subject: Want To Avoid Acne? Then Give Salicylic Acid A Try [print this page] Salicylic acid is a phenolic acid that has become extremely popular in recent years as an acne treatment. In this article I will be focussing on salicylic acid and looking at the history behind it, its main health benefits, the best food sources and the side effects of consuming too much.
1) DISCOVERY:
Salicylic acid has a long and rich history. It was first mentioned in ancient texts from around 500 B.C. which referred to a bitter powder found in willow bark that could soothe pain and treat fevers. However, scientists did not follow up on these references until much later.
In 1826 the German chemist Johann Andreas Buchner managed to isolate the active ingredient in willow bark - salicin (a substance that can be broken down into salicylic acid). In 1838 the Italian chemist Raffaele Piria successfully isolated salicylic acid from salicin.
This early form of salicylic acid provided pain relief and reduced inflammation but it was also very difficult to digest and caused various stomach problems. In 1953 the French chemist Charles Frederic Gerhardt came up with a solution to this problem and created neutralised form of salicylic acid - acetylsalicylic acid. Although acetylsalicylic acid provided all the benefits of salicylic acid without the stomach problems, Charles Frederic Gerhardt had no desire to market it.
In 1899 the German company Bayer found Gerhardt's work, patented it, marketed it and ultimately sold it as the pain reliever aspirin. In the 20th century companies started to take advantage of the soothing effect salicylic acid and used it as an ingredient in treatments for skin conditions such as acne, dandruff and warts.
2) HEALTH BENEFITS:
Salicylic acid has numerous benefits when consumed orally or applied topically. For starters, it is a powerful antioxidant that can protect your skin cells (when applied topically) and your internal cells (when consumed orally) from damaging free radicals (harmful by-products that are released by your cells during reactions with oxygen).
In addition to this, it is a potent anti-inflammatory (a substance that prevents unnecessary inflammation) which can help treat inflammatory skin conditions (such as acne and dermatitis) and soothe the pain associated with internal inflammation.
Finally, this phenolic acid is an effective treatment for many other skin conditions such as calluses (thickened, hard areas of skin), corns (thickened, hard areas on the foot), dandruff (the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp) and psoriasis (red, itchy, scaly patches on the skin).
3) FOOD SOURCES:
Salicylic is a key ingredient in prescription acne medications, anti-dandruff shampoos and aspirin. It can also be found in many different foods. Apricots, almonds, blueberries, green peppers, paprika and turmeric all contain more than 1 milligram (mg) of salicylic acid per 100 grams (g).
4) OVERDOSE SYMPTOMS:
Consuming natural salicylic acid from foods is believed to be safe and no overdose symptoms have been reported. However, excessive use of topical skin treatments that contain salicylic acid can cause blisters and skin irritation. Additionally, some people are allergic to this phenolic acid and may experience breathing difficulties, swollen lips and a swollen throat when exposed to it.
