Many popular over-the-counter acne and anti-aging products can cause severe irritation or even potentially life-threatening allergic reactions. A common ingredient that causes this type of reaction is the use of salicylic acid as an active ingredient.
Aspirin allergy is present in about 1% of the population, but almost half of the cases end up at the emergency room. The allergic reactions caused by these products vary from, itching, burning, redness and slight swelling to throat tightening, difficulty breathing, swelling of the eyes, face, lips or tongue.
What is salicylic acid and how is it used in skin care?
Salicylic acid can be used to soften the skin for treatments like acne, deep exfoliation, hyperpigmentation, etc. It belongs to the same class of drugs as aspirin (salicylates). It works by increasing the amount of moisture in the skin and dissolving the substance that causes the skin cells to stick together. This makes it easier to shed the skin cells, creating new cells as anti-aging procedure or eliminating excess oils and clog pores in case of acne.
Prepare by checking the label
Check the "active ingredients" section of the drug facts label on the product's package.
If you have never experienced a product that contains salicylic acid or have a bad experience with a product, be sure you do a patch test, apply the product in a small area in your body wait 48 hours and see the results or consult with your doctor.
