Salicylic acid 2% serum is for you if you have acne prone-skin and excessively oily skin. It helps reduce and prevents acne blemishes, smooth skin texture, and keeps the oils in check. All skin types can benefit from a lightweight salicylic acid liquid exfoliant, as it gives you a refined and healthy glow.
"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.
When applied to the skin, salicylic acid may work by helping the skin to shed dead cells from the top layer and by decreasing redness and swelling (inflammation). This decreases the number of pimples that form and speeds healing.
Speaking of concentrations, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows manufacturers to make acne-fighting claims for salicylic acid-containing products if they use it at levels between 0.5 percent and 2 percent, so that is the full range you'll find in over the counter skin-care products.
Adults—Use the 0.5 to 2% topical solution one to three times a day. Children 2 years of age and older—Use the 0.5 to 2% topical solution one to three times a day.
Salicylic acid starts working by 2-3 weeks, and takes around 2-3 months to show full effect. This potent antioxidant reduces pigmentation and builds up skin collagen. You will start noticing a brighter complexion in 4-6 weeks but actual improvements, in terms of dark spots reduction, will take around 3-4 months.
Yes, it's considered best for your skin and the protective skin barrier to apply a moisturiser after using salicylic acid.
Apply once daily in the evening. Apply a small dot to the target area or apply a small amount over the face for general use. Do not use on sensitive, peeling or compromised skin. Avoid the eye contour and contact with eyes.
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.
“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.”
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.
It is advised by some skincare experts that using a salicylic acid product overnight enables the ingredient to work without being disturbed with the exposure to free radicals, such as pollution or UV rays.
Use Products With Salicylic Acid
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.
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.
Finding a good moisturizer for acne-prone skin is especially important if you're using a treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which can dry out the complexion. According to Dr. Hayag, water-based products containing humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid are ideal.
The exfoliating properties of salicylic acid boost skin cell renewal. This, in turn, stimulates collagen production and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen also gives your face structure and prevents saggy and ageing skin.
You don't need to wait for the BHA or AHA to absorb or dry; you can apply any other product in your routine - moisturiser, serum, eye cream, or sunscreen - immediately afterwards. Experiment with different strengths of glycolic acid or salicylic acid to see which concentration gives you the best results.
In addition to its other remarkable benefits, salicylic acid is also a highly effective astringent that can minimize the appearance of pores by tightening the skin and reducing the oiliness of the skin.
Engelman notes that “if you're working with salicylic or glycolic acid, they need to be coupled with some sort of moisturizer or lotion to combat the drying effects that they can have on the skin. If your skin is oily and acne-prone, use an oil-free moisturizer to add back the hydration that could be stripped away.”
There are many skin conditions that can be treated with salicylic acid, including acne and dark spots. The reason why it is so effective is that it's not only an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial but also keratolytic, meaning it removes dark spots and breaks down keratin.
Like glycolic acid, salicylic acid has an exfoliating effect on the skin. It can also remove excess sebum (oil) and reduce sebum production, making it an excellent ingredient for unclogging pores. Plus, salicylic acid has mild anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
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).
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.