Everything you need to know about Salicylic Acid

With so many acid products on the market today, it can be tricky to know which is the best one for you, so here’s everything you need to know about salicylic acid to help you decide if this is the one for you! How does salicylic acid work? Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid, unlike other popular acids like glycolic and lactic acids, which are alpha-hydroxy acids. The main difference between these two types of acid is that BHAs are capable of breaking down oil. AHAs work on the surface of the skin but they cannot penetrate deeply because they are stopped by sebum. This doesn’t get in salicylic acid’s way though; it penetrates the skin and gets to work. Once in the skin, salicylic breaks down the glue that holds skin cells together, and causes deep exfoliation of the top layers of the skin, to unclog pores and leave the skin extremely clean. Salicylic acid is so effective that it can even dissolve pore blockages. Who is it for? The powerful oil dissolving qualities of salicylic acid makes it ideal for anyone with blocked pores, frequent breakouts or acne. You’ll find salicylic acid in toners, serums, moisturisers and masks formulated for spot-prone skin. Spots are caused by blocked pores becoming infected by bacteria, so by dissolving the oil and dead skin that is trapped in the pore, salicylic acid removes the cause. Tips and tricks for Salicylic Acid Salicylic acid is a very powerful exfoliator, so tread carefully. Don’t…

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With so many acid products on the market today, it can be tricky to know which is the best one for you, so here’s everything you need to know about salicylic acid to help you decide if this is the one for you!

How does salicylic acid work?

Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid, unlike other popular acids like glycolic and lactic acids, which are alpha-hydroxy acids. The main difference between these two types of acid is that BHAs are capable of breaking down oil. AHAs work on the surface of the skin but they cannot penetrate deeply because they are stopped by sebum. This doesn’t get in salicylic acid’s way though; it penetrates the skin and gets to work. Once in the skin, salicylic breaks down the glue that holds skin cells together, and causes deep exfoliation of the top layers of the skin, to unclog pores and leave the skin extremely clean. Salicylic acid is so effective that it can even dissolve pore blockages.

Who is it for?

The powerful oil dissolving qualities of salicylic acid makes it ideal for anyone with blocked pores, frequent breakouts or acne. You’ll find salicylic acid in toners, serums, moisturisers and masks formulated for spot-prone skin. Spots are caused by blocked pores becoming infected by bacteria, so by dissolving the oil and dead skin that is trapped in the pore, salicylic acid removes the cause.

Tips and tricks for Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a very powerful exfoliator, so tread carefully. Don’t pick a strong product right away and expect it to work faster than a weaker product because you risk redness, excessive peeling and irritation. Start out gently and let your skin build up to stronger products!

Remember that hydration is important when you’re using a chemical exfoliator. Make sure you drink plenty of water and use skincare products that contain hyaluronic acid to prevent your skin from becoming dehydrated.

If you’re suffering from hormonal breakouts you might find that an occasional product like a mask is the best choice, while if you’re struggling with acne or chronically spotty skin, you might want to look at using a moisturiser or serum with this magical, spot-clearing ingredient.

Image:istock.com/Milkos

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Rebecca Willshee Nail and Beauty Specialist

Testimonial: “JC was so low, suicidal at points. Sore, red, angry, his skin was awful, we had tried everything and doctors you name it. We reached out to Becky, who was wonderful. My son was quiet and withdrawn, lacked confidence and self esteem, and locked himself away from the world. Becky booked us in for a consultation to discuss different options of treatments and we decided the new hydro treatment would be the best option. We started the course and JC was nervous but Becky was great with him talking him through everything, step by step! As we went each time JC’s skin got better and better, but also the difference in him was huge, he was gaining confidence, shoulders back, head held high. We have watched his skin change from this red, aggressive, angry skin that was sore, acne was debilitating to him but now he is confident, holds his head up high and has even got his first job! We are so proud. When we met Becky I felt confident she would help us get his skin better and back on track but what has actually happened is skin looks amazing but to see our son gain confidence has been the biggest win! Teens often get pushed aside, put on string meds and told “it’s just your age” but this isn’t what they want to hear, but The SkinBase treatments Becky has done has changed his life! We cannot thank you enough Becky! JC is continuing with the treatments as it still gets the odd breakouts but the scarring is still improving week in week out. The hydro Facial is just amazing and we cannot recommend it enough and of course Becky and her passion for skin and helping people is wonderful!”