If you’re a skincare enthusiast, like myself, then you’ve surely heard of salicylic acid before. It’s a very common ingredient in skincare products, especially in those formulated specifically for acne-prone skin. Why?
Well, because salicylic acid for acne is a great way to treat and clear your skin. It's an exfoliant that removes dead skin cells, unclogs pores and helps prevent new pimples from forming.
This guide will explain how salicylic acid works and recommend the best products to use. You'll also find out if it's safe or effective for treating acne scars or improving oily skin or if you can use salicylic acid on hormonal acne – and more.
Read on!
Contents
- Salicylic acid - how does it work?
- Salicylic acid for acne treatments - what you need to know
- How to use Salicylic acid for pimples
- Salicylic acid hydrocolloid pimple patches
- Salicylic acid microneedle pimple patches
- Top Salicylic acid benefits for acne prone skin
- Why Salicylic acid is recommended for clear skin too
- Salicylic acid in skincare - possible side effects
- FAQs about using salicylic acid for treating acne
Salicylic acid for acne - how does it work?
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA). The main way it works is by dissolving the "glue" that holds dead skin cells together, but there's also some evidence to suggest that it can help unclog pores and reduce inflammation.
Salicylic acid is a keratolytic agent, meaning it has an “affinity” for skin cells known as keratinocytes. These are what make up the bulk of the epidermis—the outermost layer of your body’s largest organ, your skin. When you have acne, these dead cells build up in clumps within your pores and become inflamed due to an overproduction of sebum oil that clogs them up even more!
Salicylic acid has been shown to work on both closed comedones (whiteheads) and open ones (blackheads). This means that if you rub salicylic acid into a blackhead or whitehead on purpose with a Q-tip or some other applicator tool. this will help keep breakouts under control by exfoliating away the excess dirt and oil trapped inside them.
But there’s more to using salicylic acid for acne. So, in case you’re wondering if you can use salicylic acne for cystic acne or other types of breakouts, keep reading!
Salicylic acid for acne treatment - what you need to know
Salicylic acid is a common ingredient in over-the-counter acne treatments, from a salicylic acid acne wash, for example, to the Insta-famous pimple patches. It removes dead skin cells, which helps prevent pimples from forming. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, so it reduces redness and swelling as well as overall inflammation on the skin.
Salicylic acid works by dissolving the glue that holds dead skin cells together inside pores, thus cleaning out clogged pores and preventing blackheads from forming.
Compared to benzoyl peroxide (BP), salicylic acid is less irritating because it doesn’t contain free radicals that can break down healthy cells in addition to bad ones. BP is also more effective at killing bacteria than SA is when used at higher concentrations—but SA has fewer side effects when used correctly, which is always a great plus!
Glycolic acid has a similar chemical structure to salicylic acid but functions differently: Glycolic acid also exfoliates dead cells but does so more aggressively than SA does while also increasing cellular turnover rate; this means that your body will shed old skin faster after using GA regularly.
How to use Salicylic acid for acne
The best way to use salicylic acid for acne treatment is by applying it directly to the affected area. You can either apply it with your fingers or a cotton swab, depending on how big an area you need to cover.
- To start, wash and dry your face thoroughly before using the product. This will remove excess oil and grime that might otherwise interfere with its effectiveness.
- Apply a small amount (about half as much as you think you need) of salicylic acid cream in one smooth stroke over the affected area(s). Don’t rub or scrub at this point — simply let it sit there while working its magic!
- After ten minutes, gently rinse off any excess residue with warm water; this will help ensure that everything gets washed away without clogging pores or leaving behind any residue that could cause irritation later on down the road.
- Alternatively, you can apply salicylic acid as a spot treatment, using pimple patches. In our bundle, you can find both microcrystal pimple patches for deep zits and hydrocolloid pimple patches for whiteheads. Check out the bundle here.
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To avoid drying out skin even further due to over-exfoliation from repeated washings too soon after application (which would also lead to increased side effects), follow these same steps every other day until symptoms subside enough for daily treatments not being necessary anymore (typically around three weeks).
In case you’re not applying a spot treatment directly to the affected area and you decide to use various other products with salicylic acid for acne, the key rule is to carefully read the instructions on the label and, moreover, make sure you don’t overuse products with SA, as these can cause irritation and redness. The pimple patches are the exception, as they are very gentle and can be used daily even on sensitive skin.
Salicylic acid hydrocolloid pimple patches
Salicylic acid is a common ingredient in acne treatments, and it makes sense that if you could wear the ingredient instead of applying it directly to your skin, it will be even more efficient. And that's what pimple patches are—thin squares of hydrocolloid material covered in salicylic acid. They're like little band-aids for your pimples!
While they seem like a gimmick at first glance, pimple patches work by keeping the medicine in contact with your skin so that it can do its job of drying out and helping to clear up blemishes.
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These are invisible 10 mm patches with active Hydrocolloid, great for extracting puss and clearing whiteheads, while your skin heals. Filled with powerful Salicylic Acid, the pimple patch keeps the area hydrated and clean while the blemish heals.
Salicylic acid microneedle pimple patches
The idea behind these microneedle pimple patches is the same as for the pimple patches we were talking about above, only these ones have tiny, microscopic needles that will gently penetrate your skin, thus getting the salicylic acid even deeper into your skin for more effective results. You won’t feel it, of course!
