Why Salicylic Acid is Safe for Your Kids

Are you seeking a solution for your kid's pimples or a reliable remedy to treat your teen's oily skin? Salicylic acid might just do the trick.

Now, you're probably wondering what salicylic acid is, how it can help your teen get rid of those pesky pimples, acne scars, and other skin woes, and most importantly if it's safe for kids to use. We've got it all figured out for you.

In this read, we've covered everything you need to know about salicylic acid and how you can incorporate it into your kid's skincare routine. First up.

What is Salicylic Acid?

Salicylic acid is a popular skincare ingredient used to treat acne, reduce inflammation, and improve the skin's appearance, among many other skintastic benefits!

This acne-attacking ingredient is a naturally occurring beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), a type of exfoliating acid found in plants (willow bark). So how does it treat or prevent pimples?

Because of pollution, poor skin hygiene, and other factors, oil and dead skin cells can lodge a room in your pores or hair follicles and cause pimples, blackheads, or whiteheads. That's where salicylic acid comes in.

Salicylic acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, and as a BHA, it is soluble in oil. With these features, it can deeply penetrate the skin, work its anti-inflammatory effect on clogged pores and kill acne bacteria, helping your teen achieve acne-free, radiant, and clearer skin.

Benefits of Salicylic Acid for Kid Skin

Asides from treating pimples and black- or white heads, how else can salicylic acid improve your kid's skin?

  • Salicylic acid is an excellent exfoliant. It unclogs skin pores and speeds up skin cell regeneration.
  • It attacks acne bacteria. Acne bacteria are anaerobic. When the BHA allows oxygen into the skin pores, it creates an unfriendly environment for these bacteria and kills them off over time.
  • Salicylic acid calms inflammation. It contains an anti-inflammatory chemical, salicin, that soothes red, puffy, irritated skin.
  • Salicylic acid prevents the onset of acne. As a comedolytic, it keeps whiteheads and blackheads from nesting in your skin by unclogging your pores and keeping them clean and healthy.

How to Use Salicylic Acid on Your Kid

But hold on there! Before you use salicylic acid on your teen, do a patch test. Clean a small patch of their skin and apply the salicylic acid product. If there is no irritation, redness, dryness, or tingling sensation in the area, after 24 hours, your child is free to use the product.

Here's how you can incorporate salicylic acid into your kid's skincare routine for healthier, acne-free skin.

As an Acne-Spot Treatment

We know kids love to have fun throughout the day, so we recommend you use the spot treatment at night. That way, it will help the skin better absorb the product without the stress and activities of the day reducing its effectiveness. Cleanse and tone your kid's skin with quality kids' skincare products. Then, apply a thin layer of the salicylic acid product to the affected areas.

As a Cleanser

Using mild wipes, lotions, or washes containing salicylic acid is an excellent way to deep clean your tween's pores, especially on those days when it's like the sun pitched its tent closer to earth. Our TBH™ Kids Spot Skin Cleansing Wipes are formulated with witch hazel, 0.5% salicylic acid, and aloe that work to deep clean and gently exfoliate skin pores, which treats and keeps acne off your radar. It comes in a convenient travel size, so your kid can easily carry it around and use it as needed.

As a Pimple Patch

Pimple patches are all the raid this season. They're a creative way to combat acne and soothe inflammation. After a nice shower, thoroughly dry your child's face and place the patches over the blemish; leave them on overnight. With our TBH Kids' Pimple Patches, you and your tween can bond over seeking out pimples and covering them up. They come in such beautiful shapes that they could pass as fun stickers and contain natural ingredients like volcanic ash, willow bark, and grapeseed oil that will pamper your child's skin and clear up their acne without leaving a scar.

Salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliant and can increase the skin's sensitivity to UV rays. Here's a pro tip - always remember to include a high index sunscreen product in your kid's morning routine.

When Should Your Kid Start Using Salicylic Acid?

Salicylic acid is safe for children ages two and above. Children's skin absorbs salicylic acid faster than adults, so they may be more prone to skin irritation.

While the benefits may make you want to order a truckload of salicylic acid products and store them up for impending breakouts, your child's safety should be your priority.

Your best bet is to use quality kids' skincare products with low concentrations of salicylic acid (2% or less) for your kids and teens. And before you incorporate it into your tween's skincare routine, don't forget that patch test!

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