8 replies to this topic

[Posy]

Hi,
I've just discovered that the soluble aspirin I am using to make my aspirin masks (made by Boots in the UK) contains sodium lauryl sulfate. It is the second of the nonactive ingredients.
This is known to be an irritant, so I will be switching brands.
Never thought to check ingredients of such a basic household product, and thought others might not have either...
you can find aspirin that doesn't contain this (I believe Safeway own brand might be a possibility).

[temp123]

Hi,
I've just discovered that the soluble aspirin I am using to make my aspirin masks (made by Boots in the UK) contains sodium lauryl sulfate. It is the second of the nonactive ingredients.
This is known to be an irritant, so I will be switching brands.
Never thought to check ingredients of such a basic household product, and thought others might not have either...
you can find aspirin that doesn't contain this (I believe Safeway own brand might be a possibility).

Another thing you could try is ibuprofen 5% gel (it's a sports rub thing). It's already mixed for you and designed to be applied to skin; and does much the same thing. You can get it in boots, or sainsburys (probably other places as well).

[Wynne]

Aspirin, or salicylic acid, is used because of its exfoliative properties and ability to help exfoliate within the pore, too.

Ibuprofen doesn't do that. It's just a topical analgesic (when in topical form). Ibuprofen gels also frequently have alcohol in them (a known facial skin irritant) and sometimes fragrances (not good for acne prone skin).

[temp123]

Aspirin, or salicylic acid, is used because of its exfoliative properties and ability to help exfoliate within the pore, too.

Ibuprofen doesn't do that. It's just a topical analgesic (when in topical form).

Why use aspirin as an exfoliant though? AHAs are exfoliants too, but they don't seem to work so well do they? It presumably must be something about the aspirin that makes it work better. Maybe the exfoliation is actually bad, or at least not entirely helpful since it limits how often you can use the aspirin.

So ibuprofen not being an exfoliant could be an advantage. You wouldn't want to exfoliate everday, but ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory, and you can literally use ibuprofen gel 3x a day (according to the instructions.) I've been trying it out, and my skin improved quite a bit while on it (then I stopped for several weeks, and it got worse, then I went back on it, and it improved again). According to the wikipedia, anti-inflammatory action is one of main modes of action of acne treatments.

Ibuprofen gels also frequently have alcohol in them (a known facial skin irritant) and sometimes fragrances (not good for acne prone skin).

Depends on how it's formulated, and how sensitive your skin is to those things. I've had no obvious trouble with the particular gel I picked up, but if you grind up an ibuprofen tablet then you would have no fragrance or alcohol.

[cassiopeia]

Aspirin, or salicylic acid, is used because of its exfoliative properties and ability to help exfoliate within the pore, too.

Ibuprofen doesn't do that. It's just a topical analgesic (when in topical form).

Why use aspirin as an exfoliant though? AHAs are exfoliants too, but they don't seem to work so well do they? It presumably must be something about the aspirin that makes it work better. Maybe the exfoliation is actually bad, or at least not entirely helpful since it limits how often you can use the aspirin.

So ibuprofen not being an exfoliant could be an advantage. You wouldn't want to exfoliate everday, but ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory, and you can literally use ibuprofen gel 3x a day (according to the instructions.) I've been trying it out, and my skin improved quite a bit while on it (then I stopped for several weeks, and it got worse, then I went back on it, and it improved again). According to the wikipedia, anti-inflammatory action is one of main modes of action of acne treatments.

Ibuprofen gels also frequently have alcohol in them (a known facial skin irritant) and sometimes fragrances (not good for acne prone skin).

Depends on how it's formulated, and how sensitive your skin is to those things. I've had no obvious trouble with the particular gel I picked up, but if you grind up an ibuprofen tablet then you would have no fragrance or alcohol.

I use AHAs ... one of the only things that never fails to make a noticeable difference for me. Aspirin mask ... eh. Works better for my ingrown hairs than for my acne. But either way, exfoliating definitely does make a difference for some people.

Just my $0.02.

[THX]

Aspirin, or salicylic acid, is used because of its exfoliative properties and ability to help exfoliate within the pore, too.

