Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid, or BHA, used in mild and medium depth chemical peels. Salicylic acid’s ability to clear pores, reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, and exfoliate the skin make it a weapon of choice in the skin care arsenal. One of salicylic acid’s many characteristics is that it can help other peeling and skin care agents penetrate more deeply into the skin.
Adding other ingredients to salicylic acid chemical peels can make those ingredients more effective and enhance the results of the salicylic acid peel.
Glycolic and lactic acid are alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, typically included in many salicylic acid chemical peels. Other common AHAs include tartaric acid, citric acid, and malic acid. AHAs help to exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin. They can complement salicylic acid’s ability to clear oils, dirt, and debris from the pores.
In turn, salicylic acid can help AHAs penetrate your skin more deeply, for better chemical peel results. You may find that a peel that contains salicylic acid leaves your skin even firmer, brighter, and smoother than a peel that does not.
Since both AHAs and BHAs are gentle on the skin, this combination can be used to perform a mild chemical peel with little irritation and few side effects. Because salicylic acid has inherent anti-inflammatory properties, it can help soothe any irritation caused by AHAs like glycolic or lactic acid. Salicylic acid may also help to absorb ultraviolet light, preventing further sun damage to your skin and therefore helping to enhance and extend the results of your chemical peel.
Resorcinol, a chemical peeling agent derived from phenol, is a bit stronger than salicylic acid. It’s used in medium-depth and deeper peel solutions, such as the Jessner’s solution. When combined with resorcinol, a salicylic acid peel can penetrate deeper into the skin for more dramatic, longer-lasting results.



September 3rd, 2010
Jacqueline 

Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid used in acne treatments and chemical peels. In low concentrations, salicylic acid is applied to the surface of the skin to keep pores clean and prevent acne. Higher concentrations of the acid are used in chemical peels. Here are some of the benefits of a
Salicylic acid is a popular acne treatment and chemical peeling agent. It’s known to penetrate the pores and promote the shedding of dead skin cells from inside the follicle itself. Salicylic acid is safe for use on all skin types, including sensitive skin.






