What is Salicylic Acid?

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that belongs to the salicylates class of drugs.

Because salicylic acid is a part of the beta hydroxy acid family, it means that the hydroxy part of the molecule is separate from the acid portion of the molecule by two carbon atoms.

In an alpha hydroxy acid, the hydroxy and acid portions of the molecule are only separated by one atom.  This structure is essential to salicylic acid’s efficacy because its structure allows salicylic acid to be more oil soluble, which makes it easier to penetrate into the pores of the skin.

Once the salicylic acid penetrates into the pores of the skin, the acid portion of the molecule dissolves some of the intercellular connection that binds the skin cells together.

You may know alpha hydroxy acid can only exfoliate the skin’s surface, a beta hydroxy acid, like salicylic acid, can go deep into the pores of the skin to change the way the skin cells are bound.

Benefits of Salicylic Acid for Skin

Salicylic acid is an ideal ingredient for deep skin exfoliation.  It is particularly for diminishing the appearance for blackheads and whiteheads.

This amazing ingredient penetrates the skin, loosening the attachments between cells in the outer layer of the skin.  These attachments are called desmosomes that hold skin together, dissolving the dead skin cells that can clog your pores.

How often should you use it?

You may be eager to add salicylic acid to your daily skincare routine, but it’s important to start out with minimal application when you’re first using it.

It is important to use it in small doses.  This is because frequent use could result in side effects including dry skin and irritation.  It is a very gentle ingredient, but id very effective.

LA Skincare’s Squeaky Clean Cleanser contains salycilic acid and if you over do it, it can encourage skin to become dry.  I advise to step back; less is always more.  Just keep that in mind, but don’t let this put you off.

Common products with salicylic acid

It is commonly found in many skincare products.  But, it is most often seen in face toners, cleansers, acne treatments, makeup and masks.

You can even find it in certain types of shampoo to help with dandruff concerns.  Using salicylic acid in this way helps to remove bacteria in hair follicles.  This can also help improve the appearance of redness with psoriasis.

5 Amazing benefits of salicylic acid

Salicylic acid has a multitude of benefits for the skin.

To help you understand why salicylic acid is an ingredient you should be looking for in your skincare products, I have compiled a list of the 5 benefits of salicylic acid for the skin.

Exfoliates the Skin – 1 of the benefits of salicylic acid

One of the most remarkable benefits of salicylic acid treatment is its ability to exfoliate the skin.

Many skin issues are caused by the build-up of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. However, Salicylic acid penetrates into the pores of the skin to dissolve dead skin cells and flaky skin that has built up on the surface of the skin and causes clogged pores.

Furthermore, Salicylic acid also helps to remove dirt, bacteria, and grime that has built up on the skin’s surface so that pores can remain clear and free from irritants.

By removing dead skin cells and bacteria from the skin, salicylic acid helps to purify and exfoliate, which improves skin health and appearance.

Helps Combat Acne

Salicylic acid is particularly beneficial for individuals with acne prone skin.  In particular, salicylic acid is effective in getting rid of whiteheads and blackheads, particularly around the nose and in areas prone to blackheads. Salicylic acid is also an effective ingredient for reducing acne breakouts due to its unique ability to break apart the attachments between cells in the outer layers of the skin.

This allows salicylic acid to unclog pores that can lead to blemishes.

In addition, salicylic acid is also lipophilic, which means that it can penetrate into oily skin and clogged pores to provide skin with the deep cleaning it needs to reduce acne breakouts.

Salicylic acid is a key ingredient in skincare for oily skin, it is beneficial in combating acne breakouts because of its ability to reduce and regulate sebum secretion. One of the common causes of acne is the overproduction and presence of oil on the skin, which clogs the pores and leads to the build-up of irritants. If you are looking to reduce acne breakouts or have acne prone skin, utilising skincare products with salicylic acid can be beneficial.

Reduces Oily Skin

Oily skin is a common culprit for blemishes on the skin because it clogs the pores and prevents the natural skin shedding cycle from occurring. In addition, excess oil on the surface of the skin can trap bacteria and irritants that further inflame the skin.

When applied, salicylic acid can break down fatty compounds on the surface of the skin, such as the skin’s natural oils or sebum. Adding salicylic acid to your skincare routine for oily skin can help to clear out excess oils and reduce sebum levels.

Effective Astringent

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.

By minimising the pores and tightening the skin, salicylic acid can give the skin a youthful, smooth appearance.

Reduce Blemishes

One of the lesser known benefits of salicylic acid is its ability to help reduce the appearance of blemishes and hyperpigmentation on the skin.

The reason for this is it can be useful in helping to even the skin tone and reduce discoloration due to its astringent properties.

Evidence

As evidenced above, salicylic acid has no shortage of remarkable benefits to improve skin health and appearance.

Often salicylic acid is best targeted to individuals with acne prone-skin and acne outbreaks.  If you are looking for an acne treatment that contains salicylic acid.