Salicylic Acid Guide: Ultimate guide to Salicylic Acid: Benefits, risks, and how to use it for radiant skin |

Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid derived from the bark of white willow and the leaves of wintergreen. It is essentially benzoic acid with a hydroxy group at the ortho position.

Benefits of Salicylic Acid
Acne Prevention: It helps reduce whiteheads and blackheads due to its comedolytic properties.
Mild Astringent: It tightens skin pores, reduces oiliness, and unclogs pores, leading to smoother, younger-looking skin.
Reduces Sebum Production: Salicylic acid face washes can break down fatty compounds on the skin’s surface, helping to control excess sebum and dead skin cells, thus exfoliating the skin and keeping it clear of debris.
Lightens Blemishes: Known for its skin-brightening properties, salicylic acid effectively reduces skin blemishes by breaking down the connections between skin cells.

Risks of Salicylic Acid
Common side effects include inflammation, redness, and burning.
Less common side effects may include difficulty breathing, dryness and peeling of the skin, hives or itching, angioedema, throat tightness, and elevated skin temperature.

Usage Recommendations
Salicylic acid is suitable for those with oily or acne-prone skin. It should be avoided by individuals with very dry skin as it can exacerbate dryness.
It should not be applied to large areas, used for extended periods, or applied to children under two years old, especially with an occlusive dressing.
Available in various forms such as face washes, gels, creams, moisturizers, serums, and scrubs, it is important to use low concentrations (0.5 to 5%). Apply it to breakout-prone or scarred areas rather than the entire face. Start with application once or twice a week to gauge your skin’s reaction, and use a mild cleanser to clean the area before application. The duration of use depends on the specific product, with serums often used overnight.
Input by Dr Trupti Agarwal, Consultant, Dermatology, Sir H.N. Reliance Hospital