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Information |
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Drug Groups
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approved |
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Description
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A compound obtained from the bark of the white willow and wintergreen leaves, and also prepared synthetically. It has bacteriostatic, fungicidal, and keratolytic actions. Its salts, the salicylates, are used as analgesics. |
| Indication |
Key additive in many skin-care products for the treatment of acne, psoriasis, callouses, corns, keratosis pilaris and warts. |
| Pharmacology |
Salicylic acid treats acne by causing skin cells to slough off more readily, preventing pores from clogging up. This effect on skin cells also makes salicylic acid an active ingredient in several shampoos meant to treat dandruff. Use of straight salicylic solution may cause hyperpigmentation on unpretreated skin for those with darker skin types (Fitzpatrick phototypes IV, V, VI), as well as with the lack of use of a broad spectrum sunblock. Subsalicylate in combination with bismuth form the popular stomach relief aid known commonly as Pepto-Bismol. When combined the two key ingredients help control diarrhea, nausea, heartburn, and even gas. It is also very mildly anti-biotic. |
| Toxicity |
Oral rat LD50: 891 mg/kg. Inhalation rat LC50: > 900 mg/m3/1hr. Irritation: skin rabbit: 500 mg/24H mild. Eye rabbit: 100 mg severe. Investigated a mutagen and reproductive effector. |
| Affected Organisms |
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Humans and other mammals |
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| References |
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Vane JR: Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis as a mechanism of action for aspirin-like drugs. Nat New Biol. 1971 Jun 23;231(25):232-5.
[Pubmed]
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Flower R, Gryglewski R, Herbaczynska-Cedro K, Vane JR: Effects of anti-inflammatory drugs on prostaglandin biosynthesis. Nat New Biol. 1972 Jul 26;238(82):104-6.
[Pubmed]
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