What is Salicylic Acid and Indications of its Use?
Salicylic acid is a keratolytic (peeling agent). Salicylic acid causes shedding of the outer layer of skin.
Salicylic acid is used to treat many skin disorders, such as acne,
dandruff, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis of the skin and scalp,
calluses, corns, common warts, and plantar warts, depending on the
dosage form and strength of the preparation. Some of these preparations are available only with your doctor's prescription. Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid and is often used to
treat skin conditions such as acne, body acne, psoriasis, dandruff,
seborrhoeic dermatitis, warts and calluses. This over-the-counter skin
care treatment is frequently derived from natural sources (the bark of the willow tree) and its' chemical structure is similar (but not identical) to that of aspirin.
Salicylic acid can be chemically synthesized from the amino acid
phenylalanine. Salicylic acid has been used throughout history for pain
relief and to reduce fevers and is now widely used as a major skin care
ingredient. Salicylic acid causes skin cells to shed more rapidly (exfoliation),
preventing skin pores from clogging up. Salicylic acid penetrates deep
into the skin pores and helps clear out the trapped sebaceous oil that
builds up around hair follicles. This will help to prevent bacteria
from growing in this mixture of excess skin and oil, which could
develop into red inflamed blemishes. Salicylic acid has been medically
proven to help decrease inflammation of newly formed blemishes
(including whiteheads and blackheads).
Since salicylic acid also breaks down the skin protein keratin,
excess (thickened) skin can easily be removed after treating with
salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is available in many different strengths
(from 0.5% to 30%) and many different forms for use. Topical treatments
containing salicylic acid may be in the form of creams, lotions,
ointments, shampoos, body washes, pads, gels and band-aids. Please note
that the higher concentrations of salicylic acid are used for treating
conditions such as calluses and warts and that acne on the face is
treated with much lower concentrations of salicylic acid. Salicylic
acid cannot be used to treat rosacea.
Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding Precautions:
It is not known whether salicylic acid topical will be harmful to an unborn baby.
Do not use salicylic acid topical without first talking to your doctor
if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
Salicylic acid topical may pass into breast milk and affect a nursing
baby. Do not use salicylic acid topical without first talking to your
doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
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