Salicylic acid for age spots: properties and recipes

To get rid of unwanted pigmentation, it is not necessary to use expensive cosmetics from popular brands. Simple, inexpensive products can also lighten stains quite well. For example, salicylic acid is widely used for age spots. Let's figure out how to choose and how to use this drug correctly.

Salicylic or phenolic acid is included in many commercial whitening products. But you can also use this substance to prepare homemade cosmetic compositions to whiten pigmentation, fight acne and treat some skin diseases.

Initially, salicylic acid was obtained from willow bark, but later a method for its artificial synthesis was invented.

general information

Salicylic acid is an antiseptic drug used externally against acne, rashes, and oily seborrhea. It is also used for rheumatism and arthritis as a rub.

Salicylic acid (also known as salicylic alcohol) is an inexpensive and effective remedy used to treat skin rashes. You can buy it at any pharmacy, the average price is from 20 to 30 rubles. The medicine has anti-inflammatory, exfoliating and antibacterial properties.

Dosage form

Salicylic acid is sold in pharmacies in the following dosage forms:

solution or salicylic alcohol, for external use (1% percent, 2%, 3%, 5%, 10% percent);
alcohol-free lotion with salicylic alcohol;
Salicylic ointment is a very potent product and can cause burns if used incorrectly.

What effect does salicylic acid have?

exfoliating (removes old dead cells);
cleansing (clogged pores of the skin are opened);
anti-inflammatory (relieves inflammation of the skin);
antiseptic;
normalizes the functioning of the sebaceous glands;
removes pigmentation.

Properties of salicylic acid

Salicylic acid gives a whitening effect, significantly dries the skin, which kills the manifestations of infection and pus. It is sold in pharmacies in the form of a solution, ointment, and cream. The substance is used in cosmetic preparations against pimples, acne and skin diseases.

Cosmetic products that contain salicylic acid are used externally only.

It has not been precisely proven whether the substance affects age spots and freckles, which appear from a lack or excess of melanin. But people's reviews indicate positive results. Before use, you should consult a doctor; salicylic acid is not suitable for people with dry skin.

Previously, the substance was used to treat rheumatism until more effective drugs became available.

We recommend reading

Causes of skin depigmentation and its symptoms
Properties and composition of zinc ointment for age spots
Recipes for whitening masks with lemon against age spots on the face

Salicylic acid for age spots on the body and face is a non-steroidal agent that has an anti-inflammatory effect. It has the following properties:

softens the upper skin layer, exfoliates it, removes infection;
promotes the destruction of pathogens, including the development of tumors in the form of melanoma;
dries the skin, which is suitable for people with oily skin types, especially in spring and summer;
suppresses the secretion of sebaceous and sweat glands;
relieves itching, redness, constricts blood vessels;
reduces the size of age spots and eliminates hemp;
evens out facial tones.

Indications for use

Let's take a look at the cases when salicylic acid is recommended for skin problems:

papules and pustules;
acne spots (pigmentation);
black spots on the skin;
oily skin, excess sebum secretion.

The use of salicylic acid together with glycolic acid gives a more noticeable result on problem skin. A peeling effect occurs when comedones, which provoke an inflammatory process, disappear from the surface of the skin. And the skin increases its ability to recover. The treatment method is suitable for people who suffer from mild acne and in advanced cases.

Causes of age spots on the face

Pigmentation on a woman’s face can appear for a variety of reasons. Unsightly pigment spots from light yellow to deep brown begin to spread all over a woman’s face. Particularly susceptible to pigmentation are areas of the skin such as cheeks, cheekbones, forehead, and upper lip.

Pigmentation occurs due to excessive production of melanin in the skin. Melanin is a substance produced by body cells called melanocytes.

