Despite its name, salicylic acid is a natural acne skin care treatment product. It is derived from willow bark extract, which was used by many ancient civilizations for its medicinal properties.

Although you can use salicylic acid for topical acne treatment, it is probably better to use it preventively. This natural acne remedy is a peeling agent which helps to unclog your skin. This helps to prevent acne from forming.

Here is the normal acne treatment regime using salicylic acid:

1. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser
2. Gently pat your face dry with a clean towel
3. Wait 5-10 minutes for your face to dry in air
4. Apply salicylic acid cream or lotion over your face, avoiding the eyes and lips
5. Wait for the cream or lotion to dry
6. Apply a non-oily moisturizer

Contra-indications

In case of skin irritation, use a lower concentration or apply salicylic acid less often. For example, if you apply it twice a day and your skin becomes inflamed, reduce the frequency to once a day.

Pregnant women and children should not use salicylic acid due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.

People who have kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes or poor circulation should also avoid using salicylic acid for acne care treatment.

Does acne affect your life very badly? Do you need to get rid of that pimple fast? Click here to learn the best acne care treatment.

I understand that not everyone has convenient access to such a pharmacist. Here are two clinically proven alternatives:

• salicylic acid
• tea tree oil

Both of them are derived from natural compounds. Salicylic acid is made from willow bark extract; it (willow bark extract) had been used in many ancient civilizations – including the ancient Greeks, Sumerians and Assyrians. Sterling Winthrop has concluded successful clinical studies of 0.5% and 2% solutions of salicylic acid as topical treatment for acne vulgaris, published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in 1992.

Tea tree oil is made from the Australian tea tree, which is a natural remedy used by the aborigines for hundreds of years. Western medicine started studying its effect in the 1920s – since then many studies have been published. Many bacteria are successfully destroyed by 1% tea tree oil, most are destroyed by 5% tea tree oil. Doctors in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (Australia) found that benzoyl peroxide 5% works faster than tea tree oil 5% as topical acne treatment, but the tea tree oil had fewer side effects.

As you can see, even if benzoyl peroxide does not work for you, both salicylic acid and tea tree oil are very viable substitute acne care treatment.

Does acne affect your life very badly? Do you need to get rid of that pimple fast? Click here to learn the best acne care treatment.