Is Salicylic Acid Natural?  How Does Salicylic Acid Clear Away Acne?

Salicylic acid has been proven to clear away blackheads and pimples from the skin. 

Spoiler: Salicylic acid is, in fact, natural. 

Salicylic acid is a fairly common ingredient in many of our favorite skin cleansers. It actually has the ability to exfoliate the skin and works at fighting off any bad bacteria and toxins that may have made its way into your pores. Though it may sound scary and harsh, it is actually quite safe and comes from nature herself! Let’s have a closer look at salicylic acid and then you can decide if this ingredient is right for you! 

What is Salicylic Acid Exactly?

Salicylic acid is a naturally occurring compound found in plants and some tree barks. It is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) type of acid and is an oil soluble. It has the power and strength to penetrate the skin’s pores and clear away any oil or dirt from inside the very pores. It’s also anti-inflammatory, so while you may notice immediate reddening of the skin depending on how strong of a face peel, gel, or cleaning pads you may have chosen, it will get rid of skin inflammation linked to acne and breakouts. 

Why so many product lines and dermatologists use Salicylic acid to treat acne

Salicylic acid is obtainable at a number of degrees, depending on the skin type and desired treatment. You can find many product lines utilizing anywhere from 0.5%-2.0% salicylic acid in their beauty products. In extreme cases, dermatologists can issue a face peel as high as 20% concentration of salicylic acid. Wow! 

Excessive sebum production blocks the skin’s pores which is one leading factor to acne. However, this is no challenge for salicylic acid. It not only breaks through the oil pooling in the pores, but also works at killing acne causing bacteria from the pores. Salicylic acid even has the power to prevent P. acnes bacteria from developing in the pores. In this sense it can be used as a treatment to fight acne and prevent it all at once. 

How long does salicylic acid take to work?

Salicylic acid works like magic! It’s one of those ingredients that kicks into effect right away and doesn’t need 2 weeks or more for you to witness skin clearing results. It not only clears away acne but also prevents scarring from occurring. It can treat dark spots, blemishes and other skin issues. It works at clearing away any dead skin cells, we use it in our pore purifying toner and Truth Bar.

Benefits of Salicylic Acid

As mentioned earlier, salicylic acid works at treating and preventing acne and works to tone the skin. It can clear away skin blemishes and prevents scarring. But that’s not all! What else can salicylic acid do? We’re very glad you’ve asked!

Salicylic Acid can be used to treat:

1. Hyperpigmentation- Salicylic acid can treat dark spots and dark patches found on the skin
2. Anti-aging benefits- BHA’s are both anti-inflammatory and have antiseptic properties. They work at accelerating skin cell production and the skin renewal process. Thus, reducing signs of aging like wrinkles and lines.
3. Clears blackheads and whiteheads-Salicylic acid works at getting rid of blackhead and whitehead residue from within the pores. 

Precautions and potential side effects

If you’re not sure whether salicylic acid is right for your skin type, it's always useful to go to a dermatologist and get the green light from them. It's not recommended to use salicylic acid if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. And it can interfere with certain medications, which is why it’s great to ask your dermatologist before using such a powerful ingredient. 

When using salicylic acid some individuals have experienced dryness, redness, peeling or an allergic reaction to the ingredient. Many of these side effects are usually a consequence of using too much for your skin type. When applying a product with salicylic acid make sure not to apply the product close to your eyes, nose or mouth. Always run a small spot test before you apply the product to large areas so you can test how you react to the product. We know you must be excited to use it right away, but please perform a spot test first! You wont regret it! And finally, please dont over use it. Follow the product’s instructions to ensure you get optimal results from your beauty products.  

Are you considering using products with salicylic acid? What are your qualms and hesitations? We’d love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have!