• What is Salicylic acid used for?
Salicylic acid is prescribed for the treatment of skin disorders such as calluses, warts of the hands or feet or psoriasis.
Dosage forms & Strength :-
Salicylic acid 6% w/w. For external skin use only.
Salicylic acid 12% w/w. For external skin use only.
What is Salicylic acid used for :-
Salicylic acid is use in the treatment of skin disorders like :
Calluses (hardened skin),
Warts of the hands or feet,
Psoriasis (a condition where your skin becomes red and itchy, with scaly patches, most usually on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp).
Callus :
Callus is an area of thickened skin that forms as a reaction to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation. Salicylic acid is used to treat callus on the hands, feet and other dry and scaly skin conditions.
Warts and skin tags :
Small, fleshy bumps on the skin that can be caused by human papillomavirus is warts. Salicylic acid is used to treat skin disorders like warts on the hands, feet and other dry and scaly skin conditions.
Psoriasis is a skin condition that outcome in dry, scaly and itchy skin. Dry skin is more prone to various microbial infections. It can be activated by stress and long-term exposure to colds and dehydration. Salicylic acid is use in the treatment of psoriasis.dolytic and anti-inflammatory properties.
How to Use Salicylic acid :-
Salicylic acid is a prescription medicine.
Salicylic acid is for external use only. Clean and dry the area which is affected before applying Salicylic acid.
Apply a thin layer of Salicylic acid to the affected area as suggested by the doctor.
It may take many days to see the effects of Salicylic acid. Complete the full course of treatment even if your symptoms starts to clear up after a few days.
Do not contact with your eyes and mouth. Wash with water immediately if the Salicylic acid comes in touch with these areas.
Avoid using any other medications on the same area while you are using Salicylic acid. Salicylic acid can take a few days or weeks for improving your condition.
Therefore, it is suggested to take the whole treatment with this medicine as prescribed.
Inform your doctor if the condition has not got better even after three weeks of the treatment.
What are the side effects of Salicylic acid?
Like all medicines, Salicylic acid can cause side effects, however not everyone may experience these side effects.
Side effects of Salicylic acid :
• Skin irritation,
• Stinging,
• Skin rash,
• Changes in color and texture of the skin,
• Redness of the skin.
Most of these side effects are short term and get resolved with time. Although, if any of these side effects do not resolve with time or get poor, take a doctor's consultation as soon as possible.
Precautions & Warnings :-
• Avoid using Salicylic acid if you have allergy to salicylic acid.
• Salicylic acid is an external preparation. Ignore contact with the mouth, eyes, nose, and, ears. In case of accidental contact, wash completely with water.
• Pregnancy
Salicylic acid is not suggested to be used in pregnancy unless it is necessary. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant, before using Salicylic acid.
• Breast-feeding
Salicylic acid is not suggested to be used in breastfeeding unless it is necessary. If you are breastfeeding, ask your doctor before using this medicine. If the medicine is used, you should takr care that the infant does not come into contact with Salicylic acid.
• Take an immediate medical attention if you observe any symptoms of an allergic reaction like breathing difficulty, ringing in the ears, itching/swelling (mostly of the face/tongue/throat) or dizziness, headache etc.
• Salicylic acid can give rise to some side effects such as :
Whitening of the skin,
Skin rashes,
Peeling of the skin,
Irritation at the site of application.
Inform your doctor if these side effects continue or worsen. Before starting the treatment, your doctor can recommend a patch test to check if Salicylic acid is safe and non-allergenic for you.
• Avoid using Salicylic acid if you experience a critical headache, ringing in the ears, dizziness, breathing difficulty or severe burning of the skin.
• Salicylic acid must not be used to treat genital warts, warts on the face, warts with hair, warts in the nose or mouth, moles.
• Salicylism
Prolonged use of Salicylic acid can give rise to a toxic condition marked by ringing in the ears, nausea, and vomiting (salicylism) in some people. Your doctor ca recommend an alternative or adjust the dose of Salicylic acid if needed based on your condition.
• External use
Salicylic acid is only prescribed for external use. Ignore contact with the mouth, eyes, mucous membranes, cuts, grazes, or wounds. Wash with water in case of coincidental contact.
• Salicylic acid is not prescribed for use in children below the age of 2 years as the safety and efficacy data is unavailable.
• Salicylic acid interaction with medicine such as :
- Tretinoin/ Isotretinoin
- Bexarotene
- Trifarotene,