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:
June 26, 2012
Product used: Neutrogena (Body Clear Body Wash)

Pros:

Cleared me up in about 2 weeks

Cons:

Might not work for people with more severe cases

I am very satisfied with this product. Despite suffering with bad acne on my face for years I took some consolation in that I had virtually no body acne or neck acne. Well about 2 months ago I started noticing that I was getting a bunch of little pimples all over my chest, traps, and upper back. This worried me alot but luckily for me my sister had already purchased this product for her acne so I started using it and it cleared me up pretty good. If you have light to mild/moderate body acne I suggest you give this a shot. If your acne is more severe you might need something a little stronger.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 29, 2012
Product used: Sea Breeze (Actives Deep Clean Astringent)

Pros:

It works

Cons:

It burns a little but that means it's working

I'm 54 years old and I don't use this for acne When my daughter was a teenager she used it for acne. I had a severe case of psoriasis I scratched until it bled it hurt terribly. At that time the label didn't say astringent its said antiseptic for the skin so I use it. It burnt terribly at first but in a week it started to heal. In a month it was gone. For the past year I have had a fungus in my big toe and everything I used didn't work so I decided to put a little sea breeze in a spray bottle and try that. 20 minutes after the first spray the green infection started to turn black as the fungus died. It's been 2 weeks now and my toenail is almost totally clear. So to the makers of sea breeze thank you very much
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 28, 2012
Product used: Clean & Clear (Advantage 3-in-1 Foaming Acne Wash)

Pros:

smells good
clears acne

Cons:

tightning feeling
redness if used too much

i used this and it started clearing my acne after just 1 use. i only recommend using this ONCE A DAY or else it may cause redness. this isnt very good for dry or sensitive skin. its more for oily skin. but other than that i am completely satisfied with the results. just keep in mind that you should only use this once a day until you feel your skin is ready for twice a day. but just start off once a day.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 28, 2012
Product used: Clean & Clear (Advantage Acne Spot Treatment)

Pros:

Reduces size only

Cons:

Burns like the devils rear end
Gets flaky like dry glue on your skin
Doesn't get rid of the entire pimple

It's good if you like getting your acne "half" clear. This stuff burns a lot! And I don't really see a difference after using it. I used this along with my Clean and Clear 3 in 1 acne exfoliating face scrub in the morning and night. And my acne hardly reduced or changed the next day.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 23, 2012
Product used: Neutrogena (Oil-Free Acne Wash, Pink Grapefruit)

Pros:

cleanses
slathers nicely
smells good
nice pump

Cons:

dries out skin a first
doesn't fade scars

I've been using this product for about a month or 2. When I first bought it I thought it was terrible because my skin got dried up and it was peeling and gross. But after about a week it stoped. I'm not sure if this product is working I've only gotten 1 pimple sinced I started using it and a few have gone away but that may also be because of the honey facial I do. This product has salycilic acid which helps prevent acne. I think this product is fine it's a good price I love how it foams!
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 18, 2012
Product used: Clean & Clear (Advantage Acne Spot Treatment)

Pros:

dries up the acne fast when applied generously

Cons:

stings
obnoxious smell
over-drying
skin gets used to it

I decided to deal with the smell and the stinging at first because of the speed at which it began to heal my zits. Although my skin began to get used to it and all it does now is make my pimples peel. However, if used once in a while for those who rarely break out, it is an amazing product. Good Luck.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 4, 2012
Product used: Aveeno (Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer)

Pros:

Moisturizes great.
Soothing.
Great for sensitive skin.

Cons:

Hasn't really cleared up any acne.

I have really sensitive skin and this moisturizer is definitely gentle; hasn't broke me out. Also, I had ridiculous nasty red skin after using a harsh cleanser and this calmed all of the irritation and dryness.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 10, 2012
Product used: St. Ives (Blemish Control Apricot Scrub)

Pros:

Helps control flakiness
Smaller beads are less irritating
smells good
made skin soft and less red after first use

Cons:

none

With physical exfoliators like this it all depends on how you use it. If you scrub your face with this stuff really hard your gonna break out really bad and irritate your skin. If you go gentle it works very well. My skin is clear of bumps but still kinda red and was VERY flaky. This helps a lot with both. Idk how well it clears skin though, all I know is that it didn't break me out.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 21, 2012
Product used: Clearasil (Daily Face Wash, Sensitive)

Pros:

Skin really soft
After the whiteheads fade (2-3 days) skin clear
Skin not as oily (Im really oily in some parts and my dry parts are still normal thanks to my moisturser -not overtly drying wash- im combination)
Leaves skin really clean!
Doesnt sting or leave face really red

Cons:

Getting whiteheads (some where is usual) but I think this is just my skin clearing up as I have only used it for a week
Acne under skin? though may be because as above

My aunt got this for me as she said that it worked for her when she was young, and since it does seem to improve the overall condition of my skin, minus all the whiteheads which is probably my skin brining up all the bad bacteria in the lower layers due to the wash. I am willing to carry on using it for another 3-4 weeks to see if it is really good, but so far, I think it is. But if you think your acne is already clearing up with your norm. products, dont take the risk as the purge period may take some time and be quite severe. I would recommend if you dont mind the purging part! Will make another review after 3-4 weeks!
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 20, 2012
Product used: Neutrogena (Oil-Free Acne Stress Control, Power-Clear Scrub)

Pros:

- Smells really good
- Doesn't dry
- Helped clear my acne (for a while)
- Good price at Target

Cons:

- Stopped working after a few weeks
- Didn't prevent all acne

I found this from watching a mini series called Private online. It was based on the book series of Private by Kate Brian, I believe. I was really excited to try it when I first bought it. It worked fairly quickly, it smelled nice, and it wasn't too drying. I started to see an improvement on my acne disappearing until after maybe three weeks. It kind of stopped working. It would help my acne just a little bit, but it was as if my skin became immune to the wash. It also didn't prevent all of my acne. I'd recommend it if you have light to moderate acne. I have moderate acne, but it's pretty tough to get rid of, so it's always different for everyone.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 91 92 93 94 95 … 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