Skin Health Magazine Issue #11 / Spring 2019 | Page 25
Ingredient Spotlight
SALICYLIC ACID
T
hink back to your first teenage
pimple. That large, sore and
inflamed spot that seemed to
spring from nowhere would have been
your first introduction to Salicylic Acid,
the go-to treatment for blemishes and
breakouts that is still just as popular today.
Of all the skin care ingredients out there,
Salicylic Acid is probably one of the most
widely-known. Derived from Willow
Bark, this ingredient falls into the Beta-
Hydroxy Acid (BHA) family and is mainly
used in topical skin care to exfoliate
problem skin. Not to be confused with an
AHA, a BHA is slightly different in struc-
ture and is oil-soluble meaning it has the
ability to penetrate deep into the pores to
remove dead cells and sebum. AHAs tend
to do the majority of their cell-shifting
on the surface, whereas a BHA like
Salicylic Acid can exfoliate the skin on
multiple levels.
By keeping the pores clear of debris, break-
outs are less likely to occur, but Salicylic
Acid has others way of tackling breakouts.
Most complexion issues concerning blem-
ishes start with an overproduction of
sebum that collects and gets stuck within
the pores, mixing with dead cells and
impurities to form a plug which, on the
surface, presents as a blackhead or red
bump depending on how severe the
inflammation is. Salicylic Acid can help
to minimise the amount of sebum secreted
by the skin, essentially preventing the
development of such bumps, and it can
help to reduce inflammation. It also has
the ability to brighten dark spots and
discolouration, so it can still be an effective
ingredient for acne sufferers even after a
breakout has calmed and healed.
The beauty of an ingredient like Salicylic
Acid is that it can be utilised by everyone,
in different ways. Those with problematic
skin can use a routine based on the ingre-
dient while those who only have to deal
with the odd pimple every now and then
can incorporate some key targeted treat-
ments to address the swelling and
discomfort associated with a painful
pimple. To see the best skin-clearing
results, look for products that contain
between a 0.5-2% concentration of the
ingredient and be sure to keep the skin
hydrated when using them, as Salicylic
Acid can make the skin a little dehydrated
and flaky, especially when used heavily in
your morning and evening routines. Now
that’s what we call a throwback.
ISSUE #11 | 2019 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 25