Your treatment plan could include salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide at the same time, but it is best to space them out to decrease your risk for peeling, redness, dermatitis and drying. Doctors suggests switching between products every night, or using one in the AM and the other in the night.
Salicylic Acid vs.
For example, you can use a product with salicylic acid one night and a product with benzoyl peroxide the next night. It's perfectly safe to use both over-the-counter ingredients to rid your skin of both dead skin cells and bacteria.
While both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are effective on their own, using them together is associated with a greater risk of irritation. As such, pairing these two acne ingredients is only recommended for those with severe, stubborn acne.
Products with salicylic acid can be used either morning or night. When using products with salicylic acid during the day, it is recommended to apply a daily SPF as the last step in your skincare regimen.
These ingredients can be applied morning or night, as long as you're pairing with a strong SPF. "If people are using both, it's best to use one in the morning and one at night," says Nagler, as opposed to combining.
If your acne tends to be inflammatory, such as papules and pustules, opt for benzoyl peroxide to stop outbreaks at the source. For sensitive skin, start with salicylic acid, since it's less likely to cause irritation.
Often found spot treatments and acne-focused skincare products, benzoyl peroxide is generally okay to use either in the morning or night, with one exception. "Benzoyl peroxide can be used during the daytime, but is often combined into formulations with other acne-fighting retinoids.
Can I leave salicylic acid overnight? Yes, you can, but only once you have built the skin's tolerance. For those with a skin type that is oily and prone to acne and breakouts, salicylic acid is the best ingredient to use to combat any concerns.
Salicylic acid creams that are only 1% or 2% in strength, you can leave it overnight on the skin and rinse it off in the morning. Remember to use a good broad spectrum sunscreen because salicylic acid can make your skin sensitive.
Salicylic acid may be used morning and night. Because it's so gentle, it may also be applied as a midday spot treatment.
Don't Mix: Benzoyl peroxide with retinol, acne prescription tretinoin with caution. As previously mentioned, benzoyl peroxide and retinol can deactivate one another when used together. While prescription acne treatments can be used with BP, tretinoin requires extra care.
Research on the chemical differences between these two acne-fighting agents has shown that salicylic acid opens the pores and has a bit of a sloughing, exfoliating effect. However, benzoyl peroxide is superior for treating acne because it has an anti-microbial effect and a better antioxidant effect.
"Even at low levels, benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria and opens pores," says Dr. Zeichner. In fact, studies show that high amounts of benzoyl peroxide (the most available is 10 percent) are more irritating but no more effective than their lower-concentrated counterparts.
Retinoids such as Tretinoin, acids such as salicylic, and benzoyl peroxide are just a few of the products that cause purging. These products contain active ingredients that increase the skin cell turnover rate, therefore causing your skin to purge.
After cleansing, follow with our Salicylic Acid 2% Daily Treatment. You'll be amazed as you leave it on for a few minutes as you can actually watch your pores get lighter and tighter – it's awesome. After 1-3 minutes, rinse face with cool water.
There is no wait time required between applying your serum and moisturizer. You can even choose to mix them together in the palm of your hand before applying. (Exception: a daytime moisturizer with sunscreen shouldn't be mixed into other formulas since doing so could hinder the level of protection).
This medicine is for use only on the skin. Do not get any of it in your eyes, nose, or mouth . Rinse it off with water right away if it does get on these areas.
Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide combination is used to treat acne. It works by killing the bacteria that cause acne and by keeping the skin pores clean (tiny openings on the skin).
Although many products containing salicylic acid recommend that you apply them in the morning and night, you should always be cautious when using an ingredient like this in the day as salicylic acid can make the skin more sensitive to the sun.
Acne treatments — especially those that contain active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid — are drying and a bit harsh on your skin. If you use too many treatments at the same time, your skin may become irritated, and you may actually suffer more breakouts as a result.
Salicylic acid also improves the shape of the pore lining, and once the pore is normalized, the backed-up, smaller clog can more easily come to the surface, appearing as new clogged pores (blackheads or white bumps).
Consider any medicines and skin care products you already use. Some may make your skin more sensitive, such as prescription retinoid creams or products containing retinol or benzoyl peroxide. Exfoliating while using these products can trigger acne breakouts or excessive dryness.
Products containing Niacinamide are fantastic to pair with dehydrating ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or retinols to balance the skin.
However, certain concentrations of benzoyl peroxide could deactivate retinoids, while salicylic acid can reduce their efficacy. “To avoid this, we recommend using the benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid in the daytime and the retinoid at night,” she says.