What is salicylic acid?

Salicylic acid is the English name for salicylsyre, and it is also the name used on the ingredient list. Salicylic acid is also called BHA (beta-hydroxy acid).

Is salicylic acid the same as aspirin?

No. They are related, but aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid. Salicylic acid in skincare works on the skin’s surface and in the pores.

Is salicylic acid an endocrine disruptor?

The EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has assessed salicylic acid with regard to, among other things, possible hormonal effects. The committee considers certain uses safe within the amounts and conditions it has examined.

Can niacinamide and salicylic acid be used together?

Yes. Niacinamide and salicylic acid can be part of the same skincare routine. Adjust your use of salicylic acid according to how your skin reacts.

Can salicylic acid be used on dry skin?

It may be relevant if you also have blackheads. However, salicylic acid can cause dryness and irritation, so choose a product intended for your skin.

Can salicylic acid be used for warts?

No, not the salicylic acid found in skincare. Warts and corns are treated with products from the pharmacy. Salicylic acid in skincare is for pores and blemishes.

Salicylic acid

INCI: Salicylic Acid

Can help with blemishes and clogged pores

Good evidence: randomised trials

Written by ECOOKING Research (R&D) · Updated 20.10.2026

At a glance

Suits: Oily, blemish-prone and combination skin
Helps with: Blemishes and blackheads, Oily skin
Pairs well with: Niacinamide, Lactic acids, Hyaluronic acid
Found in: 2 ECOOKING products

What can salicylic acid help with?

Blemishes and blackheads

Salicylic acid loosens dead skin cells on the skin’s surface and can help reduce clogged pores and blackheads.^[3]

Oily skin

In a 21-day study without a control group, the amount of sebum on the skin decreased by approximately 24 % with the use of a gel containing salicylic acid. The study included 42 people with oily or combination skin and blemishes.^[2]

Read our guide to salicylic acid

How it works

Salicylic acid is also called BHA in skincare. It is oil-soluble and can work in the pores, where the skin’s sebum is found. For skincare, it is usually made in a laboratory.

Salicylic acid loosens the bonds between dead skin cells, allowing them to shed more easily from the skin’s surface. This is called exfoliation. It can make skin smoother and help reduce the build-up of dead skin cells in the pores.

How to use it

Follow the product instructions and consider starting with a few times a week.
Finish with moisturiser if you use a product that stays on the skin.
If you have sensitive skin, use other exfoliating acids or retinol on a different evening.
Use sunscreen during the day.

Products with salicylic acid

AHA+BHA Mask
Fragrance-free chemical peeling mask with AHA and BHA for pigmentation spots ...
50 ml

4,7 4,7 out of 5 stars (20)
€42,95
Acne Serum
Fragrance-free serum for blemishes and large pores, which deeply cleanses por...
20 ml

4,7 4,7 out of 5 stars (65)
€47,95

See all 2 products with salicylic acid

Frequently asked questions

Sources

The sources are a systematic review of, among other things, salicylic acid in people with blemishes^[1], a 21-day study of a gel^[2] and a review article on salicylic acid for peeling.^[3] The gel study examined sebum, moisture and the skin barrier without a control group.