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Review
. 2015 Aug 26:8:455-61.
doi: 10.2147/CCID.S84765. eCollection 2015.

Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review

Tasleem Arif  1
Affiliations
Review

Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review

Tasleem Arif. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. .

Abstract

Salicylic acid has been used to treat various skin disorders for more than 2,000 years. The ability of salicylic acid to exfoliate the stratum corneum makes it a good agent for peeling. In particular, the comedolytic property of salicylic acid makes it a useful peeling agent for patients with acne. Once considered as a keratolytic agent, the role of salicylic acid as a desmolytic agent, because of its ability to disrupt cellular junctions rather than breaking or lysing intercellular keratin filaments, is now recognized and is discussed here. Salicylic acid as a peeling agent has a number of indications, including acne vulgaris, melasma, photodamage, freckles, and lentigines. The efficacy and safety of salicylic acid peeling in Fitzpatrick skin types I-III as well as in skin types V and VI have been well documented in the literature. This paper reviews the available data and literature on salicylic acid as a peeling agent and its possible indications. Its properties, efficacy and safety, the peeling procedure, and possible side effects are discussed in detail. An account of salicylism is also included.

Keywords: acne vulgaris; desmolytic agent; melasma; photodamage; salicylic acid.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Indications for salicylic acid peeling.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Contraindications to salicylic acid peeling.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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