I want I had recognized 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 appeared 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 thing it’s essential to learn 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 typically 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 unsuitable 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 thing it does on your pores and skin:

1. Salicylic Acid Exfoliates Pores and skin

Salicylic acid is a strong, if mild, exfoliant. Like all forms of chemical exfoliants, it really works by dissolving the “glue” that holds pores and skin cells collectively. Dermatologist Ellen Murmur explains: “It works by rising 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 whenever you exfoliate the floor of your pores and skin? As previous, broken useless cells go away solution to new, brighter ones, your complexion feels softer to the contact. Gentle higher displays onto your pores and skin, making you glow. And even your wrinkles look smaller. Common exfoliation is a fast solution to look youthful and more healthy.

Plus, whenever 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. When you’ve got 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 Zits

I do know all of you need 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 inform you why, right here’s a reminder of how zits types.

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 means of your pores and skin’s lipid barrier and into your pores. As soon as in there, salicylic acid shortly removes all of the crap, like extra sebum and useless cells, which might be 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. When you don’t do away with 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

Dangerous information first: the scale of your pores is genetically decided. You possibly can’t make it smaller.

Excellent news: clogs in your pores stretch your pores, so they appear larger to the bare eye. Take away these clogs and your pores return to their pure dimension.

It is a job for salicylic acid. The one exfoliant that will get deep into your pores, it might probably take away all of the clogs which might be stretching your pores. Within the course of, it removes pimples and blackheads, too. Hi there, 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 might probably scale back the redness that at all times tags together with pimple, settle down infected zits, and soothe harassed and irritated pores and skin. This makes it supreme for acne-prone and delicate pores and skin sorts.

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, nevertheless it 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 elaborate manner for darkish spots. Any darkish spots, from melasma to the darker discolourations pimples generally go away 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 perfect at treating hyperpigmentation. If you wish to fade away darkish spots, I wouldn’t advocate it as your first plan of action. However that doesn’t imply it’s not up for the job. In accordance with a research revealed within the Journal of medicine in dermatology, reveals that the mix of 0.5% ellagic acid and 0.1% salicylic acid produces comparable outcomes to 4% hydroquinone, the gold normal for treating hyperpigmentation.

It’s additionally extra appropriate for folks of color. Whereas Glycolic acid, an exfoliant that belongs to the AHAs household, is more practical 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 Circumstances Can Salicylic Acid Deal with?

Listed below are all of the pores and skin circumstances Salicylic Acid can deal with:

• Zits (together with blackheads and whiteheads)
• Calluses
• Dandruff
• Giant pores
• Psoriasis
• Solar injury
• Warts

When you’re experiencing any of them, salicylic acid is a treasured 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 take heed 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 possibly can. However Salicylic Acid is such a beautiful exfoliant, why wouldn’t you need to use it throughout your face? When you’ve got zits pimples, you can use Salicylic acid throughout your face each different nights. On the nights in between, you can apply it as a spot remedy. This fashion, you do away with 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 worsening for pores and skin. The exception? Salicylic acid cleansers. They’re mild sufficient for use ONCE a day. The catch? Salicylic acid works lots 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 sorts can use salicylic acid. However, because it’s the ONLY exfoliant that may unclog pores, it’s supreme for greasy and acne-prone pores and skin (together with dry AND acne-prone pores and skin). When you’ve got pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, clogged pores, a propensity to zits, or oily pores and skin, you want Salicylic Acid. No different exfoliant will work as nicely for you. Interval.

Who Shouldn’t Use Salicylic Acid?

Salicylic acid is superior, nevertheless it’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 need to fade away darkish spots: Whereas salicylic acid might help fade away darkish spots, it does so very slowly. When you don’t have zits and fading darkish spots is your most important concern, go together with Glycolic acid as an alternative.
• Are on sure medicines: It might intrude with sure medication, 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 aspect, keep away from salicylic acid peels.

Associated: Which Skincare Components Ought to You Keep away from Throughout Being pregnant?

How Usually Ought to You Use It?

The best frequency is each different evening. It gives sufficient exfoliation to deal with and forestall blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples with out irritating pores and skin. In case your zits may be very extreme and your pores and skin very oily, you could get away with utilizing salicylic acid each day and even twice a day, morning and evening. However I solely advocate 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, for those who’re experiencing dryness, irritation, and redness, reduce utilization.

