There are two types of hydroxy acids: alpha and beta.
How Beta Hydroxy Acid Works
Beta hydroxy acid works mainly as an exfoliant.
This occurs because salicylic acid is derived from acetylsalicylic acid or aspirin.
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Aspirin has anti-inflammatory properties, andsalicylic acidretains many of these anti-inflammatory properties.
Despite this fact, beta hydroxy acid can still cause skin irritation.
Symptoms of irritation include redness, burning, itching, pain, and possibly scarring.
People with darker-colored skin are at a higher risk of scarring pigment changes with beta hydroxy acid.
Using beta hydroxy acid in a moisturizer base may be best.
Sunscreen must be applied liberally when using a beta hydroxy acid product.
Unfortunately, cosmetic manufacturers are not required to include pH information on the label.
The only way to know the pH of a product is to test it with a pH strip.
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