Excessive melanin production is provoked by the following factors:

hormonal changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy, menopause,

improper use of certain medications, such as hormonal drugs, antibiotics,

Ignoring sunscreen during prolonged exposure to the sun,

some diseases of internal organs, for example gastrointestinal tract, liver, thyroid gland,

use of certain cosmetics in violation of the manufacturer's recommendations. For example, using whitening creams that contain acids, vitamin A, hydroquinone, arbutin, in the morning immediately before going outside,

improper skin care after peeling and skin resurfacing. After such procedures, there is a whole range of procedures that will help avoid the appearance of age spots. Read my article Facial skin care after peeling.

Why salicylic acid is used in the fight against acne

Let's take a closer look at how salicylic acid, used to treat rashes, works.

The drug destroys pathogenic bacteria, prevents their proliferation and prevents them from spreading to healthy areas of the skin. As a result, the size of acne quickly decreases, and the brightness of redness becomes mild. As for the production of sebum, this process is regulated, as a result of which there are fewer rashes.
The number of blackheads is also reduced, as some of them dissolve under the influence of salicylic acid.
The drug acts on the skin no worse than a scrub. Dead skin cells are exfoliated, and the plugs in the follicles are softened. In a relatively short period of time, you can improve the picture of even advanced rashes.
Thanks to salicylic acid, you can restore the beauty of the skin, which is impaired due to dark spots. They form at the site of acne and are known as post-acne. The drug is able to penetrate deep enough into the pores, which stimulates blood circulation in all layers of the skin. As a result, the process of tissue renewal proceeds faster, and post-acne symptoms become less pronounced.

Types of age spots and their features

The color and evenness of the complexion depend on the pigments contained in the skin. The absence or insufficient formation of at least one of them contributes to an imbalance and the appearance of darker areas on the surface of the epidermis. Depending on the cause of origin, there are several types of age spots:

Freckles are flat spots of various colors that appear on both the face and body.
Nevi (birthmarks) are neoplasms of various forms that grow throughout life. May be smooth or covered with hairs.
Melasma is the most common type of hyperpigmentation - spots that appear as a result of insolation (exposure to solar radiation) on the face, décolleté, shoulders and arms. Depending on the sensitivity of the skin, they can be of varying intensity; they often appear after visiting tropical countries, as well as after intensive consumption of citrus fruits, exposure to mineral and essential oils. Melasma darkens in summer and becomes lighter in autumn and winter.
Chloasma are red-brown pigment spots that appear on the skin due to internal processes in the body (diseases, pregnancy, childbirth, hormonal disorders). They have uneven shapes and can be flat or compacted.
Lentigo (age spots) are typical for people after 45-50 years of age. The usual location is the face, hands, chest, back. They have different colors and compacted structure.

In addition, pigment spots appear at the site of skin inflammation or squeezed out acne. The reason is that during the inflammatory process, melanin is produced more intensively. Over time, the spots disappear.

How to use

To obtain the expected effect, you must follow some recommendations. Before use, you should familiarize yourself with them in more detail.

Clean your face or the area of skin that will be treated of cream, mascara and other cosmetics, wash with warm water and dry the skin.
If there are few acne, then salicylic acid should be applied pointwise. If there are a lot of rashes, then use a cotton pad with the product applied to it. The skin should be wiped in one direction. A slight tingling sensation is felt at the application sites.
It is recommended to carry out the procedure 1-2 times a day until improvements are noticeable. In order not to cause drying of the skin, it is necessary to apply salicylic acid exclusively to the areas of the rash.
It is recommended to use a 1% salicylic acid solution.

Efficacy and precautions

Salicylic acid to the rescue

Salicylic acid for the face is the number one substance for whitening pigmented areas. Few people know that the solution is used in the manufacture of cosmetics due to its whitening properties. It does not injure the skin, does not cause peeling, cleans and disinfects. In addition, it evens out the complexion. It is advisable to rub the solution with powder directly into the problem area, leave for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse. The result will be noticeable already on the 3rd day. The whitening course takes 15 days, then take a break.

People with sensitive skin should use the solution with caution; the substance causes irritation and redness. After the procedure, the face is lubricated with moisturizing cream. In addition, the substance has a number of contraindications:

it is not used to treat the skin of children under 3 years of age;
Do not apply to birthmarks and warts;
apply only locally (wiping a large surface is not recommended).

