Although salicylic acid is considered safe overall, it may cause skin irritation when first starting. It may also remove too much oil, resulting in dryness and potential irritation. Other potential side effects include : skin tingling or stinging.
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.
"If salicylic acid is an ingredient in your cleanser, it is fine to use it every day." However, if you are using an exfoliant that has salicylic acid in the formula, Dr. Hu advises only using the product three times per week, to avoid over-exfoliating the skin and drying it out.
Salicylic acid topical can cause a rare but serious allergic reaction or severe skin irritation. These reactions may occur just a few minutes after you apply the medicine, or within a day or longer afterward.
“When you put irritating products on the skin that dry it out [like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, which work by killing acne-causing bacteria underneath the skin and helping the pores shed those dead cells] then the barrier is even further compromised. This causes irritation, redness, stinging and burning.”
Although salicylic acid is considered safe overall, it may cause skin irritation when first starting. It may also remove too much oil, resulting in dryness and potential irritation. Other potential side effects include : skin tingling or stinging.
Salicylic acid-based products are great for many people, especially those with oily and acne-prone skin types. However, if you've over-exfoliated with this powerful acid, it can lead to redness, shininess, even more breakouts, and overall irritated and angry skin!
Salicylic acid breaks the bonds that hold the skin's cells together, causing them to shed away or peel. As the skin regenerates, it is rejuvenated. Compared to other types of chemical peels, salicylic acid gives a gentle exfoliating action.
Salicylic acid should not be applied to large areas of the body, used for long periods of time, or used under occlusive dressing (air-tight covering, such as kitchen plastic wrap) in children. Use of salicylic acid topical in children younger than 2 years of age is not recommended.
Salicylic acid peel treatments are designed to strip back dead skin cells and unclog pores. This powerful action can cause some redness and soreness after treatment, but most people are back to normal after three or four days.
Signs that treatment is effective
Wart medications, such as salicylic acid, gradually peel away layers of a wart until it reaches the same level as the skin. People may notice the wart becoming flatter over time.
Skin purging occurs because of some ingredients that accelerate your body's natural process of getting rid of dead skin cells. Products that contain certain components—including lactic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and retinoids—are likely the culprits of your acne breakout.
“When you apply a higher dosage than skin is used to, salicylic acid disrupts your skin's barrier, creating microscopic cracks that cause skin to lose moisture and become irritated and inflamed — hence the red, itchy, flakiness that's so often associated with acne treatments,” Dr. Zeichner adds.
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.
Check with your doctor right away if you have hives, itching, trouble breathing, swelling of the eyes, face, lips, or tongue, tightness in the throat, or feeling faint while using these products. Do not use an OTC acne product again if you have developed a serious allergic reaction from it.
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.
“To exfoliate, look for ingredients in your cleansers that contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid or fruit enzymes,” says Haley. “Letting these products work their way into the skin for 60 to 90 seconds will do the job, or clearing pores and removing dead skin cells to provide a healthy glow.”
Salicylic acid comes in a variety of forms, with concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 30%. Higher concentrations may produce stinging, irritation, or burns, which may manifest as: irritation. flushing or discoloration.
Like I mentioned earlier, salicylic acid and sulfur won't help cystic acne. It can make it even worse if it dries out or irritates your skin.
In most cases, purging looks like tiny red bumps that are painful to touch. You may even notice blackheads or whiteheads, which is why many people confuse it with a traditional acne breakout. Skin purging can also cause your skin to be flaky.
One go-to ingredient for eliminating blackheads is salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid that increases cell turnover and unclogs pores, says Saedi. Suozzi adds that the acne treatment can help dry active acne lesions because it is a mild chemical irritant.
For patients with darker-colored skin, the repeated use of products containing salicylic acid might cause hypo-pigmentation and possibly scarring. For the best results, six to 10 chemical peels are recommended.
If used for a long time, it can make your skin become dry and thin, he says, which could lead to more fine lines and wrinkles—although managing dosages and days of use can prevent this.
Salicylic acid decreases postacne hyperpigmentation by its anti-inflammatory effects. Ahn and Kim[18] found salicylic acid to have a whitening effect on the skin as well. Mandelic acid also has a beneficial effect in improving skin pigmentation.