What’s the Truth About Salicylic Acid Skin Benefits?

A Popular Ingredient Known for Its Anti-Inflammatory Effects on Skin

Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD

Salicylic acid is an over-the-counter (OTC) skin care ingredient in various formulations. It can be found in shampoos, cleaners, serums, and lotions.

It has many skin benefits, including helping reduce acne and blackheads, treating warts, corns, dandruff, and psoriasis, and reducing wrinkles. It also exfoliates the skin, making it beneficial for a flaky scalp or dry skin.

This article will help you decide if and how you should add salicylic acid to your skin care routine. It will cover the different formulations and types of salicylic acid, its common ingredients, uses, and benefits, including why it’s good for the skin.

Chemically, What Is Salicylic Acid?

Chemically, salicylic acid is related to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). The two medicines both work to decrease inflammation. Salicylic acid is applied directly to the skin (topically) for skin care. Aspirin is often taken as a tablet by mouth. This article will discuss salicylic acid as an active skin care ingredient.

In nature, salicylic acid is a product of the bark of the white willow tree and the leaves of the wintergreen shrub. Most often these days, it’s made in the lab.

Salicylic acid has related ingredients that go by the names "salicylate," "sodium salicylate," and "willow extract." They act similarly, so make sure to cross-reference active ingredients that go by different names on your skin care labels to avoid overuse. Using too much of these medications can lead to side effects, potentially making your skin worse.

Salicylic acid is often considered a beta hydroxy acid by the skin care industry, though it is not chemically a beta hydroxy acid. It is a chemical exfoliator (an agent that removes dead skin cells) and falls into a class of medications called keratolytic agents (agents that dissolve or loosen skin flakes).

What Does Salicylic Acid Do for Skin?

Salicylic acid has exfoliating, keratolytic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Treating your skin with salicylic acid can help:

• Reduce bumpiness

• Fade dark spots

• Reduce skin blemishes

• Dry out oily skin

• Provide skin-smoothing effects

• Get rid of warts, calluses, or corns

Keratolytic agents like salicylic acid soften and dissolve the keratin protein holding skin flakes together. The buildup of skin flakes and oil in hair follicles can cause acne and blackheads. It also dissolves away rough or flaky skin from various skin conditions. It can soften and loosen dry, scaly, or thickened skin, allowing it to fall off or be scraped away.

As a chemical exfoliator, salicylic acid penetrates deep into the hair follicle and oil gland to dissolve dead skin cells, oil, and other debris. This can eliminate whiteheads and blackheads that have already formed and help prevent more spots from forming. Salicylic acid can also dry out oily skin, which helps prevent new acne-causing blockages.

As an anti-inflammatory, salicylic acid can reduce swelling and redness. It also helps reduce the redness of existing acne and slow down how fast skin cells are shed inside the follicles, preventing clogging.

Taken together, these properties mean that salicylic acid can treat a wide variety of skin issues, including:

• Viral warts: A bumpy buildup of skin caused by human papillomavirus (HPV)
  

• Blackheads: Hair follicles that are plugged by oil and dead skin cells and turn black

• Whiteheads: Clogged hair follicles that don’t turn black

• Psoriasis: An autoimmune disease in which the skin makes new cells too quickly, which can cause the development of scaly plaques

• Seborrheic dermatitis: A red, scaly skin issue that usually affects the scalp or face

• Dandruff: A common scalp condition that leads to a flakey scalp, itching, and mild redness

• Lichen simplex: Patches of thick, discolored, leathery-looking skin

• Ichthyosis: A group of skin conditions that lead to dry, scaly, or thick skin

• Mild acne: A slight bumpiness to the skin with some inflamed pimples that aren’t widespread

• Keratosis pilaris: A bumpiness on the skin of the upper arms, thighs, cheeks, and butt

• Melasma: A blotchy darkening of the skin of the face

Depending on the dose and format of the salicylic acid, it can be used several times a day. Some amounts and forms may be used several times a week or less in the case of a salicylic acid peel. Always read and follow the package directions for your specific product.

Salicylic Acid vs. Benzoyl Peroxide

Over-the-counter (OTC) acne medications often contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or both. These skin care ingredients can help prevent breakouts, but they work differently. Salicylic acid helps shed dead cells that clog pores and is helpful for rough, bumpy breakouts with minimal redness. Benzoyl peroxide targets acne-causing bacteria and works best on red, inflamed acne. 

If salicylic acid alone isn’t enough to combat your blackheads and whiteheads, consider adding a retinoid product to your skin care routine.

Compounds related to salicylic acids, like aspirin and other salicylate-based medications, are used in many different ways. Salicylate-based drugs can be used topically or orally, based on the medication.

Aspirin helps thin the blood and reduce the chance of heart attack or stroke. It is also a pain medication, fever reducer, and anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling, like in arthritic joints.

Types of Salicylic Acid in Stores

Salicylic acid can be found in many formulations based on the skin condition being treated and how they’re meant to be used. You can find salicylic acid in gels, lotions, creams, ointments, soaps, medicated pads, toners, patches, and peels.

Typically, the dose of salicylic acid in OTC skin care products ranges from 0.5% to 2%, with 2% being the standard concentration for these products. Other products, like those for warts, may have salicylic acid in higher concentrations. Do not use these products on your face.

Generally, use any product containing salicylic acid only as directed. Apply to the entire area where you get breakouts, not just where there’s an active blackhead or pimple. Also use sunscreen if there isn’t one in the product.

Salicylic Acid Facial Cleansers and Soaps

Salicylic acid included in shampoos, soaps, or facial cleansers gives an all-over dose of the acne-fighting drug during your daily wash. You use your cleaners as usual and wash away the treatment. They typically contain about 2% salicylic acid.

