Salicylic acid has been lauded for being an important skincare product. Many DIY remedies use salicylic acid, more commonly known as aspirin. But the question that arises is what is salicylic acid?
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Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid belongs to the family of beta-hydroxy acid, commonly known as BHA. This acid is fat soluble, so it can penetrate the skin via the layer of oil. Salicylic acid works mainly as an exfoliant; therefore, it works as a great ingredient to control acne.
Acne occurs due to the presence of certain bacteria on the skin. Clogged pores, dead and oily skin compounds the problems. These issues are therefore effectively remedied by salicylic acid.
Although not very strong acid, it should still be used with caution. Every skin has its own threshold of how much acid it will tolerate, so it is important that you do not overdo it. If you see adverse effects of the acid after using it, you should confer with the Best Skin specialist in Lahore.
Benefits Of Salicylic Acid
Cleansing pores: Salicylic acid is excellent for cleansing pore. It offers deep cleaning of the pores, thereby preventing black and white head formation.
Moisture in the skin: Another benefit of salicylic acid is that it helps in increasing the moisture in the skin.
Exfoliant: Moreover, it discourages the presence of the compound that helps in the skin cells in sticking together.
To get even and healthy skin, it is important that the shed the dead skin cells. When that does not happen, these dead cells choke the pores and make the complexion uneven and dull.
The exfoliating properties of salicylic acid help in preventing this scenario and encourages bright complexion. Furthermore, regular exfoliation is also helpful for improving skin cell turnover, so you get glowing skin.
Reduces appearance of pores: As an astringent, salicylic acid also helps in reducing the appearance of pores.
Anti-inflammatory: Furthermore, salicylic acid also has anti-inflammatory properties, that aids in soothing the skin. It also helps in making the skin calm as well. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, salicylic acid is also effective for the management of psoriasis.
Acne: Perhaps the most salient benefit of salicylic acid is that it helps in preventing acne breakouts and helps in controlling it as well.
Since it helps in oil control and is able to deep clean the pores. It thereby is effective for preventing the conditions that compound acne breakouts. Moreover, unlike other ingredients, its oil-soluble properties enable it to penetrate deeper into the skin.
Good defense against acne-causing bacteria: There is another reason why salicylic is so popular for treating acne, and it is the impact it has on the acne-causing bacteria.
Essentially, acne bacteria are anaerobic bacteria, i.e., they do not need oxygen to thrive. On the contrary, they do not like oxygen. When the pores are de-clogged by the salicylic acid, it allows for the oxygen to enter, thereby weakening the strength of the bacteria.
How To Use Salicylic Acid?
If your skin can take it, salicylic acid can be used every day. For people with oily skin, salicylic may even be used twice a day. However, for those people with dry or sensitive skin, salicylic acid can lead to further problems.
A good approach is starting off slow. Use the product every other day and see how your skin responds to it. If it’s too much, then you can make it even less occasional. Also load up on the moisturizer as well.
Being Careful With Salicylic Acid
Even though it is available over the counter, salicylic acid can still lead to some unwanted effects. It can possibly lead to irritation, redness, or sensitivity, especially when overused.
Salicylic acid is also not advised for use by pregnant women, and those taking certain medications like blood thinners. Therefore, it is best to confer with your Skin specialist in Karachi before using it.
