Salicylic Acid for Treatment of AcneSalicylic Acid is one of those miracle medications used to treat numerous skin diseases including: Acne, dandruff, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis of the skin and scalp, calluses, corns, and many others. The most prominent use of this medication is found in treating people with Acne. Salicylic Acid has amazing skin ex foliating and bacterial killing properties which help kill acne causing bacteria and remove dead skin cells from the acne infected area so that acne can be prevented or controlled quickly. Salicylic acid is available in many different forms both in Canada and the United States. It is most commonly found in Gel, cream, oral, ointment, pads, as well as topical lotion forms. The concentration of this medication in its various forms varies depending on the skin condition being treated. However, for treatment of acne though, the most common concentration found is 1-5% which is generally labelled on the outside of the acne product container. The use ofthis acid can very depending on the form it is in. for example, according to Medline Plus (national library or medicine) acne gel containing .5% – 5% concentration should be used once daily while the lotion form containing .5%-2% acid can be used 1to 3 times per day. The best thing to do when using any product is to either consult with your physician or follow the directions recommended by the product manufacture. Common Brand Name Products Containing Salicylic Acid There are numerous products available at your local drug store containing varying concentration of this acid. Some of the most commonly recognized name brands include:
How it works: Salicylic Acid promotes the shedding of the dead skin cells to prevent the clogging of the skin pores and it acts like an anti-inflammatory agent to prevent redness and swelling. By preventing the skin pores from becoming clogged and infected by bacteria salicylic acid eliminates acne quickly and effectively. For sensitive skin types, especially for women, Salicylic acid is an ideal acne treatment. If you are considering purchasing anacne product containing Salicylic Acid, look for concentration of 1-2%. A 1% concentration would be ideal for really sensitive skin types and a 2% concentration would be best for stubborn acne. Personally I use ClearPores Skin Cleansing System which contains a 2% concentration and has worked flawlessly. Side effects: Dryness of the skin; redness of skin; unusually warm skin are the most common side effect associated with Salicylic Acid. If consumed in large quantities (orally) it can cause birth defects in pregnant woman and other complications to health. However as a topical medication (concentration of 2.5% or less) there are no reported side-effects. And personally, I have been using ClearPores acne treatment which contains 2% acid and I have never noticed any side-effects, except for clear beautiful skin of course. If you have any doubts or experience any of the symptoms noted above, contact your skin care physician.
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