Soap made to be used on the body can help fight the roughness of the skin, psoriasis, acne, darkness, and blackheads. They can also help reduce the oiliness of the skin.

Salicylic Acid Lotions, Creams, and Ointments

Low doses of 2% to 3% salicylic acid in lotions or ointments would typically be used to treat skin conditions on the body like psoriasis, keratosis pilaris, or hyperkeratotic hand eczema (also known as hyperkeratotic palmar dermatitis).

These lotions are made to reduce the roughness of the skin caused by these conditions. They exfoliate the dead skin cells with salicylic acid and other acids like lactic acid. They also contain moisturizers to soften the skin.

Salicylic Acid Liquids, Gels, Medicated Pads, or Bandages

Salicylic acid is sold over the counter in higher concentrations (as high as 40%) to treat warts, corns, and calluses. These conditions, which feature built-up skin, need stronger exfoliation than your face. They often come in a gel or a paint that you apply to the affected area or as a medicated bandage you put over the wart.

Avoid using these products on warts on your face and neck, warts with hair, or those in the genital or anal area. Talk to a healthcare provider about warts in those areas.

Review the application instructions on the medication. Typically, these medications work even better after soaking and exfoliating the wart with a nail file. You may need to apply twice in a row and up to two times a day. Cover the wart with a loose bandage.

It may take several weeks for this medication to work. It can be used with other treatments like freezing to help them work faster.

Salicylic Acid Shampoo or Scalp Treatment

Salicylic acid shampoo or scalp treatment may include salicylic acid at a dose of around 2% and combine it with coal tar and potentially sulfur to treat seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, or scalp psoriasis.

Related: Are Your Flakes From Seborrheic Dermatitis or Dandruff?

Salicylic Acid Peels

Salicylic acid peels are more potent products. Those for nonprescription use are typically made with  20% to 30% salicylic acid. While a superficial peel with 20% salicylic acid may be done at home, medium-depth to deeper peels can be performed at a dermatologist's office, medical spa, or day spa.

Salicylic acid peels can help reduce the appearance of acne scars, lighten the skin, and treat skin pigmentation issues like melasma. They can also augment your acne-fighting regimen and make your skin smoother.

You'll likely want to get the peel done multiple times for the best results.

Salicylic Acid Toner and Medicated Pads

Toner or a medicated pad with salicylic acid is a liquid usually containing around 2% salicylic acid that's applied to the skin after washing. It’s used for acne and blackheads on the skin but may also be found in larger-size pads for the body.

You swipe on the treatment after washing and let the ingredient soak into the skin without washing it off. Typically used daily or every other day, salicylic acid may be mixed with glycolic acid, other alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), or natural ingredients like witch hazel to dry the skin. The pads are usually textured to provide some mechanical exfoliation to the skin.

When Do You Need Prescription Salicylic Acid?

The maximum dose of OTC salicylic acid for facial skin is 2%. Amounts of up to 3% are used for scalp and body skin conditions.

Higher doses of salicylic acid (6%) are available by prescription and may be helpful for scaly skin conditions if they’re not responding to OTC products.

Salicylic acid combined with other drugs may be available as a prescription. Mixed with a corticosteroid, it can be an effective treatment for eczema.

Peels (in a dermatology or medical spa setting) and wart treatment have higher percentages of salicylic acid but should not be used on the face without an expert.

Side Effects of Using Salicylic Acid

Adding new active ingredients into your skin care routine may lead to side effects as your skin adjusts. Your condition may worsen during the first few days of treatment. These reactions often resolve on their own over time. Side effects can include:

• Irritation

• Stinging or burning

• Dryness

• Peeling and flaking

• Skin irritation

If you have these side effects from using salicylic acid, use it less often until your skin gets used to it. Moisturizer can help your skin feel better if you’re still having symptoms.

Salicylic acid may make your skin more sensitive to the sun. If the skin care formulation doesn’t contain sunscreen, the directions should note that you should use sun protection daily.

It may also take a while (up to several weeks or longer) to fully see the benefit of salicylic acid.

Salicylic acid can be combined with many other active skin care ingredients. But beware of using it alongside irritating agents like benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, and Retin-A (tretinoin). Avoid products that contain alcohol or sulfur or are abrasive or scratchy.

Don’t start two new ingredients at the same time. If you’re adding a new active ingredient into your skincare routine, start slowly and ramp up if your skin responds well. Wait a few weeks until you see the complete response to the ingredient before making additional changes.

Summary

Salicylic acid is a popular skin care ingredient found in many over-the-counter products. It offers various benefits for the skin. It is commonly used to treat acne, blackheads, warts, corns, psoriasis, and signs of aging.

Salicylic acid can be a beneficial ingredient in skin care routines. It works by exfoliating the skin and reducing inflammation. Salicylic acid is chemically related to aspirin. It comes from natural products or is made in the lab.

OTC salicylic acid products often contain between 0.5% and 2%. Higher concentrations are available for specific treatments. Start with a lower concentration and gradually increase if the skin responds well.

Different formulations of salicylic acid include:

• Facial cleansers and body soaps for treating body acne and rough skin

• Lotions, creams, and ointments for treating rough and scaly skin disorders

• Liquids, gels, medicated pads, and bandages for warts, calluses, and corns

• Shampoos and scalp treatments to treat dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis

• Peels for skin resurfacing and smoothing

• Toners and medicated pads for treating acne and blackheads

You may need a prescription for salicylic acid at higher doses or combinations with other drugs. Side effects of salicylic acid include irritation, dryness, and increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid using salicylic acid with other irritating agents. Use sunscreen if products don't have built-in sun protection.