Salicylic Acid
Results
Side Effects

Widely available in over-the-counter skin care products in 0.5 - 2% strength, salicylic acid helps shed skin cells as well as reduce inflammation in the skin.

It's generally recommended to apply a salicylic acid-containing product 1-2 times per day, depending on your skin's tolerance and the product type.

3.6
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Compare To Other Treatments
5
32.8%
4
28.4%
3
17.3%
2
10.9%
1
10.6%

Used Salicylic Acid? Rate It:

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July 11, 2008
Product used: Clean & Clear (Advantage Acne Cleanser)

Pros:

Makes your skin smooth

Cons:

Burns, dries your skin. Most important mkes your acne MUCH, much worse.

Yes this product may be cheap but i didn't have really bad acne and when i started using it my whole face broke out. I highly recomend NOT using this product. Sensitive skin or not.
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July 7, 2008
Product used: Neutrogena (Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel)

Pros:

Product does work :)

Cons:

Takes about 3 days longer than the 8 hours promised to actually work.

My skin became irritated, itchy and swollen but this eased up after about a day.

Although it had pretty bad side effects, it was all worth it in the end because my skin was literally flawless after about 3-4 days. If you follow the saying "Pain is beauty" then yep, absolutely I'd recommend for you to use this product :)
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June 29, 2008
Product used: Clean & Clear (Advantage Acne Spot Treatment)

Pros:

Got rid of my pimples and prevented them from coming back...

Cons:

Only thing I can think of is 20ish dollars might be a lot to some of you?

It's worth it...for me it worked so much better than proactiv and Neutrogena Advanced solutions...it's quick and in my opinion easy, I'm able to wear makeup over the lotion and spot treatment and never have had a problem with that, if you are you might want to try a mineral makeup. This entirely cleared up my face... all my friends starting commenting on how much better it looked after a week or so. Now you wouldn't even guess from looking at me that I was someone who suffered from horrible breakouts all over my nose and forehead, I am really confident now. It's also cheaper than proactiv, clinique acne solutions, AND neutrogena advanced solutions, and has worked better for me than ANY OF them. I'd entirely reccomend this product, just give it a try.
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June 20, 2008
Product used: Clean & Clear (Advantage Acne Spot Treatment)

Pros:

ok smell

Cons:

EVERY-THING.
this product made my face EXTREMLY DRY.
and caused these little black scars EVERYWHERE i applied it.It is definatey one of the worse treatments i have ever used.

When I first bought this I thought it would work great and get rid of my acne spots within 8 hours.WRONG. Instead I applied some over night and as a result as I woke up in the morning,with these HUGE black scars on my face EVERYWHERE I had applied it and left me with a serious breakout issue all over my forehead.Then I discovered,it actually BURNT my face. This lasted 5 days and the scars are still there today as a awful reminder of my mistake for ever buying ths product.
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June 19, 2008
Product used: Neutrogena (Advanced Solutions Acne Mark Fading Peel With CelluZyme)

Pros:

does help to fade acne marks and makes the skin feel a bit softer

Cons:

small amount of it

it does what it's supposed to do and helps to lighten acne marks, though not completely. just aids the skin's natural ability to fade them. kind of helps with comedones, too.
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May 29, 2008
Product used: Clean & Clear (Dual Action Moisturizer Oil-Free)

Pros:

It gets rid of small zits over night and reduces the size of bigger ones. I like the cooling sensation after you put it on as well. Hmmm... easy to dispense because of the pump. AND it also doesn't make my skin look oily.

Cons:

The only negative thing I would have to say is that for being called "Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer" it doesn't moisturize my skin thagt well. Also, somedays it doesn't seem to work for me.

This is a great product for people with mild acne, like myself. Give it a try. It's not pricey and the bottle lasts for ages. There are so many great things I have to say about it (as you can tell from this review) that it ummm... I don't know the word... overrides(?) the cons.
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May 28, 2008
Product used: Clean & Clear (Advantage Acne Spot Treatment)

Pros:

it worked better than i thought it would. it did clear away my acne like the next day.

Cons:

sometimes it stings after i wash my face.

it worked fast and cleared up my most of my skin.
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May 27, 2008
Product used: Proactiv Solution (Gentle Formula)

Pros:

Can't think of any

Cons:

-Smells weird
-More breakouts

This didn't work. More breakouts don't use it.
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May 21, 2008
Product used: Clearasil (Ultra Acne Clearing Scrub)

Pros:

The fragrance is not unpleasant, and it has salicylic acid in the mix, which is the main ingredient in clearing pimples. It did make a slight different in 3 days (the product's guarantee).

Cons:

Acid and scrubs idea wasn't so friendly on my fingers, which felt dry and worn out after each wash since they had to apply the product all over my face. Caused major breakout within a week. Minimal scrubbing action.

The 3-day guarantee worked, but not in the way you'd expect. I have an oily face, and while the salicylic acid helped keep the pimples out in the first 3 days, after a week, WHAM! The zits were all over my forehead, mouth area, and even around my nose. I gave the product a few days more to clear these up, but more appeared. No way am I using Clearasil again. I guess you have to be wary when a long-term use product gives you a quick & easy "See the Difference in 3 Days" guarantee, instead of promising a positive change that will be long lasting. I'm better off buying a specialised scrub for occasional use (every few weeks), than this daily use cleanser which doesn't even work well. Yeah, I saw the difference all right: zits galore in 7 days. >:
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April 29, 2008
Product used: Neutrogena (Oil-Free Acne Stress Control, Power-Clear Scrub)

Pros:

Feels nice and refreshing on my face. Helps reduce flares. Isn't so strong as to irritate skin, but strong enough to produce results.

Cons:

Because of low intensity, seems like it takes a while to start working.

Great product that should be used in conjunction with other things if you have mild to moderate acne. Like someone else said, if you're just looking to prevent breakouts, this could be your product.
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

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Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website