# 2% salicyclic acid - anti-bacterial? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 23, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-salicyclic-acid-anti-bacterial/133565 "2002-10-23T19:13:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-salicyclic-acid-anti-bacterial/133565/1 "2002-10-23T19:13:40Z")
Without getting into too much detail about the specifics of the product or my usage of it, I’m curious if a product containing 2% salicyclic acid is anti-bacterial or am I perhaps causing worse problems by continuing to use the same plastic mesh body puff? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-salicyclic-acid-anti-bacterial/133565/2 "2002-10-23T19:46:49Z")
[http://www.cosmeticscop.com/dictionary/dict7.htm](http://www.cosmeticscop.com/dictionary/dict7.htm) > [@](#): > > salicylic acid. > > The active ingredient in aspirin. It is used in cosmetics as an exfoliant, and is the only source of beta hydroxy acid (BHA). As an exfoliant, in concentrations of 8% to 12%, it is effective in wart-remover medications. In concentrations of 0.5% to 2% it is far more gentle, and, much like AHAs (see AHAs), can exfoliate the surface of skin. BHA also has the ability to penetrate into the pore (AHAs do not), and can exfoliate inside the pore as well; it is thus considered effective for reducing clogged pores and breakouts. Because BHA is related to aspirin (both are salicylates), it retains some of aspirin’s anti-inflammatory properties. In this regard BHA is anecdotally considered a good option for those with rosacea. So it’s not antibacterial as such, it just removes dead skin cells (“exfoliant”). So, no, whatever product you’re using, the salicylic acid isn’t killing any bacteria. If you’re worried about bacteria building up on your body puff, you can soak it in a solution of 1 tablespoon household bleach to 1 gallon of water. [http://www.metrokc.gov/health/disaster/watersaf.htm#container](http://www.metrokc.gov/health/disaster/watersaf.htm#container) But I don’t see anything coming up on Google for “mesh body puff bacteria disinfect”, so I don’t think it’s a problem. ---
**Author:** ![scotth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@scotth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotth)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-salicyclic-acid-anti-bacterial/133565/3 "2002-10-23T20:14:12Z")
Salicylic acid is not anti-bacterial. On the skin is it supposed to help unclog pores and correct abnormal shedding of skin cells. Other items in whatever product could be anti-bacterial. Salicylic acid is frequently combined with anti-bacterials and astringents to make acne fighting products. Salicylic acid is in the same family of compounds as aspirin and is probably an anti-inflamatory. ---
**Author:** ![scotth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@scotth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotth)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-salicyclic-acid-anti-bacterial/133565/4 "2002-10-23T20:48:34Z")
In spite of the 30 minutes time difference between my post and DDG’s… I really did come up with that on my own. And technically aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid. Straight salicylates are very irritating to the stomach. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-salicyclic-acid-anti-bacterial/133565/5 "2002-10-24T02:04:20Z")
Forget the salicyclic acid stuff. Use a [proven antibacterial supplement](http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/1003blueskin03-ON.html). And just in time for Halloween.