Did you know that over the counter acne treatments that contain salicylic acid are usually referred to as a beta hydroxy acids? This isn’t quite true, though. It’s really an “aromatic compound”. So, don’t be fooled.
It’s very difficult to find a good salicylic acid product that works for you and won’t irritate your skin. Because this ingredient will not dissolve in water, many will contain a lot of alcohol which will make acne-prone skin worse.
For acne treatments to be effective, it should have 2% salicylic acid with a pH of 3-3.5
But, try finding a product that lists both the % of salicylic acid and the pH. It won’t be easy.