Effects of salicylic acid on the skin Effects of salicylic acid on the skin

Everything has its pros and cons, and the same is true for salicylic acid, which does not always have good effects. What does salicylic acid do for the skin? What harm does salicylic acid do to the skin? Is salicylic acid harmful to pregnant women?

Salicylic acid's effects on skin

The effects of salicylic acid on the skin include removing acne, cleaning pores, and removing dead skin cells. Most acne breakouts are caused by excessive sebum secretion and clogged pores. Salicylic acid can dissolve the connecting substances between cells, allowing aging keratinocytes to fall off quickly from the skin surface. Thereby removing dead skin cells, promoting skin metabolism and eliminating acne. Since salicylic acid is fat-soluble, it can enter the deep layers of the pores through the sebaceous glands that secrete oil. This dissolves the aged stratum corneum accumulated in the pores, cleans the pores and improves the condition of the skin.

The harm of salicylic acid to the skin

However, a small number of patients may experience uncomfortable symptoms such as redness, swelling, and itching while using salicylic acid. The most serious condition is salicylic acid poisoning, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headache, but this will only occur when the exposure is large-scale, high concentration, and long-term. In order to avoid these symptoms, salicylic acid products are currently classified as medicated cosmetics in China, with concentrations limited to 0.5% – 2%, and must be labeled with warnings. Therefore, as long as the product is legal and is used in accordance with the warning instructions, there will basically be no major problems.

What are the hazards of salicylic acid to pregnant women?

Salicylic acid is harmful to pregnant women. This substance is irritating and can easily cause skin allergies in pregnant women. There are many things to pay attention to during pregnancy, so try not to use cosmetics containing salicylic acid for a long time, just pay attention to safety. Secondly, you should have regular prenatal checkups, pay attention to whether the fetus is developing normally, and make sure to supplement enough nutrients.

What should not be used with salicylic acid?

1. Salicylic acid cannot be mixed with alkaline cosmetics, as they will undergo a chemical reaction and lose their respective effects.

2. Salicylic acid and other acids, as well as niacinamide and retinol, cannot be used together. When mixed with acids, the acid concentration will rise suddenly, which will have a great burden on the skin, damage the skin barrier, and may even cause acne breakouts; niacin, the raw material ingredient of niacinamide, can cause skin irritation, and acids are also irritating, which can cause discomfort; retinol must be converted into retinol acid to be useful. If it is superimposed with acid products with a lower pH value, it will affect the effect of retinol and will also irritate the skin.