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What Is Salicylic Acid and How Does It Fight Acne?

Sure, it's a magical zit-zapping ingredient... but that's not all it does for skin.

by Melanie Rud Chadwick  |  COMMENT

PHOTO 3/10
But How Is It Different From Other Acne-Fighting Ingredients?
But How Is It Different From Other Acne-Fighting Ingredients? When it comes to treating acne, salicylic acid typically gets put up against and compared to benzoyl peroxide (AKA BP, as skin docs call it). Think of the two like chocolate and vanilla ice cream -- they're very different, some people have a definitive preference towards one over the other, but they can still work well together (hello, soft serve swirl cone). Unlike salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide is antibacterial and works by targeting the bacteria that cause acne. "P. acnes bacteria are anaerobic and live without oxygen. Benzoyl peroxide creates an oxygenation reaction that kills them," explains Zeichner. But, "since both bacteria and oil contribute to acne, it can be beneficial to use both ingredients together," adds Gohara.

Image via www.wrinkles.org

SEE NEXT PAGE: Will Salicylic Help With All Kinds of Acne?
 

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