Sa
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic AcidExfoliant
The oil-soluble acid in acne products. It gets into pores and dissolves what clogs them, so it’s used for blackheads and oily skin.
What it does
It dissolves in oil, so it gets into pores and breaks up the mix of oil and dead cells that clogs them. It helps with blackheads, clogged pores and oily skin. Over-the-counter products go up to 2%; clinic peels go higher.
The evidence, graded
expert consensusStart retinol and salicylic acid on alternate nights: the acid and the retinoid each irritate skin on their own. The review says salicylic acid is not a beta hydroxy acid and doesn't act like one, despite the label. In one study 2% salicylic acid did not make skin more sun-sensitive, where 10% glycolic acid did. No study Drop has read applied the two to the same skin, so Drop can't tell you the pair is fine or that it isn't.Mukherjee 2006 · Clinical Interventions in Aging ↗
expert consensusAdd an AHA and salicylic acid one at a time, within a safety panel's limits: AHAs under 10% at pH 3.5 or higher, salicylic acid under 3%. The review says salicylic acid is not a beta hydroxy acid and doesn't act like one, despite the label. In one study 10% glycolic acid made skin more sun-sensitive and 2% salicylic acid did not. No source Drop has read tested the two used together, so Drop can't tell you the pair is safe or that it isn't.Kornhauser 2010 · Clinical and Cosmetic Investigative Dermatology ↗
expert consensusTopical salicylic acid at 2% or below is generally considered safe in pregnancy when used on small areas. Higher concentrations, large-area leave-on or under-occlusion use, and oral salicylates should be avoided.Bozzo 2011 · Canadian Family Physician ↗
expert consensusDermatologists say salicylic acid treats acne and is sold in different forms, including cleansers. US rules for over-the-counter acne products cover salicylic acid at 0.5–2%, and they include products that are applied and then removed, such as soaps and masks. So a salicylic acid cleanser counts as an acne step.AAD 2024 · AAD patient guidance ↗
expert consensusUS dermatology guidelines recommend salicylic acid for acne, though less strongly than benzoyl peroxide or a retinoid. Dermatologists say it opens clogged pores and comes in leave-on forms like moisturizers, not just cleansers. US rules for over-the-counter acne products cover 0.5–2% salicylic acid, with directions for a product left on the skin: a thin layer, once a day at first. A 2020 review rated the trial evidence for it low or very low quality.Reynolds 2024 · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ↗
expert consensusThe American Academy of Dermatology says ingredients like salicylic acid can help reduce oiliness, but they may be too harsh for your skin. It says to stop using the product, or use it less often, if your skin becomes irritated.AAD 2024 · AAD patient education (aad.org) ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Also known as
BHA, capryloyl salicylic acid
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