Salicylic acid is considered a keratolytic medication, which means that it's perfect for supreme exfoliation. "Keratolytic medications cause softening and sloughing of the top layer of skin cells," says Rachel Nazarian, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
A beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that can penetrate the skin to help remove excess oil and unclog the pores, salicylic acid possesses keratolytic properties that enable it to exfoliate dead skin cells and improve texture and tone, noted board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD.
By minimizing the appearance of pores and tightening the skin, salicylic acid can give the skin a youthful, smooth appearance. One of the lesser known benefits of salicylic acid is its ability to help reduce the appearance of blemishes and hyperpigmentation [2] on the skin.
Salicylic acid dries out excess oils (sebum) in your pores. However, it could remove too much oil, making your face unusually dry.
Topical salicylic acid treats acne by reducing swelling and redness and unplugging blocked skin pores to allow pimples to shrink. It treats other skin conditions by softening and loosening dry, scaly, or thickened skin so that it falls off or can be removed easily.
Do you apply salicylic acid before or after moisturiser? Generally speaking, the most potent skin products containing salicylic acid are those such as serums, spot treatments and cleansers, all of which are applied before moisturisers.
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.
Over-exfoliation (as in the case of salicylic acid) can lead to dehydrated, shiny or red skin – or all three. It can thin your stratum corneum which can mean an impaired skin barrier, and this can bring a host of other issues.
"The primary negative side effect of salicylic acid is its ability to irritate and dry skin in those who are very sensitive or those who overuse it," says Dr. Nazarian.
Don't use it if you have Dry Skin
For those of you with dry skin, it is preferable to opt for an AHA such as Lactic acid or Glycolic Acid. Salicylic Acid will probably just dry you out further and can irritate the skin.
Since it's an acid, avoid getting any near the eyes or mouth. Also try to keep it off the normal skin. The acid will turn the wart into dead skin (it will turn white).
Here's everything you need to know. We'll be honest—you can't really shrink your pores. That's a myth.
Salicylic acid can be an effective ingredient in skin care products to help treat acne. 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.
Salicylic acid may be used morning and night. Because it's so gentle, it may also be applied as a midday spot treatment.
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.
AHAs and BHAs, such as glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids should never be used with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an acid, too, and is unstable, so the pH balance will be thrown off by layering these ingredients together and might as well be useless.
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.
Salicylic acid
It's considered to be one of the best treatments for acne scars. You can add products with salicylic acid into your daily routine, or your skin care specialist may use it for less frequent chemical peels. It might take a few weeks to see a difference when using salicylic acid.
Here's the not-so-great thing about salicylic acid: It takes a minute to see it work. “You'll likely see results in four to six weeks,” says Dr. Nazarian, “after which you should continue to use it for long-term effects.” That means you shouldn't expect any miracles overnight—good skin requires patience, y'all.
Can I moisturise after salicylic acid? Absolutely, if anything I strongly suggest moisturising after using salicylic acid. Not only will this soothe and calm the skin after applying the potent BHA to your skin.
Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid that is commonly used in skincare products to help visibly improve the texture of the skin, reduce the signs of aging and increase skin cell turnover, reducing blemishes. Salicylic acid is mainly used in anti-aging and acne products.
Glycolic acid is an effective exfoliant, meaning it can remove dead skin cells. It's well suited to reducing hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and uneven skin tone. If you have acne-prone skin, salicylic acid is usually a better option. It can get rid of excess sebum and prevent or treat acne.
The bad news is that pore size is genetically determined, so you can't actually shrink pores. However, some products and treatments can minimize the appearance of pores, but none of them are permanent solutions. Pore-minimizing products work by stimulating and plumping the collagen that surrounds pores.
“Since cold water tightens your pores, bacteria and debris can get trapped and won't clear out as easily as using warm water,” explains Knapp. She recommends washing your face with lukewarm water first as a way to remove any makeup and pollutants from the day.
Furthermore, the myth of cold water being able to shrink the size of pores has been proven false, since pore size is decided completely by genetics. However, cold -but not too cold- water does still have its benefits for the skin. Cold water causes blood vessels to contract, creating a tightened feeling.