Acne

Acne Medicines

Salicylic Acid

Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine

Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine

Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine

Ellen K. Roh MD - Dermatology

<div id="HwMain" class="HwBlock"> <script language="javascript">  if (!window.org) var org = { healthwise: {'application':{}} }; else if (!window.org.healthwise) org["healthwise"] = {'application':{}}; org.healthwise.config = { root: 'https://assetpool.healthwise.net/14.4/common/desktop/alpine.rhtml.kbnet.awesome/', locale: 'en-us', version: '14.4', isoshg: false }; org.healthwise.document = {}; org.healthwise.document.id = "hw199239"; org.healthwise.document.section = "hw199239-sec"; org.healthwise.document.healthwise = true; org.healthwise.document.title = "Acne: Treatment With Salicylic Acid"; org.healthwise.document.family = "kb"; org.healthwise.document.doctype = "Focus"; org.healthwise.document.pagetype = "content";  </script> <div class="HwRow"><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar1"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomSidebar"></div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnContent"><div id="HwContentTop"></div><div role="article" id="HwContentWrapper" class="HwTypeFocus HwContentWrapper HwElement"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomContentTop"></div><div class="HwContentHeader"><p><a name="top" id="Hwtop"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Top of the page</span></a></p></div><div class="HwContentTitle"><h1 id="HwContentTitle">Acne: Treatment With Salicylic Acid</h1></div><div class="HwContent"><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionSpecialSection" id="sec-hw199239-sec"><a name="hw199239-sec"></a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" data-fingerprint="b4cb0a40" data-fingerprint-exact="e7c3d1bb">Overview</h2><h3 class="HwSubSectionTitle" data-fingerprint="6a8a9d48" data-fingerprint-exact="5828afaf">Acne: Treatment With Salicylic Acid—Topic Overview </h3><p data-fingerprint="3ed34eb9" data-fingerprint-exact="fe6ab1ea">Salicylic acid is an active ingredient in some nonprescription <span class="HwOptionalAny"><a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hwid="sta123101" href="document/sta123101/sta123101-sec" data-document-type="Definition" data-document-href="sta123101" data-section-href="sta123101-sec" data-articleId="sta123101" data-topicId="sta123101-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">acne</span></a></span> treatments. When you apply it to your skin, it dries up whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. It also causes the top layer of your skin to peel.</p><p data-fingerprint="fffb7da3" data-fingerprint-exact="62a3c22d">Products that contain salicylic acid may cause tingling and a mild redness of the skin. Use them less often if you notice that your skin becomes very red or very dry.</p><p data-fingerprint="57cf5729" data-fingerprint-exact="62d77d47">You'll find salicylic acid mainly in pads that you rub on your skin. Brand names include Stridex and Noxzema pads.</p></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionRelatedInformation" id="sec-hw199239-RelInfo"><a name="hw199239-RelInfo"></a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" data-fingerprint="d5f858e0" data-fingerprint-exact="c0ffe04b">Related Information</h2><ul data-fingerprint="ae6b2beb" data-fingerprint-exact="795e5a6b"><li class="HwOptionalAny"><a data-hwid="hw199515" href="document/hw199515/acl5221" data-document-type="Major" data-document-href="hw199515" data-section-href="acl5221" data-articleId="hw199515" data-topicId="acl5221">Acne</a></li></ul></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwCreditsSection HwCreditsWithoutNavstack HwSectionCredits" id="sec-hw199239-Credits"><a name="hw199239-Credits"></a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle">Credits</h2><div class="HwContentInformation"><div class="HwLastUpdated"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Current as of: </span> December 4, 2024</p></div><div class="HwCredits"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Author: </span><a class="HwLinkExternal" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en" title="Opens in a new window"><span class="HwLinkText">Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff</span></a><br /><span><b><a class="HwLinkExternal" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en" title="Opens in a new window"><span class="HwLinkText">Clinical Review Board</span></a></b></span><br />All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.</p></div></div></div></div><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomContentBottom"></div><div class="HwContentNavigation"></div><div class="HwContentInformation"><div class="HwLastUpdated"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Current as of: </span>December 4, 2024</p></div><div class="HwCredits"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Author: </span><a class="HwLinkDisclaimer" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en">Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff</a></p><p><a class="HwLinkDisclaimer" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en"><span><b>Clinical Review Board</b></span></a><br />All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.</p></div></div></div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar2"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomNavigationTop"><div class="HwSocialMediaIcons" xmlns=""></div></div><div id="HwNavigationWrapper" class="HwElement"><div id="HwNavigation" class="HwNavigation" role="navigation"><h3 id="HwNavStackHeader" class="HwNavStackHeader">Topic Contents</h3><ul aria-labelledby="HwNavStackHeader"><li id="nav-hw199239-sec"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hwid="hw199239" href="#hw199239-sec" data-section-href="hw199239-sec" data-topicId="hw199239-sec" data-articleId="hw199239" data-document-type="Focus" data-document-href="hw199239">Overview</a></li><li id="nav-hw199239-RelInfo"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hwid="hw199239" href="#hw199239-RelInfo" data-section-href="hw199239-RelInfo" data-topicId="hw199239-RelInfo" data-articleId="hw199239" data-document-type="Focus" data-document-href="hw199239">Related Information</a></li><li id="nav-hw199239-Credits"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hwid="hw199239" href="#hw199239-Credits" data-section-href="hw199239-Credits" data-topicId="hw199239-Credits" data-articleId="hw199239" data-document-type="Focus" data-document-href="hw199239">Credits</a></li></ul></div></div><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomNavigationBottom"></div><div class="HwElement" id="HwMediaItemsWrapper"></div></div></div><div id="HwFooter" class="HwBlock"><div class="HwDisplayNone"><div class="HwDisclaimer"><p>This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. 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