Indulging in a preparatory margarita may take the edge off, but it could actually make pain worse. "Research shows that acetaldehyde, a breakdown product of alcohol, stimulates a specific type of pain receptor," says Wu. "So if you drink before a treatment, you may be more sensitive to anything that causes pain." 7. Get Milk Kumari R, Jaisankar TJ, Thappa DM. A Clinical Study of Skin Changes in Pregnancy. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2007;73(2):141. DOI: 10.4103/0378-6323.31910.

Bozzo P, Chua-Gocheco A, Einarson A. Safety of Skin Care Products During Pregnancy. Canadian Family Physician. 2011;57(6):665. Published June 2011. Like other acids found in skincare (glycolic, lactic) salicylic is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and can cause sensitivity . If you haven't used products that contain the ingredient before or your skin tends to react to new products, it's always a good idea to start slow—many of the products on this list are meant to be used only once or twice per week. You can also look for moisturizing ingredients paired with salicylic acid to help prevent irritation and dryness. Koster MI. Making an epidermis. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2009;1170:7. Published July 2009. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04363.x.

Salicylic acid is one of the most recognised skin ingredients, with many expressing their admiration for how it can effectively provide clarity, particularly for those prone to acne and frequent flare-ups in breakouts. If you’re just starting out with exfoliants, using them once or twice per week is the sweet spot for sloughing away dead skin without making skin angry. Dr. Elbuluk notes that exfoliants as a whole should be avoided if your skin is irritated or inflamed, or if there’s an open cut. For those of you who are left a little puzzled about what salicylic acid is and how it benefits the skin, this next part is for you, if are already glued up on all thing’s skincare, you can skip to the next part. How you should use salicylic depends largely on the type of product - higher concentrations are best used sparingly. Whereas others, such as those in the NIVEA Derma Skin Clear range are formulated for daily use. Below is our step-by-step guide on how to use Salicylic Acid. It’s commonly found in cleansers and spot treatment products but can also be found in acne-friendly make-up products and anti-dandruff shampoo.

There's even salicylic acid in body lotion. "Salicylic acid lotion is good for removing dead skin on the body or bumpy skin (keratosis pilaris) or for softening elbows and knees," says Dr. Rabach. Due to the excess amount of sebum that sits on the skin surface, oily skins are prone to flare-up in blemishes and can be prone to acne. This requires them to have deep exfoliation, which can be performed with either a physical exfoliant, such as a physical face scrub or cleansing device, or chemical exfoliant such as salicylic acid. Combat waxing-induced redness by holding a paper towel soaked in a mixture of half skim milk and half cold water on skin for ten minutes and repeating every few hours. The milk's lactic acid helps calm skin. You can also treat the area with a moisturizing salve (try Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment), a natural gentle gel (like one of pure aloe vera), or an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. 8. Fend Off Ingrowns No, avoid using a salicylic acid cleanser and exfoliator as this can cause extreme irritation and dryness. As I have already said, if you are wanting to use both in your skincare routine the most effective way to do so is to alternate when you use each product.The beauty of salicylic acid is the fact it is found in an array of formulas containing various percentages, from over-the-counter products to prescriptive. This not only makes the BHA easily found, but you can also find the best product to suit your skin. Salicylic acid is notorious for wreaking havoc on dry and sensitive skin, so for those skin types, opting for a face wash or toner formula will be the most effective as the percentage of the acid is usually lower than that found in a serum. To achieve an even clearer complexion, swap the cleanser for a Salicylic Acid scrub in 2-3 of your daily nighttime routines. The NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub can unclog pores and refine the skin without drying it out, so it’s ideal for oily skin types. As with the cleanser, simply massage the scrub onto a wet face and gently rinse away.