It’s no secret. Salicylic acid(SA) is one of the health and beauty industry’s most revered ingredients, and it delivers. If you ever wondered why your favourite lotion contained salicylic acid, here’s are the top 7 reasons why folks love to have some SA in the mix.

Exfoliation is all about getting rid of that dead flaky skin. Salicylic acid is well-suited for this, thanks to its fat-solubility and ‘skin-peeling’ effect. As a beta hydroxyl acid, SA is well absorbed into the skin where it helps dig out and detach layers of dead cells from under them. This helps accelerate the rate of skin turnover, letting your younger skin show forth from under rubble of dead skin.

Acne results from clogging of the skin’s sebum pores with excess oil and dead cells. In part, this process is driven by a higher than normal amount of oily sebum production, excessive deposition of the protein keratin, and the local release of pro-inflammatory chemicals in the skin. Salicylic acid fights acne by removing the excess oils and loosening of the keratin plug. It also has anti-inflammatory effects similar to its close relative, acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin), making it one of the most powerful acne fighters. It can be used for both treatment and prevention of acne.

Due to its ‘skin peeling’ effect, salicylic acid helps increase the cell turnover in places where you need it – in acne scars and other unnatural spots. By removing dead skin fast, SA quickens that process of replacement of old skin with the new. This is one way of fading them black spots fast. If getting rid of acne scars, blemishes, dark spots and black marks is on your hit list this year, you might want to try out salicylic acid. It’s good for reducing discoloration and evening out the skin tone.

Excessively oily skin can be a piece of work, to deal with. Among the viable options to keep the extra greasiness in check is salicylic acid. It is known for its oil-binding effects which make it ideal for this kind of thing. When applied to oily skin, it breaks down fatty compounds such as the skin’s sebum or natural oils. This gives your skin and complexion that much-needed break from the glossy appearance and greasy feel, and the inconveniences that come with that.

When clogged with excess oil and dead cell dirt, the pores in the skin can enlarge. These enlarged pores can actually become easily visible, creating a cosmetic nightmare of sorts. Salicylic acid shrinks large pores, thanks to its astringent properties, with which it causes contraction of tissues, and also its deep cleansing effects by which it rids the pores of the extra physical pressure exerted by the dirt in the pores.

With age comes a decline in the speed with which your old skin cells are replaced with the new ones. This reduction in cell turnover is something salicylic can help with. It increases the rate at with old cells break away, something that your body responds to by increasing the rate of production of new cells. In a way, SA helps get rid of the old and tired look of old skin, and also brings out younger skin faster.

Warts result from infection with the human papilloma virus. Corns and calluses are formed in areas where the body is exposed to chronic friction or pressure. All are characterised by an overgrowth of abnormal tissue. Being keratolytic, salicylic acid, when used in high concentration (10% to 30% ) is a proven treatment for these conditions. It is available in both prescription and OTC versions for this purpose.

In a nutshell, as long as you have a skin to care of, salicylic acid is likely to have a well-deserved  place in your skin care routine.

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