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Azelaic acid

The substance is natural and is found in barley and rice cereals. Preparations using this component successfully whiten spots on the face and reduce the risk of reappearance. Azelaic acid will help women out: it effectively copes with unwanted spots during pregnancy (pigmentation appears when nicotinic acid in the body is not produced intensively enough and hormonal levels are disrupted). In addition, the substance acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. Use at 20% concentration 2 times a day. The course of treatment is up to 8 months (and the first result will be noticeable after 2 months).

Boric acid against pigmentation

The mountain mineral sassolin, which is contained in the composition, has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, improves blood flow. Boric solution is used against colds, to disinfect and lighten stains. The substance reduces the productivity of cells that produce melanin. To get the effect, it is recommended to apply the solution regularly.

But you should be careful when using it: boric acid, even a weak solution, has a negative effect on the skin. It will be more effective to add the substance to lightening masks. For example, if you add a spoonful of boric alcohol to a mixture of lemon and cucumber juice, the effect of such a mask will noticeably increase.

Lemon acid

Citric acid (or juice) makes the skin lighter and calms inflammation. The substance is combined with other products that have whitening properties (cucumber, salt). Due to the large amount of vitamin C and natural elements in lemon, the juice is absorbed into the skin and prevents the production of melanin. You can also use a slice of lemon.

Alternative substances

What other pharmaceutical products will help remove age spots on the skin? These include:

Hyaluronic acid is one of the main ingredients in skin care products. Moisturizes, rejuvenates, smoothes wrinkles and eliminates pigmentation. But you should treat it with caution: sometimes it causes allergies and provokes swelling. In addition, the skin may “get used to it” and stop producing natural hyaluron.
Kojic acid is a substance that is similar to the chemical compound azelaic acid. It is the basis for the production of 4% koj dipalmitate solution, which is a component of whitening creams. Among the disadvantages is that the substance can lead to severe allergic reactions.
Glycolic acid is one of the components of chemical peeling. The substance stimulates collagen production, removes dead skin cells and lightens blemishes. During use, it is advisable to avoid sunlight and the use of cosmetic products that contain hyaluronic acid. The product is used twice a week.
Hydrogen peroxide is also used to remove age spots. Destroys pigmented cells so that new ones, devoid of a brown tint, appear in their place. Peroxide must be used carefully so as not to dry out the skin or cause a chemical burn.

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Precautionary measures

It is worth noting that salicylic acid is an unsafe product, so you must follow some rules when using it.

It is strictly not recommended to use this drug if it has a concentration greater than 1% or 2%. Otherwise, you may get skin burns or severely dry skin.
Do not apply salicylic acid to areas where moles, warts, or birthmarks are located.
The drug must be applied extremely carefully, preventing it from getting on mucous membranes, open wounds, and eyes.
If the skin begins to peel, then use the drug should be stopped or a lower concentration should be used.
To avoid causing a severe chemical burn, salicylic acid should not be applied by massaging or rubbing. The acid helps peel off the top layer of dead skin. If you begin to actively rub the product, it will come into contact with the lower layers. And this can cause a severe burn with subsequent scar formation.

Lotion

Option 1:

You will need 130 ml of chamomile decoction, 2 ml of grape oil and 5 ml of salicylic liquid.
Add the remaining ingredients to the cooled, strained chamomile decoction and mix well.
For convenience, pour the entire composition into a bottle with a spray or dispenser.
Apply the lotion to a cotton pad and wipe the surface of your face with it several times a day.
If there are only a few spots or areas of inflammation, then it is better to apply a compress to these places.

Option 2:

To create an anti-inflammatory lotion, you need to take half a glass of salicylic alcohol.
Pour one tablespoon of dried calendula flowers into it.
Let it brew for a day, then strain through gauze.
If necessary, stir the product with clean water in the following ratio: 1 spoon of lotion per 1 glass of liquid.
Use as a facial toner.

