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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 5/10
OK, So How Do I Know Which Acne-Fighting Ingredient to Use?
OK, So How Do I Know Which Acne-Fighting Ingredient to Use? "The lines are a little blurred," says Zeichner (insert Robin Thicke reference here). "Traditionally, the thinking is to use a little bit of both since they work differently." Salicylic acid alone is good if you're dealing with oily skin and clogged pores (typically, this is how teenage acne first manifests, Zeichner adds). But if your pimples are red, swollen or filled with pus, there's likely a bacterial element at play, and it may be time to add some benzoyl peroxide into the mix, notes Gohara.

Image via Getty

SEE NEXT PAGE: I Don't Have Acne. Should I Still Use Salicylic Acid?
 

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