What is Salicylic Acid ?
What is Salicylic Acid (SA)?
We’ve all heard of “salicylic acid” and that it’s good for breakouts but do we actually know what it does? Are acids bad? Will it be too strong for me? Let's find out !
Salicylic Acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that is extracted from the bark of willow trees. This organic acid is oil soluble which allows it to penetrate the sebum within the pore making it a great acid to work with oily/congested/acne prone skin.
How Does Salicylic Acid Work?
For those who are dealing with blackheads and acne, SA is a great tool to help extract adhesive proteins within the skin. For people with acne prone skin, these proteins can cause cells to stick together instead of shedding off, resulting in a clogged pore. SA will help breakup these cell clusters (exfoliation) that are essentially causing your breakouts and blackheads. However, this is also great for those who have excessively oily skin because it will slow down oil production!
In addition, not only is SA great for blemishes but it is also a great anti-aging ingredient. SA will activate fibroblast within the skin which stimulates collagen formation. This will also help with cell turnover, meaning that new cells will be brought to the surface ultimately leading to brighter and fresher skin! So, if you find that you are struggling with a loss of elasticity SA is a great ingredient to have in your routine!
Benefits of Salicylic Acid
Decongest
Balances Skin's Oil Production
Exfoliates/Removes Dead Skin Cells
Reduces Blemishes
Fights Acne
Reduces Inflammation and Redness
Anti-Aging
Does the Percent of Salicylic Matter in Skin Care?
Yes! The percentage of salicylic acid does matter. Depending on your skin concern, you may benefit from a different percentage. Most over-the-counter skin care products that contain salicylic acid are usually between 0.5%-2%. When it comes to the lower percentages of SA ranging from 0.5%-1.5% we believe it is great for those who have minimal breakouts, oily skin and are more on the sensitive side. However, we highly recommend using 2% SA if you are struggling with consistent breakouts/acne and/or oily skin. In our opinion, there is a huge difference between 0.5% to 2%.
When it comes to even higher percentages such as 20%-30% these are reserved for medical use such as chemical peels. SA chemical peels help target acne, congestion, pigmentation, scarring and wrinkles. For optimal results SA chemical peels should be performed every 2-4 weeks with the best results after 3-6 sessions.
What if I’m Pregnant?
Yes, it is safe for pregnant women to use skin care products containing salicylic acid that is only 2% or lower. SA only penetrates the superficial layers of the skin.
Who Should be Using Salicylic Acid?
You should be using Salicylic Acid if you have oily skin, combination skin type, congested skin, consistent breakouts and/or acne.
Side Effects of Salicylic Acid and Who Should Avoid Using it?
You should not use Salicylic acid if you have severely dry skin and sensitive skin as salicylic acid will be too strong and will cause irritation on the skin. If this is a concern of yours, you should always start with a patch test, wait 24 hours and see if you have a reaction. The patch test will ensure that you are not allergic to the product being used.
Depending on your skin type you should avoid over using salicylic acid in your skin care routine as you can possibly over-exfoliate the skin causing redness, irritation, dry patches and peeling. In order to not overuse salicylic acid, you must pay attention to your skin. If you feel your skin becoming sensitive, irritated and red discontinue use for a few days and then slowly incorporate it back into your skin routine. Some skin types are able to handle more while others won't be able to. This is why it is important to know your skin and pay close attention.
How to incorporate Salicylic Acid into your Skin Care Routine?
Cleansers with SA are good for skin types that cannot tolerate a stronger SA. You are able to apply it on the skin and remove it automatically.
Toner is stronger than a cleanser since it is left on the skin. It is a great introduction to SA.
Physical/enzymatic Exfoliants with SA are more aggressive than a cleanser and toner as it is physically scrubbing the skin while simultaneously using enzymes that eat away at the dead skin layer.
Serums are the most aggressive depending on percentage, it goes deepest into the skin giving you the most results.
Products we recommend with Salicylic acid:
Dermaquest | DermaClear BHA Cleanser
