Salicylic acid is a mildly acidic organic molecule that can be derived from salicin, a compound found in the bark of the white willow (Salix alba) tree. In fact, one of the earliest uses of salicylic acid was as a pain-relieving drug—willow bark tea was used for centuries to reduce fever, pain and inflammation. In the late 1800’s, chemist Felix Hoffman first isolated the molecule salicylic acid from the bark and tested its chemical properties. He found that while it was more effective than willow tea as an analgesic, it was also quite irritating to the lining of the stomach. The Bayer company later used salicylic acid as a starting material for making their popular drug, aspirin. Salicylic acid is not commonly used as an analgesic these days; rather, it’s typically applied topically, and has many benefits.
Wart and Corn Benefits
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, salicylic acid is very beneficial in treating warts and corns. While warts are viral, corns are typically caused by repeated pressure or abrasion to an area of the foot. Both can be quite uncomfortable. Salicylic acid is a drying agent, and if applied to the skin, will cause a painless sloughing of the outer layers. Over time, repeated application of salicylic acid causes the skin around a wart—and eventually, the wart itself—to fall off. Further, it peels layers from a corn, reducing the size of the bump and relieving pressure. Compared to other treatments, which are generally more invasive and painful (corns may be shaved off, while warts are often frozen or injected with caustic compounds), salicylic acid represents a painless treatment option.
Benefits to Acne
The Mayo Clinic suggests salicylic acid as an over-the-counter treatment for acne, noting that topical solutions serve the dual purpose of drying and disinfecting skin. Acne is caused by the overproduction of oil by sebaceous glands in the skin—this oil can collect dirt and bacteria, which form plugs that block the openings to pores. If bacteria become trapped in a pore, infection ensues. Salicylic acid solutions dry the skin, decreasing oil production. They can also kill bacteria. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common methods for utilizing salicylic acid for acne include salicylic acid-containing soaps and topical solutions that are applied with cotton balls or pads.
Benefits to Dandruff
According to a publication from BMJ, a medical publishing company, dandruff is the result of scalp dryness. Very severe dandruff, however, is typically associated with yeast growth on the scalp. This causes inflammation, itching, and flaking of the scalp, symptoms that are both uncomfortable and socially awkward. Because salicylic acid is such an effective drying and disinfecting agent, it kills the yeast and stops the production of dandruff. Further, since salicylic acid can break down the outer layers of the skin, it also exfoliates and removes flakes, reducing flaking of the scalp during the day.