Option 3:

This recipe is better for sensitive skin. You need to buy 5 tablets of chloramphenicol at the pharmacy; they must be crushed into powder.
Mix it with boric alcohol, sulfur and salicylic acid. You need 1 teaspoon of each ingredient.
Add a glass of 70% alcohol and stir thoroughly.
Shake the product before use.
Apply drop by drop to affected areas of skin.

We consolidate the result

Using salicylic alcohol, you can get a fairly quick positive effect. However, in order for acne to no longer make itself felt, it is necessary to consolidate the result. That is why the procedure should be repeated. How often should I do this? It all depends on the type of skin.

Oily skin . The procedure for cauterizing acne should be carried out, for example, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday. If the skin reacts too painfully, the number of days should be reduced and replaced with an ointment that contains salicylic alcohol. If the skin reaction is normal, then another procedure can be added.
Combined . Perform processing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Sundays. If the result is far from desired, then use the recommendations for oily skin.
Normal and dry skin types are generally not susceptible to rashes. However, in case of acne, a one-time treatment will be sufficient.

The described technique is suitable if the entire face is treated. If the cauterization is local, then the treatment can be carried out every day; it is better to choose the evening.

How to whiten skin

Salicylic acid is actively used in skin whitening procedures, both in salons and in home cosmetology.

The popularity of the substance is obvious:

It does not have a too aggressive effect on the skin, after which there is practically no redness or severe peeling. The exception is for those with sensitive skin.
Thanks to its strong bactericidal effect, it cleanses and disinfects pores well.
Evens out complexion.

The advantage of the product is that it provides the desired lightening effect without damaging the skin. When using a 15% solution to treat pigmented areas, the effect is achieved after the third procedure; when the acid concentration is doubled, the lightening of the spots is correspondingly accelerated.

Choosing a suitable product with salicylic acid for age spots is not a problem today. Many cosmetics manufacturers, both domestic and foreign, work on this.

The product is indicated for ladies with normal and oily skin. Those with dry skin should take care to avoid irritation. For home use, a 1-2% alcohol solution of salicylic acid is used.

The product is applied directly to the pigmented spot, left for 5 to 15 minutes and washed off. The procedure is done twice a day until the result appears. If necessary, the course can last 15 days, then the skin should be allowed to rest for 5-7 days, and after a break, whitening can be continued again.

Or in the evening, wipe the stain with a 2% solution, rinse off after a few minutes and apply cream.

In addition, boric and citric acid have a good whitening effect.

Boric acid effectively stops inflammatory processes, cleanses and whitens the skin.

It is included in many skin whitening masks and is used as follows:

To remove hyperpigmentation with boric acid, you need to prepare a solution (2 teaspoons of powder per glass of boiled water) and wipe problem areas with a cotton swab twice a day.
You can also prepare a composition for a mask: dilute 10 g of talc and baking soda in boric alcohol (2%), add 70 g of white clay and apply the paste on the face. Leave for 10 minutes and rinse.

Since ancient times, lemon juice has helped women get rid of age spots and brighten their facial skin. Acid has the same property. Masks and lotions based on it are one of the most common skin whitening products. Lemon juice also soothes itching and reduces inflammation.

Mix 1 teaspoon of powder with 6 teaspoons of honey and dilute with water or milk. Apply to skin and rinse with water after 15 minutes.

Acid can be combined with natural products that have whitening properties:

Mix citric acid (0.5 teaspoon), chopped cucumber (2 tablespoons) and fine salt (1 teaspoon). Apply to face and rinse off with cool water after 10 minutes. If there are wounds on the skin, you should refrain from using the mask.
Citric acid is also good as a peeling agent. It gently polishes the surface of the skin and at the same time whitens it. If there is no hypersensitivity or damage to the skin, then apply the powder to your face and quickly rinse off.

Hyperpigmentation on the face occurs for various reasons. It can be dealt with only after the etiology has been accurately determined, since age spots can also indicate hidden diseases. If the problem is purely cosmetic, then you can cope with it using many methods and substances. One of them is salicylic acid. A cheap pharmaceutical product will help whiten spots and even out your complexion. But, like any remedy, it must be used in compliance with contraindications.

