The Benefits of Salicylic Acid for Acne

The benefits of salicylic acid for acne

Spots, oily skin, and more: You guessed it, we’re talking about acne. As common skin conditions go, it’s a pain for many people worldwide. Fortunately, there’s a secret weapon you can use and it's a powerhouse against acne!

Salicylic acid cleansers are tremendously effective against acne, and they’re available over the counter or ordered online. Often more effective than spot treatments which can dry up the skin, they are a great go-to for people striving to overcome a stubborn skin condition.

Sounds interesting. So, what exactly is salicylic acid?

Before we look at the science, let’s break down the basics. Salicylic acid is a product derived from willow bark and is part of a category of ingredients called salicylates. Generally speaking, skincare products will tend to use one of two kinds of acids: beta hydroxy acids (known as BHAs) and alpha hydroxy acids (referred to as AHAs). In the case of salicylic acid, it’s the former – a BHA.

So, what exactly does all that fancy terminology mean for us and our skin?

In short, it means that salicylic acid is better at getting into your pores and helping stop the things that cause acne. That is because salicylic acid is more oil-soluble so it can get to work on oily skin and clogged pores. Looking at lipids: That oil-solubility matters because it means the salicylic acid can push past the
lipid layers in our skin more effectively, helping it to reach deeper than other products. This ability to reach further into our skin is why salicylic acid is so great in skincare products.

Our skin’s surface is always changing. Every person’s face has some amount of dead skin and that can bind together and clog pores. Salicylic acid dissolves these dead skin cells and unclogs pores helping you fight acne and prevent future breakouts.

Blackheads, whiteheads, and more

The penetrating quality of salicylic acid is what makes it so great for clearing out spots and acne. By reaching further into the layers of the skin, it’s able to get to work dissolving the older skin and ‘gunk’ that can cause pores to clog and develop into spots or worse. Better still, it can act as an anti-inflammatory too, helping you to deal with pustules and inflamed areas of your skin that might include pimples.
And as if that wasn’t good enough, it’s naturally effective at exfoliating your skin – a critical part of your routine if you want to look your best. Salicylic acid is known as a ‘keratolytic medication’, which simply means it’s highly effective at exfoliating skin by dissolving and loosening dead skin cells.

That’s all for today!
And there you have it: A brief and easy explanation on the benefits of salicylic acid cleansers for acne and general skincare. We hope you found it useful! You can shop our range of salicylic acid products here