What Ought to You NOT Use It With?

Though you can 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? When you use a product, like Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Glycolic Evening Serum, formulated with a mix completely different exfoliating acids. They’re designed to provide the correct quantity of exfoliation you want – and lots safer to make use of than you mixing a number of bottles or utilizing a unique exfoliant each day. This additionally means you shouldn’t use salicylic acid with scrubs, konjac sponges, sonic cleansers and the rest that would 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 perfect of each world with out irritating your pores and skin.

How A lot Salicylic Acid Do You Want?

You understand how I at all times say that for those who 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 nicely even at 1 or 2% concentrations. Actually, right here within the EU, you possibly can’t use greater than 2%.

Acids are superior, however for those who abuse them, they’ll wreak some severe havoc in your pores and skin. And you already know human nature. When one thing is sweet, you need to use a ton of it to get higher outcomes after which marvel why your pores and skin appears like a large number. When you can’t use greater than 2%, you possibly can take pleasure in its advantages with none nasty unwanted side effects.

Associated: 5 Skincare Therapies That Can Injury Pores and skin IF Abused

Is Salicylic Acid pH Dependant?

A few of the greatest 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 could simply as nicely splash water in your pores and skin.

Hearsay has it, salicylic acid is pH dependant too. If it’s increased than 4, it gained’t work. That is NOT true! Research present that it’s an efficient exfoliant even with a better pH. That is nice information for delicate pores and skin. Low pH = increased likelihood of irritation. By protecting the pH at a skin-friendly stage, 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 do you have to use?

Benzoyl Peroxide works otherwise. Whereas it has a light peeling motion, it largely works by killing P.Zits, the micro organism that causes zits. The very 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 whole variety of zits lesions,” and it’s gentler on the pores and skin besides. FYI, that is true even in terms of cleansers. A salicylic acid face wash works higher at treating zits than one with benzoyl peroxide, in accordance with a research revealed in Scientific Therapeutics.

I like to recommend you begin with Salicylic Acid and, if you’d 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 might probably’t do something on your zits.

As a substitute, glycolic acid has two completely different superpowers: it hydrates pores and skin and fades away darkish spots. When you’ve got 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 greatest outcomes.

Facet Results Of Salicylic Acid

Though Salicylic acid is gentler than different exfoliants (*cough* Glycolic Acid *cough*), it might probably nonetheless dry out and irritate pores and skin for those who use an excessive amount of. Overexfoliation isn’t good. Lifeless cells are there for a cause. To guard the newer pores and skin beneath that’s not absolutely developed and able to come to the floor but. A bit of exfoliation brightens pores and skin. An excessive amount of exposes uncooked pores and skin – it’s ugly and painful.

Like all exfoliants, Salicylic Acid may enhance pores and skin sensitivity to the solar. For that reason, it’s greatest to make use of it at evening, when the solar isn’t round.

Lastly, Salicylic Acid might trigger purging. A purge is completely different from a breakout. A breakout occurs whenever you use substances 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.

When 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 possibly can 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 might probably take as much as 6 weeks to finish the purging course of.

What Are The Finest Merchandise With Salicylic Acid?

Decide one product. In case your moisturizer has salicylic acid, you don’t want a separate exfoliant. When 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 way in which, listed here are my fave skincare merchandise with salicylic acid:

• Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Evening Serum ($90.00): Don’t let the identify idiot you. This exfoliant has each salicylic acid to unclog pores and glycolic acid to fade away the darkish spots pimples generally go away behind. Accessible 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 a little bit sticky, however for those who can take that, this is without doubt one of the greatest salicylic acid exfoliants on the market. Accessible at Cult Magnificence, Dermstore, Internet-A-Porter, Paula’s Selection, Sephora, and SpaceNK.
• The Inkey Listing Beta Hydroxy Acid (£9.99): A easy, no-frills salicylic acid exfoliant for folks on a price range. Accessible at Cult Magnificence and Sephora.

The Backside Line

When you’ve got oily, combo or acne-prone pores and skin, it’s essential 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 will help you obtain your greatest pores and skin day ever – each day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising and marketing jargon that will help you determine what’s well worth the splurge and what’s greatest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally provide skincare consultations that will help you create the perfect skincare routine on your distinctive wants.