Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid, with the molecular formula C7H6O3, is a plant willow bark extract that is a natural anti-inflammatory. The commonly used cold medicine aspirin is a derivative of salicylic acid, sodium acetylsalicylate, while sodium para-aminosalicylate (PAS) is a commonly used anti-tuberculosis drug. Salicylic acid is commonly used in dermatology to treat various chronic skin conditions such as acne (pimples) and ringworm. Salicylic acid is exfoliating, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory, and thus is very suitable for treating acne caused by clogged pores. Mainstream international acne products contain salicylic acid, and the concentration is usually 0.5~2%, and the medical concentration is usually 10%.
Salicylic Acid, also known as beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), is a fat-soluble organic acid that has a wide range of applications in medicine, cosmetics and daily care due to its unique physicochemical properties and biological effects.12 The following are the main functions and effects of salicylic acid:
1. Exfoliation and improvement of skin texture:
Salicylic acid is able to dissolve the bonding between dead cells anchored to the surface of the skin to achieve the function of exfoliation. It can simultaneously remove the skin surface and greasy pores of the old waste keratin, effectively improve acne, clogged pores and acne.
2. Acne removal and treatment:
Salicylic acid is fat-soluble and can penetrate deep into pores to dissolve oil and unclog sebaceous glands. Its acidity dissolves hardened oil and keratin, loosening the keratin plugs inside the hair follicles, and it also has mild anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
3. Conditioning keratin and improving skin photoaging:
Salicylic acid has a bi-directional keratin conditioning effect and can remove old keratin. Long-term sun exposure can cause skin keratin thickening, skin hypertrophy, deepening of dermal grooves, skin ridge bulging, the formation of coarse and deep wrinkles, so salicylic acid can improve the skin aging phenomenon caused by sun exposure.
4. Anti-inflammatory sterilization:
Salicylic acid topical use for seborrheic dermatitis, papulopustular rosacea, folliculitis, etc. have different degrees of anti-inflammatory, astringent, as well as antipruritic effect. The anti-inflammatory effect of aspirin comes from the formation of salicylic acid after decomposition in the body; and salicylic acid has a certain broad-spectrum bactericidal ability, effective against many bacteria and fungi.
5. Antiseptic effect:
Salicylic acid can stimulate the skin, mucous membrane, and the skin mucous membrane protein chemical reaction, so it is a kind of preservative. It is widely used in cosmetics and flower water.
6. Prevention of diabetic complications:
Salicylic acid is an ingredient in painkillers such as aspirin, which can prevent diabetic complications.
7. Raw material for the preparation of dyes:
Salicylic acid can also be used in the preparation of dyes.
8.Antifungal effects:
Salicylic acid has a moderate antifungal effect. In low concentration (1% ~ 2%) has a keratoproliferative effect, can promote the growth of the epidermis; high concentration (10% ~ 20%) can dissolve the keratin, local irritation. In the body surface fungal infection, can soften the skin stratum corneum, stratum corneum off at the same time will also be mycelium with the shedding, and play a certain degree of therapeutic effect.
9. Improve the symptoms of enlarged pores:
Salicylic acid can exfoliate to improve the symptoms of large pores. Exfoliation of the face can also make the pores open, so that the oil in the pores can be normal metabolism, to avoid the production of acne and pimples, but also to strengthen the penetration of antiseptic ingredients, effectively eliminating the bacteria that cause acne.
10. Promote transdermal absorption of drugs:
Salicylic acid and other drugs paired with the application of drugs can promote the transdermal absorption of drugs, especially steroidal corticosteroids.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