Ibuprofen doesn't do that. It's just a topical analgesic (when in topical form).

Why use aspirin as an exfoliant though? AHAs are exfoliants too, but they don't seem to work so well do they? It presumably must be something about the aspirin that makes it work better. Maybe the exfoliation is actually bad, or at least not entirely helpful since it limits how often you can use the aspirin.

So ibuprofen not being an exfoliant could be an advantage. You wouldn't want to exfoliate everday, but ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory, and you can literally use ibuprofen gel 3x a day (according to the instructions.) I've been trying it out, and my skin improved quite a bit while on it (then I stopped for several weeks, and it got worse, then I went back on it, and it improved again). According to the wikipedia, anti-inflammatory action is one of main modes of action of acne treatments.

Ibuprofen gels also frequently have alcohol in them (a known facial skin irritant) and sometimes fragrances (not good for acne prone skin).

Depends on how it's formulated, and how sensitive your skin is to those things. I've had no obvious trouble with the particular gel I picked up, but if you grind up an ibuprofen tablet then you would have no fragrance or alcohol.

I use AHAs ... one of the only things that never fails to make a noticeable difference for me. Aspirin mask ... eh. Works better for my ingrown hairs than for my acne. But either way, exfoliating definitely does make a difference for some people.

Just my $0.02.

AHA seems to get rid of all my inflamed acne... but has done little for my blackheads. So I now apply AHA to the bottom portion of my face (inflamed acne) and BHA to the top portion (little effect yet). Regardless, I now am inflamed acne free! Too bad I have a ton of clogged pores... (hundreds upon hundreds)

I may try the aspirin mask once I`m finished trying this Olay BHA and the lemon juice treatment.

[temp123]

AHA seems to get rid of all my inflamed acne... but has done little for my blackheads. So I now apply AHA to the bottom portion of my face (inflamed acne) and BHA to the top portion (little effect yet). Regardless, I now am inflamed acne free! Too bad I have a ton of clogged pores... (hundreds upon hundreds)

I may try the aspirin mask once I`m finished trying this Olay BHA and the lemon juice treatment.

So far as I am aware AHAs don't have any anti-inflammatory effect. Salicylic acid does, but the body seems to build tolerance quite rapidly (I know this because I used to use a strong salicylic acid cosmetic which was later banned when some people put it in their eyes, and it had a visible anti-inflammatory effect... for the first few days at least.) Aspirin and similar anti-inflammatories seem to avoid tolerance effects and are much more powerful.

[livluvlaf]

AHA & BHA need a very particular PH balance to work effectively. If the water you use to wash your face is too hard, it neutralizes the AHA or BHA. The products themselves are properly balanced - so soften the water or your facial soap with some baking soda, and the products you use after will be more effective.

[Wynne]

Aspirin, or salicylic acid, is used because of its exfoliative properties and ability to help exfoliate within the pore, too.

Ibuprofen doesn't do that. It's just a topical analgesic (when in topical form).

Why use aspirin as an exfoliant though? AHAs are exfoliants too, but they don't seem to work so well do they? It presumably must be something about the aspirin that makes it work better. Maybe the exfoliation is actually bad, or at least not entirely helpful since it limits how often you can use the aspirin.

So ibuprofen not being an exfoliant could be an advantage. You wouldn't want to exfoliate everday, but ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory, and you can literally use ibuprofen gel 3x a day (according to the instructions.) I've been trying it out, and my skin improved quite a bit while on it (then I stopped for several weeks, and it got worse, then I went back on it, and it improved again). According to the wikipedia, anti-inflammatory action is one of main modes of action of acne treatments.

Ibuprofen gels also frequently have alcohol in them (a known facial skin irritant) and sometimes fragrances (not good for acne prone skin).

Depends on how it's formulated, and how sensitive your skin is to those things. I've had no obvious trouble with the particular gel I picked up, but if you grind up an ibuprofen tablet then you would have no fragrance or alcohol.

You go ahead and use it if you want to. Ibuprofen does not exfoliate and that's the point of using an aspirin mask.