Salicylic acid is a popular topical treatment that can be purchased
without a doctor’s prescription. Salicylic acid does not treat infection
or inflammation. Therefore, it is mainly used to treat comedones.
When salicylic acid is rubbed onto the skin, it penetrates the pores
and gets inside clogged hair follicles. Salicylic acid causes the dead
skin cells inside the follicles to dissolve. This allows oil trapped in
the follicles to reach the skin.
Many patients report that treatment
with salicylic acid helps eliminate acne outbreaks. A patient explains:
“I have blackheads on my back. I wipe my back with salicylic acid
wipes every night. It didn’t help immediately, but after about a month,
I noticed a difference. I think it’s helping.