Girls, I tried many expensive ones, but nothing helped with the cheap ones. I bought day and night cream from Oriflaine for pigmentation, the spots disappeared.

I faced the same problem, after all Egypt, Turkey, Thailand - my face is like a map of the world, there are a lot of age spots, although I constantly used protective cream, but apparently this ***** does not help me. So, after reading the reviews, I decided to try to remove the damn stains myself at home (some of them, by the way, are already several years old; the last one appeared a month ago, while on vacation in Turkey). I bought salicylic acid 2% at the pharmacy and began to wipe the fresh stain with ear cotton, kept it there for 3-4 minutes, a tingling sensation began, and washed it off with soap and water. I look, and oh joy! in some places the spot became lighter, as if light beads were scattered on a dark background. Hooray! I used salicylic acid 2 times and on the third day I decided to use lemon juice. I dipped a cotton pad in the juice and began to apply it to the spots, both old and new, the total procedure time was 25-30 minutes. My skin began to tingle intensely, and fearing a burn, I washed everything off my face. When I saw myself in the mirror, I was stunned, the old spots decreased in size by 20 percent (and they are already 5 years old, no less!!), the new spots too, and where the juice got on the clean skin of the face, it was absolutely beautiful - it looked like a baby white face. After shouting - Hurray, it worked! I generously smeared my face with sour cream, left the mask on for 10-15 minutes, washed it off, and also applied a rich cream. As a result, in the morning, no burns, and the mood that I can handle this crap is simply excellent! So I wish everyone not to despair, but to achieve their goal. In addition, I inform you that every time after the resorts, I received new ugly spots, I didn’t dwell on it, I didn’t even make a single attempt to remove them, but the last spot just drove me crazy, and armed with your advice, on the 3rd day I believed in miracle - now I’ll continue, I’ll try using lemon and soda today, I read advice somewhere, I’ll write back tomorrow. Good luck to everyone, you will definitely succeed!!

Personally, what helped me was parsley and cucumber, grind it in a meat grinder, put it in an ice tray and put it in the freezer. It is advisable to apply to the face every day and preferably more than once. If you work closely, you will definitely get results. the stain will begin to “break up” into small specks, and then completely disappear

Girls, I also encountered this problem (((I NEVER had freckles, not to mention pigment spots. I got carried away with light chemical peels, everything seemed to suit me, I did a couple of cleansings, and this despite the fact that in the winter! And me, More precisely, my face was damaged! girls, this is terrible! forehead, under the eyes, above the lip! I blamed it all on the sun, although before I could get sunburned like that and nothing would come out, but then I didn’t sunbathe and spots appeared, I decided on a medium chemical peeling, the spots went away , I was happy for a month until these spots appeared again in the same places!

(I was covered in spots in April 2013, that’s why I thought it was in the sun), I did the mid-peeling in February almost a year later. The spots appeared already at the end of March. Peels and lasers are all nonsense! The result is short-term, why am I guilty of peelings, because until I had them done, I didn’t even have one spot on my face, as soon as I started to injure the skin with these peels and cleanses, my face immediately became covered in spots! Cosmetologists lie! They just want to profit from peelings and lasers. literally 2 days ago I made a mask: homemade cottage cheese, protein, a little lemon juice. I mixed everything well to a paste and rubbed it well into my face, walked for 30 minutes, I was pleased with the result: my pores have narrowed, but they are quite noticeable for me, the blackheads have become much lighter and, most importantly, the spot has become a little lighter. Now I’ve smeared myself with currants and I’m sitting here eating them, because I read that the spots are also caused by a lack of vitamin C, I need to buy ascorbic acid in addition to everything else. Parsley is also a great way to whiten your face, grind fresh parsley into a paste and apply it on your face!

Salicylic acid for age spots is a pharmaceutical drug that helps even out the tone of the face. The remedy is a home-based non-traditional treatment method, but, judging by the reviews, it is very effective. In this article we will take a closer look at the properties of salicylic acid and its effect on the skin of the body and face.

