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

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July 16, 2007
Product used: Clearasil (Ultra Acne Clearing Scrub)

Pros:

worked okay for me.

Cons:

dont waste your money on this.

dan kerns regimen is the best, dont waste your money like me or other peeps on other lame products. Use Cetaphil as a cleanser, Dan kerns gel and then use some moisturizer with spf 15 so you wont have to put on sunscreen. i guarantee you this will work for you if u have oily skin because it sure is working for me.
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July 10, 2007
Product used: Clean & Clear (Blackhead Clearing Scrub)

Pros:

It does improve blackheads somewhat. Cleared up most of my acne and keeps it at bay.

Cons:

It comes to a point where the product stops doing anything new. The skin doesn't really get better or worse. It didn't help with my whiteheads ( I do realize that wasn't it's intended use, but it helps to know these things).

I would definately recommend this product but probably to people with mild acne only. Every product works differently on individual people, so it will work for some but not for others. It's not a miracle treatment but it's pretty good.
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December 3, 2006
Product used: St. Ives (Medicated Apricot Scrub for Oily or Acne Prone Skin)

Pros:

This stuff is great for exfoliating, wich is essential, my skin will thicken like leather if I dont. It leaves a nice glow, sloughs dead skin cells, leaves your skin looking fresh,brighter, and squeaky clean.

Cons:

If used too often, it will leave your skin red and irritated, I dont have sensitive skin. It is VERY course, so you must be GENTLE! It didnt clear up my active break outs, but it did leave an overall brightness and healthy glow on my good skin area.

I've had active adult acne for the past 10 years. (I'm 30), and not just 2-3 pimples at a time, but huge bottomless pores filled with gunk (ugh)Use this as an exfoliant a few times a week, it does make an improvement in that your skin isnt thick and leathery,which leads to more break outs and deep acne. It leaves your face feeling fresh and squeaky clean, smells great too. This product should be used as PART of your regimine and not as the only source (if you have moderate acne),also I dont recommend it as a daily cleanser, as it is harsh and over time, due to excess peeling, can leave your face looking like you took a chemical bath. Also its important to moisturize after you skin has recovered from the abrasive washing. Overall, I think this product is great for the price and the functionality it provides as a medicated exfoliant..(who needs costly home microdermabrasion kits at $30 plus a pop when this stuff does the trick at just $2.50!)
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November 14, 2006
Product used: Neutrogena (Oil-Free Acne Wash Cream Cleanser)
Ive had mild to moderate acne for about 3 years now and no soap has worked this well before. Ive been using it for about 2 weeks now and I already have seen a huge difference in the way my face feels and looks. My breakouts are occuring less and does a great job of ridding existing blemishes. Try not to rub in for to long as it will make your face pretty dry, but I would recommend this product to anyone.
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June 24, 2017
Product used: Dermalogica (Clean Start)
Worked for quite a while
I am a 17yo with mild facial acne. Ok, so this stuff for me was incredibly gentle on my sensitive skin. I never had any burning sensations or anything. I started this when I was 15 and at first I didn't really see any changes in my skin. However, I felt like washing my face everyday was drying it out so I just washed it once every day. It took about a month for me to have the most amazing and smooth, clear skin. I was getting compliments all the time about how great my skin looked and it made me feel so confident. This routine for me worked until about 6 months ago when my skin just stopped being treated by it. Now I am on some stuff prescribed by my GP and I haven't had much success.
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September 28, 2016
Product used: Aveeno (Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer)
break outs
I love how this moisturizer feels and smells. it's thick enough that it gets rid of flakey skin. however, I got a few small painful under the skin type bumpies just days after using this. that being said, i have broken out from every moisturizer i have tried and am still searching for the one. thankfully I was patch testing it on my chin. I've succumbed to temptation and have purchased this more than once over the years(aveeno stuff just looks so nice to me), but it just doesn't work for me. I wanted to add that I don't believe this moisturizer is at the correct ph for the salicylic acid to truly exfoliate, so no I don't think it was purging or anything of that sort. wish it would have worked for me!
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June 2, 2016
Product used: St. Ives (Blemish Control Apricot Scrub)
Great Physical Exfoliant
This scrub didn't do much for me in terms of controlling my acne so I now use this more for its exfoliating properties. I am able to control my acne under the Acne.org regimen. However, using BP twice a day everyday can be a lot. I feel like after a few days there is some build up on the BP that I can't get off unless I use this scrub. The beads in the wash are large enough to really get the BP build up off my face. Of course since the regimen calls for being gentle with your skin, I always make it a point to move my hands on very gently so as not to forcefully drag the beads around. This scrub is something I would only use twice a week. Despite the product saying you can use it everyday I think it would be too much. Just wash your face for about thirty seconds and this won't dry up your skin. It will just feel fresh and clean and not totally stripped.
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June 24, 2015
Product used: Aveeno (Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer)
A no regret purchase
One of the best moisturizers I have ever purchased! It is fairly expensive, but it has lasted me nearly 5 months. I react very badly to Benzoyl Peroxide and was glad to find that this contained Salicylic Acid. It doesn't necessarily prevent any breakouts for me, but it keeps them at bay. It's moisturizing, gentle, and absorbs well into the skin. It also smells very nice, which is a bonus! It evens out my complexion too, and gets rid of any patchy dry spots. Overall, I recommend this as a daily moisturizer for anybody,
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June 18, 2015
Product used: Clean & Clear (Dual Action Moisturizer Oil-Free)
Overall worth a try!
I have never had a bad experience with this product. I have very dry, sensitive skin and I bought this because of my increase in hormonal acne. I get pretty bad cystic acne that lasts for a long time. This product doesn't provide a whole lot of moisture, but it's enough for my skin to the point where I don't feel like I need to apply any more. I used to dilute it because the formula was really harsh on my skin, but for some reason it works fine now. I would apply generous amounts (like a little glob on each pimple) as a spot treatment and it worked wonders. It has a cooling feeling to it, which I really like a lot. I'm not a fan of knowing that I'm rubbing fragrance all over my face, but hey, it doesn't cause any breakouts for me.
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May 6, 2015
Product used: Burt's Bees (Natural Acne Solutions Purifying Gel Cleanser)
Have hope in this cleanser. Gentle low percentage of salicylic acid (1%)
I believe and have hope in this cleanser because its a low percentage of salicylic acid (1%) and since it comes from a natural source (willow bark). I don't believe this cleanser has any irritating ingredients so thats a plus. If you have mild to severe acne I doubt this cleanser by itself will clear up your acne but I believe if you combine it with the acne.org benzoyl peroxide treatment the use of these two should work well in fighting acne. I've been using this cleanser and I stick to a strict regiment just like acne.org suggest: Washing my face gently twice a day (morning & night), using the benzoyl peroxide treatment (after my morning & night cleanse), and ALWAYS moisturizing with a non pore clogging moisturizer. I also take the vitamins acne.org suggest: zinc, vitamin a, vitamin d3 (search for the vitamins article here on acne.org and read the whole article so you know what you're doing). So far doing this regiment daily strictly has helped me stay 90% acne clear. I will once in a while get a pimple or a zit but applying a coat of benzoyl peroxide on it over night or throughout the day helps in getting rid of it.
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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.
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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:

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  • 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.
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Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website