Salicylic Acid Review

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Salicylic Acid Review

One of the most common ingredients you will find in any acne treatment, salicylic acid is a hydroxy acid. While all others are alpha hydroxy acids, or at least those used in acne treatment, this is actually a beta hydroxy acid. Either way, hydroxy acids are meant to promote the shedding of dead skin cells, essentially speaking helping you to unclog the pores in the whole process of things.

Salicylic acid comes from what is known as the salicin plant. It is actually chemically similar to aspirin, and it helps plants in their process of photosynthesis. It was first officially noticed by Greek philosopher and physician Hippocrates in the 5th Century BC. He wrote about a bitter powder capable of easing pain and aches and also reducing fevers. Since then, it has been used by Native Americans as well as various others like the Reverend Edward Stone of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England in 1763.

Since then, it has obviously continued to be used for aches, pains, and fevers. But its uses have been widely expanded. It works as a powerful anti inflammatory reducing pimples as well as obviously unclogging pores to fight acne in general and keep it away. It has also been used in the treatment of psoriasis, calluses, corns, keratosis, pilaris, and warts, and in higher amounts, in chemical peels. Some have also used it for the treatment of dandruff.

In one noted and recorded case, one individual actually experienced a severe buildup of warts due to a mutation in the HPV virus. The disease at that time was unclassified, because everybody thought it had to be some kind of rare and previously unseen genetic disorder. Hence, he became known as the tree man, because he experienced a buildup of bark like structures. In testing a piece of the wart, it was discovered that it was a mutated form of HPV, and as soon as they used salicylic acid, the warts literally started peeling away in droves. He had to keep using it, because they would keep coming back. But obviously, an effective solution is still just that.

Now for those with darker skin types, you should reconsider the use of salicylic acid. Even in smaller amounts, and especially in chemical peel amounts, it is often cautioned against and many do not allow you those options, because it has been known to actually lighten the skin. However, for most people, salicylic acid is generally recognized to be safe. It does not cause irritation in smaller amounts as many alpha hydroxy acids even would. Its peeling process is generally relatively clean, and unless using chemical peel amounts, it is highly unlikely to bleach the skin. Still, some say it could potentially happen.

Salicylic acid is one ingredient with one of the longest histories of any acne treatment on the market. It has been used for hundreds of different purposes, and users have been quite successful to say the least. Without question, salicylic acid is capable of great things. It's just a question of what you will end up using it for.