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
6049
Read All About Salicylic Acid
Compare To Other Treatments
5
32.8%
4
28.4%
3
17.3%
2
10.9%
1
10.6%

Used Salicylic Acid? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
October 26, 2010
Product used: Neutrogena (Oil-Free Acne Wash Redness Soothing Facial Cleanser)

Pros:

* Felt refreshing
* Smelled nice
* Didn't cause any new problems

Cons:

* Didn't do what it claimed to do
* Doesn't work

Ay ay ay :( Yet another bad review but this didn't work or live up to its claims. I believe the bottle says "Redness Soothing" and it didnt sooth anything. Yeah sure it felt good on the face but when the oil was produced on my skin, it felt like the same before I tried the product. The red bumps were still red and it didn't clear anything so I just gave up on it. I don't know whether in the long haul it is good or not but im not patient enought to find out.
This Was Helpful

Report
August 15, 2010
Product used: Biore (Pore Unclogging Scrub)

Pros:

*Smells great
*Leaves skin smooth
*Has a clean feeling after use
*Beads are soft

Cons:

*It doesnt help with pimples, blackheads, etc.
*It only softens skin, doesn't rid face of acne

Its an overall good product, If you JUST want soft skin, this product is for you! :)
This Was Helpful

Report
August 15, 2010
Product used: Biore (Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser)

Pros:

-nice smell
-leaves skin feeling fresh and clean
-doesn't make skin oily

Cons:

-gave me more pimples
-made my complexion redder
-enlarged size of already existing pimples
-made pimles leave scars

For me, this product just wasn't sucessful. There may be an ingredient that reacts badly with my skin but I just can't use it anymore, I haven't been this broken out in a long time.
This Was Helpful

Report
August 14, 2010
Product used: Aveeno (Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer)

Pros:

-Feels light

Cons:

-Personally, I think it smells funky.
-Doesn't moisturize enough for me!
-Didn't really help my skin tone or acne

It was okay, but nothing special!
This Was Helpful

Report
August 11, 2010
Product used: Clean & Clear (Advantage Acne Control Cleanser)

Pros:

None!

Cons:

After First use my face swole up and turned red. It itched super bad and even burned! Then my face has been dried out and hurts for the last 4 days!

It Sucks!
This Was Helpful

Report
July 28, 2010
Product used: Neutrogena (Oil-Free Acne Wash, Pink Grapefruit)

Pros:

It smelled really nice and lathered really well, the first few days it worked great!

Cons:

Made my sensitive skin break out in an irritatingly itchy rash after 3 days

I was excited to try a new face wash and spent 15 min staring at an isle in target. Spotting this on the shelf I read through the back and compared different cleansers. I used it for 2 days and on the third my skin got really itchy, I thought it nothing but dry skin since I was starting to use a new cleanser but the next day my face was still itchy and lotion wasn't helping. I went online and found that other people had the same problem. The same day my face swelled. I have sensitive skin so this might not apply to you but just a warning it made me break out in a rash.
This Was Helpful

Report
July 27, 2010
Product used: Neutrogena (Oil-Free Acne Wash, Pink Grapefruit)

Pros:

-Smells wonderful, like a freshly squeezed grapefruit
-Contains 2% salicylic acid
-It's a cream cleanser, so it's great if you have dry or combination skin
-Clears up breakouts fast

Cons:

-A little expensive, but fairly cheap compared to other things like Proactiv and stuff
-Stings the slightest bit, but that's how you know it's working

I had been using Clean and Clear Morning Burst for a while, but when I realized it wasn't clearing up my skin at all, I found out it had no salicylic acid in it. Well, you can imagine how dumb I felt. But seriously, who makes a facial cleanser with no acne fighting ingredients? So I went to the store to get something else that would actually work. I decided to try some classic Neutrogena cleanser, and I decided to get a cream cleanser because the foaming cleansers always dried out my skin. I also decided to get the pink grapefruit, because who doesn't like something that smells good? It didn't make my skin movie-star clear, but definitely clearer than it ever has been. I think I finally found the stuff that works for me!
This Was Helpful

Report
July 24, 2010
Product used: Stridex (Maximum Pads with Salicylic Acid, Alcohol Free)

Pros:

cleared up acne
good for oily skin

Cons:

DONT use if you have sensitive or dry skin
dries out skin if used too often

its cheap, but it works because i have really oily skin it helps clear up acne pretty quickly because it just dries up everything i tried a lot of products before and i still had a lot of acne, this is the only thing that works
This Was Helpful

Report
July 19, 2010
Product used: Neutrogena (Oil-Free Oil-Free Acne Stress Control, 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment)

Pros:

Love the smell.
Love how it cleans my skin.

Cons:

I wish it exfoliated my skin.
Wish it cured my acne. :)

Cleans really well. It didn't necessarily cure my acne, but it helped with the cleansing.
This Was Helpful

Report
June 20, 2010
Product used: Neutrogena (Oil-Free Acne Stress Control, Power-Clear Scrub)

Pros:

My skin feels very soft and my acne has virtually disappeared.

Cons:

None. Except i wish it came w/o scent- on principle. We need less perfume in our lives, not more. I do find the scent pleasing though.

I have had a lot of acne since I was 13 and used Retin A since I was 20. But I always had acne - EVERY day. I've tried antibiotic on occasion, but fear them as I am a microbiologist by training. Since I turned 40, I've been getting deeper cysts that may not come out and can be painful. Tried Neutrogena Advanced Solutions and giving up Retin A for a few years.... About the same. At 45, I feel my skin scars more and much longer. I just hated my skin. But within the WEEK of starting this Stress Control scrub, my acne virtually disappeared. I can barely believe it. I've been using it 1.5-2 mos. This is the best my skin has looked - breakout wise- since I used Accutane in my late 20s. I might try to give up the retin a again. I think I will get wrinkly, but I also worry about my telomeres since they must be shorter on my face than the rest of my body.
This Was Helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 328 329 330 331 332 … 375
Next

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

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

Finding a Doctor

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