PoreWise Ingredient
Salicylic Acid
Public databaseSALICYLIC ACID
Salicylic Acid is a beta-hydroxy acid. At the 2% used in rinse-off acne products it loosens the bonds between dead skin cells; irritation rises with concentration and with leave-on use. The strongest evidence comes from a 2023 human trial: In 83 adults with comedones, a serum containing salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid significantly improved open comedones on the nose, closed comedones on the face, skin pore density, sebum secretion and skin hydration from baseline after 8 weeks; adding a mask improved closed comedones more than the serum alone (-6.56 vs -5.19, p = 0.022). 2023 · 83 people · adults with comedones (41 serum+mask, 42 serum alone) · PMID 36999489 · Both groups used active products; improvements were reported against baseline and between the two active groups. Industry-funded. This is the trial found that counted open and closed comedones separately. 11 products contain Salicylic Acid; the highest it appears is number 1 of 27.
- INCI name:
- SALICYLIC ACID
- CAS number:
- 69-72-7
- Source:
- PubChem
Functions
Products with this ingredient
Salicylic Acid appears on 11 product ingredient lists, most often around number 7; its highest position is number 1 of 27.
| Product | Brand | Where it sits on the list |
|---|---|---|
| Acne Control Cleanser | CeraVe | 1 of 27 |
| Oil-Free Acne Wash (Fragrance-Free) | Neutrogena | 1 of 15 |
| Salicylic Acid 2% Solution | The Ordinary | 1 of 12 |
| Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum | The Inkey List | 4 of 13 |
| SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant | Paula's Choice | 4 of 8 |
| SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin | CeraVe | 7 of 29 |
| AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution | The Ordinary | 8 of 24 |
| Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Anti-Acne Serum | La Roche-Posay | 8 of 19 |
| 10% Azelaic Acid Booster | Paula's Choice | 10 of 21 |
| RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA | Paula's Choice | 14 of 36 |
| Pure Vitamin C12 Serum | La Roche-Posay | 29 of 30 |
Studies and results
- 1 Skin effectEfficacy and safety of a facial serum and a mask containing salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid in acne management: A randomized controlled trial
In 83 adults with comedones, a serum containing salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid significantly improved open comedones on the nose, closed comedones on the face, skin pore density, sebum secretion and skin hydration from baseline after 8 weeks; adding a mask improved closed comedones more than the serum alone (-6.56 vs -5.19, p = 0.022).
Human trial · 2023 · 83 people · adults with comedones (41 serum+mask, 42 serum alone) · Adults in Shanghai with comedones, PIE and PIH, using the serum for 8 weeks. · Both groups used active products; improvements were reported against baseline and between the two active groups. Industry-funded. This is the trial found that counted open and closed comedones separately.
- 2 Skin effectGuidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris (2024)
The 2024 American Academy of Dermatology acne guideline lists topical salicylic acid as a conditional recommendation. Strong recommendations in the same guideline go to benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, topical antibiotics and oral doxycycline.
Clinical guideline · 2024 · Acne vulgaris in people aged nine and older, as covered by the guideline's scope.
- 3 Skin effectTopical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acne
Against topical tretinoin, salicylic acid showed similar values in overall acne improvement (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.09; one trial, 46 participants). The review graded the certainty of that finding as low.
Review article · 2020 · 46 people · People with mild to moderate acne, mostly aged 12 to 30 · Topical salicylic acid for mild to moderate acne. Most participants in the review were 12 to 30 years old, and most studies ran longer than eight weeks. · The review covers 49 trials with 3880 participants, salicylic acid appears in a small part of them: 41 to 86 participants per comparison. Every salicylic acid comparison was graded low or very low certainty.
- 4 Skin effectClinical Efficacy of a Salicylic Acid-Containing Gel on Acne Management and Skin Barrier Function: A 21-Day Prospective Study
In a 21-day prospective study of 42 people with mild-to-moderate acne and oily or combination skin, a salicylic-acid-containing gel used twice daily was associated with a 23.65% fall in sebum, a 40.5% rise in skin hydration, a 49.26% fall in transepidermal water loss and a 23.81% improvement in acne grade (all P < 0.05 except IGA P < 0.001).
Human trial · 2025 · 42 people · people (37 women, 5 men) with mild-to-moderate acne and oily or combination skin, mean age 25.9 · Sebum, skin hydration, transepidermal water loss and acne grade over 21 days in people with oily or combination skin. · One centre, 21 days, 37 of 42 participants were women, and the research group was affiliated with the product maker.
- 5 Skin effectSalicylic Acid (CeraVe ingredient page)
Salicylic acid is a keratolytic: it loosens the bonds between dead skin cells so they shed.
Brand claim · Acne and keratolysis, at the concentrations permitted for cosmetic use. · Most evidence comes from leave-on acne treatments. A cleanser is on the skin for a minute. · Finding · SALICYLIC ACID
What to watch for
- 1 IrritationTopical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acne
Trials of topical salicylic acid for acne reported application-site reactions such as scaling and redness.
Review article · 2020 · People with mild to moderate acne in the included trials · Topical salicylic acid in acne trials, mainly leave-on use over eight weeks or longer. · The review graded the salicylic acid adverse-event comparisons as very low certainty.
Skin concerns this ingredient has been studied for
The people in each study had that concern.
Common questions
- What does Salicylic Acid do in skincare?
- Salicylic Acid is a beta-hydroxy acid. At the 2% used in rinse-off acne products it loosens the bonds between dead skin cells; irritation rises with concentration and with leave-on use.
- Where does Salicylic Acid sit in these formulas?
- Salicylic Acid appears in 11 products; highest on the list is number 1 of 27, in Acne Control Cleanser.
- Which products contain Salicylic Acid?
- Products that contain Salicylic Acid: Acne Control Cleanser, Oil-Free Acne Wash (Fragrance-Free), Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum, SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin. Plus 5 more.
- How strong is the evidence behind Salicylic Acid?
- 5 findings on Salicylic Acid; the strongest is a 2023 human trial of 83 adults with comedones (41 serum+mask, 42 serum alone).
- What did the study on Salicylic Acid measure?
- 2023 · 83 people · adults with comedones (41 serum+mask, 42 serum alone) · PMID 36999489 · Both groups used active products; improvements were reported against baseline and between the two active groups. Industry-funded. This is the trial found that counted open and closed comedones separately.
- Is there anything to watch for with Salicylic Acid?
- Yes. One caution applies to Salicylic Acid, listed above.