Salicylic Acid - Maria Abrosimova

Pimples? Well, no more!

 Figure 1: Products that can have Salicylic Acid in them (1)!

Salicylic Acid (SA) is a chemical that is used to treat warts, pimples, psoriasis and others conditions (2). It is found in cleansers, acne treatments and wart removals (5). Usually the creams contain  0.5 to 30% of SA, depending on what it is used for (2). The higher amount is used to remove warts while a smaller concentration is good for the use on the face (2). It opens up clogged pores - that have been blocked from dirt or oils (5)! Salicylic Acid causes the skin cells to fall off by causing a skin protein, keratin, to become soft (2). The skin cells are easier to remove and shed off, while revealing new skin underneath (5). Salicylic Acid is also, the active part of Aspirin (4). Aspirin was created in 1853 (3).  Originally, Salicylic Acid was removed from bark of willow trees and was used to treat fever, flu, headaches and other pains by steaming the bark and making tea(6). Salicylic Acid works in the body by turning off enzymes (COX1 and COX2) that make prostaglandins (6) . Prostaglandins are chemicals released by damaged cells that travel to the brain (6). By switching off cyclooxygenase enzymes, the brain does not receive prostaglandins and you don’t feel pain (6). The SA LD50 for rats, the minimum needed to kill 50% of rats, is 891 mg per kg of weight (4). Symptoms of poisoning could be vomiting, sleepiness, headache and confusion (2). Alternatives you could use for skin care is Benzoyl Peroxide, Alcohol, Acetone and Resorcinol. (2)

1) P, Julia. (Photographer). (2007). My very first beauty shopping spree, Retrieved November 10, 2012, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumn_bliss/440297058/

2) Ngan, V. (2012, July 24). Salicylic acid. Retrieved from http://www.dermnetnz.org/treatments/salicylic-acid.html

3) Nostrand, V. (2005). Salicylic acid. In G. D. Considine (Ed.), Van Nostrands's Encyclopedia of Chemistry (5 ed., Vol. 36, p. 1455). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

4) Salicyclic acid. (2012, February 14). Retrieved from http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00936

5) Salicylic acid. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salicylic_acid

6) Van Wyk, B., & Wink, M. (2004). Medicinal plants of the world. (1 ed.). Portland: Timber Press.