Contraindications and side effects

However, along with the positive aspects, there are also prohibitions on use. When is salicylic acid strictly contraindicated:

individual immunity;
renal failure;
children under 14 years of age;
pregnant women due to the fact that the drug can cause the development of Reye's syndrome in the unborn baby.

After using salicylic acid, undesirable consequences may develop, such as:

skin irritation, redness, itching;
allergy;
dry skin;
burns.

Those who have used salicylic acid to combat acne are generally satisfied with the results of the treatment and leave positive reviews about the drug. In some cases, there is talk of an allergic skin reaction, as well as problems arising due to active rubbing of the product. Salicylic acid will help get rid of acne and pigmentation, but you should remember to take precautions when using it.

How is acid used to remove age spots?

In order to eliminate pigment spots on the skin at home, it is advisable to use acids in masks, tonics or wipes. If you stop at wiping, then you need to treat your face pointwise so that the product does not dry out the skin. It is advisable to opt for weak concentrated solutions, and the duration of the procedure on the face should not exceed 20 minutes.

Cosmetic procedures include chemical peeling of the face, where 7% salicylic alcohol and 45% glycolic substance are mixed. A mixture of hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice and ammonia is considered a good mask. In addition, you can speed up the whitening effect with azelaine and salicylic mixture.

Content

Using salicylic acid on the face for age spots is one of the most effective ways to achieve an even skin tone on the face. Although women know a thousand ways to deal with freckles and other dark spots, sometimes it is not possible to find the only correct one the first time. Using acid in home cosmetics allows you to achieve quick and effective results. You just need to familiarize yourself with its application features and make sure that there is no harm to the skin.

Reviews

Inna Moscow. Good afternoon, I was very worried about the pigmentation on my face. Before turning to a beauty salon for help, I decided to try to deal with the problem myself. I read positive reviews about salicylic acid on the Internet. To be honest, at first I was a little afraid, since I associated the word acid with some kind of danger, but as time has shown, it was in vain. Now my skin is clear, without any unpleasant blemishes.
Galina, Tver. Hello, not so long ago I underwent a kind of treatment for age spots on my face, I used salicylic acid for this. Every day I rubbed the problem areas with it, after two weeks I began to notice that the spots really began to lighten, and soon they disappeared completely. I am extremely pleased with this result.

Recipe 2

Mix salicylic acid, aloe juice and honey. Knead it all with a spoon until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Apply to the face and distribute in an even thin layer. We wait 10-15 minutes, go wash up.

Honey itself is very beneficial for the face. The combination of this ingredient with salycylic acid will have a beneficial effect on oily skin, on which acne appears every now and then.

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To combat age spots at home, whitening masks and homemade peelings are used. For their preparation, active components are used that can reduce melanin synthesis. These are fermented milk products, honey, potatoes, citrus fruits, some oils and herbal infusions.

Age spots on the face

The simplest and most affordable remedy for removing age spots is lemon juice. The fruit contains a huge amount of vitamin C and unique acids that quickly whiten problem areas. To use, simply cut a lemon and rub its juice on your skin.

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Lemon for skin whitening

A mask with honey and parsley helps a lot against age spots or lentigines. Both components have excellent lightening properties. To prepare the mixture you will need:

10 grams of honey;
A bunch of parsley;
Kaolin (optional for additional lifting effect).

Parsley needs to be chopped very finely and mixed with honey. To make it more convenient to combine the ingredients, it is recommended to heat the sweetness. If kaolin is added to the mask, then it must be additionally diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio, and then add the pulp to the preparation. Apply the resulting substance to the face, neck and décolleté. Leave for 20 minutes, repeat every other day.

Parsley and honey mask

Another popular way to get rid of age spots is a mask with sweet pepper. This vegetable is rich in acids and mineral compounds that help whiten stains. Large bell peppers need to be grated. To prevent the juice from running down your body and clothes, you need to lightly squeeze the vegetable pulp. Then apply the product to the face and other problem areas.