salicylic acid

3 synonyms for salicylic acid, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A beta hydroxy acid used in skincare and in medicines applied to the skin. It dissolves in oil, which allows it to work inside pores, and it loosens dead cells so they shed from the surface. It appears in cleansers, spot treatments, wart and verruca preparations and dandruff shampoos.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

BHA beta hydroxy acid 2-hydroxybenzoic acid

How to use salicylic acid

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

2% salicylic acid salicylic acid cleanser salicylic acid peel salicylic acid shampoo

Used in cosmetics labelling, pharmacy and dermatology alike; the abbreviation BHA is common in consumer skincare writing.

Etymology

From Latin salix, meaning willow, the tree from whose bark the related compound salicin was first obtained.

Full origin of salicylic acid →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between salicylic acid and glycolic acid?

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid and dissolves in oil, so it can act within pores. Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid and dissolves in water, so it works mainly on the skin's surface. They belong to different chemical families despite both being called exfoliating acids.

Is salicylic acid related to aspirin?

They are chemically related. Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, a modified form of salicylic acid, and both trace back to compounds found in willow bark. They are not the same substance and are not used for the same purposes.

Why is salicylic acid in dandruff shampoo?

Because it loosens and helps lift flaking scale from the scalp, which is the same surface action it has on facial skin. Its inclusion reflects that shared mechanism.

Nearby words

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