a certain degree. If used in high concentration, salicylic acid can cause hyper pigmentation.

Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid for Acne:

Another over the counter medicine used for treating acne is benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide works by introducing oxygen into the pores; killing the acne breakout causing bacteria. The way of working of both Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide is different. It is difficult to make a judgment of what is better - Benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid for acne. Depending on your type of acne, you can make your choice of what will be more effective for your acne. Never combine salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide as this will result in over irritation for the skin and thereby stimulating more oil production, which can lead to more acne, making your condition worse.

It is important to note that no two skins are alike. So what works for your friend might not work for you. It is best to get advice from a doctor specializing in skin condition. Your dermatologist will be the best person to advise you on what type of treatment you should get for acne.

It is always advisable to test any product on a small patch of skin which is not easily visible for signs of allergy. Some products may not be suitable for your skin type.

All medications and treatments take time to completely cure acne. Do not expect the treatments to work like magic. The skin needs sometime to repair. You need to have patience. With the right treatment, you can be free of acne. Salicylic acid is best used in low concentration to start with and gradually increasing the concentration if desired result is not seen even after a few weeks.

Most over-the-counter acne treatment products contain salicylic acid strength of about .5 to 2 percent. Therefore, you need to be extra careful when using salicylic acid acne treatment products for topical use to avoid side effects. Avoid using excessive amount of salicylic acid on your skin since it can result to drying of your skin.

If you are going to use salicylic acid for acne, you need to regularly use it to maintain the results. Once you stop using the treatment, there is a possibility that the acne will return as the oil from your skin will once again clog the pores.

A few side effects were reported in the use of salicylic acid acne treatment though, such as peeling of the skin, a stinging sensation, or dryness. This is often triggered when combined with other skin care products, especially containing benzoyl peroxide. This is one reason why doctors suggest using natural acne treatments like lemon, honey, or cucumber to avoid risks of developing adverse effects on your skin despite the effectiveness of salicylic acid for acne.