These microneedle pimple patches will draw out the impurities and toxins from your pores as you sleep, allowing your skin to be at its most effective when you wake up.
Here’s how to use them:
- First, take a shower or cleanse your face thoroughly before bed. This will help to remove any dirt or makeup that might be clogging up your pores.
- Next, apply the patch in an area of concern on your face — this can be a single spot or an entire area if you have large cysts or pustules forming.
- Make sure it’s well-sealed onto the skin so it doesn’t fall off during the night. You should feel no pain as long as it’s firmly attached and there isn't any raw feeling left behind after removal in the morning; otherwise, there could be irritation caused by too much salicylic acid!
- The next day, wash off with warm water under gentle pressure (don't exfoliate). This will ensure all traces of dead skin cells are removed from underneath so nothing gets trapped under layers of dead tissue again - this could lead back down the road towards future breakouts.
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Top Salicylic acid benefits for acne prone skin
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that exfoliates the skin, clearing clogged pores and removing excess oil, dirt and dead skin cells. It also helps to prevent blackheads by unclogging pores and preventing further build-up of dirt within them.
Because salicylic acid helps to clear clogged pores, it makes sense that this ingredient has been proven effective for acne sufferers time and time again. In fact, many studies have found that salicylic acids is just as effective as minocycline - an antibiotic commonly prescribed for acne treatment - with less side effects.
Why Salicylic acid is recommended for clear skin too
Even if you’re not dealing with an acne-prone skin, you probably still encountered numerous products with salicylic acid that are recommended for clear skin. How come?
Salicylic acid is a BHA. BHA's are oil soluble and they penetrate clogged pores to unclog them, clear out blackheads and whiteheads and remove excess debris that blocks pores. Salicylic acid is also anti-inflammatory; it will calm down any redness or irritation caused by acne blemishes. Finally, salicylic acid is anti-septic meaning it fights bacteria which can cause pimples as well as other skin infections.
All these are things that all types of skin can benefit of, not just acne-prone skin!
Salicylic acid for acne - possible side effects
Salicylic acid can be used to treat acne. However, it may not be the best choice for everyone. If you have sensitive skin or are prone to redness and irritation, salicylic acid could cause a negative reaction.
Some of the possible side effects include:
- Dry skin/redness/irritation
- Peeling
- Stinging or burning sensation on the skin
- Mild allergic reaction (rare)
- Skin irritation (rare)
In addition, salicylic acid should not be used if you have known hypersensitivities to any other topical ingredients in products containing the ingredient salicylic acid.
FAQs about using salicylic acid for acne
Is salicylic acid good for acne?
How effective is salicylic acid for acne? Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid, and it's an active ingredient in many over-the-counter acne treatments. While it's not the only ingredient found in these products (many also contain benzoyl peroxide and/or sulfur), it is both the oldest and most commonly used active ingredient.
As you probably know, salicylic acid has been around for a long time—it was first isolated from willow bark by Pierre François Percy in 1762. It wasn't until 1936 that scientists discovered its ability to exfoliate skin on a molecular level (by dissolving the bonds between dead cells). This discovery led to its use as an acne treatment 80 years later.
Salicylic acid can help treat acne because it works as both an exfoliant and comedolytic agent.
Can salicylic acid worsen acne?
Salicylic acid is a very strong ingredient, so it can dry out your skin and cause irritation. If you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation, consider using salicylic acid only every few days.
You may also experience redness, peeling and stinging or burning when using salicylic acid on acne-prone areas of the body (the face or back).
How long does salicylic acid take to clear acne?
Salicylic acid for acne can take up to 3 weeks to show results. If you've tried a lot of different treatments and nothing has worked, you might want to be patient with salicylic acid.
Can I use salicylic acid on my face every day?
You can use salicylic acid every day, but you have to be careful not to overuse it. Most importantly, you should only use salicylic acid on your pimples and not all over your face.
If you use salicylic acid a lot, then you might want to try using a moisturizer after using it as well. And remember: Salicylic acid should only be used for the face and neck area. Salicylic acid for back acne is a whole different subject!
Can you use salicylic acid for acne scars?
Wondering which is the best salicylic acid for acne marks? Spoiler alert: it’s not the only thing you’ll have to do.
While salicylic acid is a great treatment for acne, it can also be used to improve the appearance of acne scars. Salicylic acid is commonly used in conjunction with other treatments like microdermabrasion or chemical peels. This combination approach may be best for people who do not have money for laser resurfacing but would still like to see improvement in their acne scars.
It's important to note though, that salicylic acid will only help if you use it regularly (once or twice a day) and consistently between treatments. If you just try using it once every couple months and then stop because your skin gets irritated, there won't be any improvement in your scarring over time.
If you have acne-prone skin and are looking for a way to treat your acne, then salicylic acid may be the perfect option for you! It can be used in many different ways and has been shown to be very effective in treating pimples. However, before starting any new skincare routine or product for acne treatment, it’s important that you talk with your dermatologist first and make sure they have no contraindications with other medications or conditions that might affect their effectiveness against these types of skin problems.
Hugs!
Adrienne | Co-founder of OMMA Cosmetics
Photo sources: Unsplash, OMMA