"Salicylic and glycolic acids will definitely help reduce the oily shine on your face and even dry up your inflamed pimples, but using it more than once a day can strip your skin of the natural oils it needs and, if it makes your skin super-dry and irritated, can actually encourage your skin to produce more oil to ...
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU USE A SALICYLIC ACID? While the frequency of application will vary from product to product, most will recommend use twice daily.
Is it okay to use salicylic acid every day? While it is okay to use salicylic acid every day, it could cause irritation. Many dermatologists, therefore, recommend using the acid in moderation, beginning by applying it three times a week and working up from there.
It is safe to use products with salicylic acid every day, unless it is specified otherwise on the product usage guidelines or by your health care professional. CeraVe's SA Smoothing Cream and SA Smoothing Cleanser are suitable for daily use.
Salicylic acid based face wash is great for targeting mild acne, blackheads, whiteheads and pimples. It also helps control excess sebum production which consequently prevents acne.
Most derms we've talked to recommend using a face wash or cleanser that contains between 0.5 and 2 percent salicylic acid daily. Consider this your first line of defense against blackheads, whiteheads and minor acne.
Salicylic acid penetrates into your skin and works to dissolve the dead skin cells clogging your pores. It can take several weeks of use for you to see its full effect. Check with your dermatologist if you aren't seeing results after 6 weeks. Your skin is affected by more than what you put on it.
Daily: Cleanser – No matter how much you skimp on your skin care routine, you should always wash your face at least once a day. Those with oily or combination skin may benefit from twice daily washes (morning and night) while drier skin may be fine with just a nightly wash.
“You can use a salicylic acid–based cleanser in the morning to unclog pores and avoid acne and a glycolic acid–based cleanser at night to exfoliate your skin and get rid of dead skin cells,” notes Jailman.
Use this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than recommended on the label, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. To do so may increase the chance of absorption through the skin and the chance of salicylic acid poisoning.
Can I apply moisturizer after using salicylic acid? Yes. Moisturizers can help hydrate and repair skin, making it a good step to do after using an exfoliating treatment with salicylic acid.
Salicylic acid can help unclog blocked pores by breaking down and removing dead skin cells and oil. Salicylic acid may produce mild side effects, such as skin irritation or peeling. If people experience more severe side effects, they should stop using the product and contact their doctor.
You get the maximum benefit when you adjust your skin to start using it twice a day. But, if you are sensitive to salicylic acid and using it up regularly left your skin dry, red, and peeling, then use it as a toner and leave it up for up to 30 seconds and then rinse off.
There's no need to wash the face more than twice a day. In fact, doing so may dry out your skin. When this happens, Ivonne says skin “does whatever it needs to do to regain moisture.” This includes “making its sebum production work in overdrive, causing more oil and more acne than there was originally.”
Salicylic acid and vitamin C are both effective products on their own but, when combined, they can be even more beneficial. Whether you're looking to brighten your skin, reduce the likelihood of blemishes or just help slow down the skin's natural aging process, these ingredients may be just what you're looking for.
In general, you should be cleansing your face at least twice a day. “You should wash your face both morning and night because the skin creates sebum and oil throughout the day,” says Saya Obayah, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist located in Austin, Texas.
If your skin gets oily quickly, you may be tempted to wash your face multiple times a day. However, this will do more harm than good. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should only wash your face twice a day (and after sweating heavily).
Lamb, the associate professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, says that washing your face twice per day is always a good idea. "In the morning, it's a good way to remove dead skin cells that have turned over on your face after sleeping," she says.
Precautions for Salicylic Acid Use
Also, because salicylic acid does affect pigmentations, darker skin types may want to avoid salicylic acid, particularly in high concentrations, to prevent unnatural-looking hypopigmentation.
No, salicylic acid is not a skin lightening (as in whitening) agent and therefore, it cannot lighten your skin. However, since salicylic acid has the ability to exfoliate your skin's surface and remove dead skin cells, it can help give your skin a brighter more even complexion.
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.
It is best at treating whiteheads and blackheads because these types of acne causing bacteria are the ones that get clogged with dirt, pollution, and sebum. So when the salicylic acid product is applied, it clears out and helps unclog pores.
The primary negative side effect of salicylic acid is its ability to irritate and dry skin in those that are very sensitive or those who overuse it. So, it's recommended to use it once or twice a week. Salicylic acid can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and cause sunburn easily.
By cleansing with water only, you're less likely to over-strip the skin's natural oil and therefore reduce the risk of damaging your skin barrier. Cleansing your face with water only not only reduces the oil-stripping action but also the physical rubbing action, which would reduce irritation to the skin.