Salicylic Acid in Skin care
If you've been battling with “comedos”, which is a medical term for those bumps on your skin with black surfaces(blackheads), or you have plans of lightening your dull complexion, there is this special ingredient you may have come across in the vast majority of skin care products : salicylic acid. This special ingredient is popular for it’s potency in fighting against bacterial infections.
What exactly is salicylic acid?
First things first, let’s get to know what salicylic acid is all about. It’s a bit complex, but it’s basic make up is vital in explaining its potent working mechanism. You'll regularly notice two categories of acids when it comes to skin care products: alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids ( BHAs). Salicylic acid belongs to the category of beta hydroxy acids, and it is found naturally in your fruits and vegetables, and willow bark. According to medical experts, the Beta hydroxy acid structure in Salicylic acid enables it to penetrate skin pores to unclog blackheads. In addition to the fight against bacterial infections, Salicylic acid also reduces inflammation and eliminates dead cells from your skin.
Salicylic acid and your skin
Let’s now see the benefits of Salicylic acid
1.Anti-inflammatory
Salicylic acid goes through the layers of your skin, takes out skin debris that brings about clogging up of pores, attacks inflammation and hastens the disappearance of red swollen pimples.
2.Reduces oil secretion.
Blemishes on the skin are commonly attributed to oily skin because it clogs the skin pores and hinders the natural shedding cycle of the skin. Going further, excessive oil on the surface of the skin can trap irritants that lead to skin inflammation.
When you apply Salicylic acid to your skin, it breaks down the fatty compounds your skin’s surface. When it penetrates your skin's surface, it also reduces excess oil secretion.
- Fights Acne
Salicylic acid is best for people with skin susceptible to acne attacks. Specifically, salicylic acid is potent in getting rid of blackheads and whiteheads, especially around those areas prone to their attacks like around the nose. This function of salicylic acid is attributed to its ability to reduce and regulate the secretion of sebum.
- Removes dead skin cells
This ability of salicylic acid is known as exfoliation. Salicylic acid penetrates the layers of the skin and destroys the build up of dead cells.