# Applying salicylic acid to the face with cottonball vs rubbing on face with bare hand **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 30, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-salicylic-acid-to-the-face-with-cottonball-vs-rubbing-on-face-with-bare-hand/689631 "2014-05-30T14:47:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-salicylic-acid-to-the-face-with-cottonball-vs-rubbing-on-face-with-bare-hand/689631/1 "2014-05-30T14:47:35Z")
The bottle of salicylic acid says to apply to face with a cotton ball. I’d rather splash some onto my hand then rub it onto my face. It’s faster and no need for the cotton ball. Besides maybe being a bit more wasteful of the product, is there any reason I shouldn’t do this? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-salicylic-acid-to-the-face-with-cottonball-vs-rubbing-on-face-with-bare-hand/689631/2 "2014-05-30T15:20:21Z")
When I used a salicylic acid scrub on my (then) shaved head, I noticed it was drying out my hands. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-salicylic-acid-to-the-face-with-cottonball-vs-rubbing-on-face-with-bare-hand/689631/3 "2014-05-30T16:19:23Z")
Is there a reason you can’t just use Oxy pads or similar? They come pre-dosed and ready to go. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-salicylic-acid-to-the-face-with-cottonball-vs-rubbing-on-face-with-bare-hand/689631/4 "2014-05-30T16:38:39Z")
controlling where you put it is good. keep away from eyes. ---
**Author:** ![PurpleClogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-salicylic-acid-to-the-face-with-cottonball-vs-rubbing-on-face-with-bare-hand/689631/5 "2014-05-30T16:52:20Z")
Yes, splashing into eyes would be horrible. ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-salicylic-acid-to-the-face-with-cottonball-vs-rubbing-on-face-with-bare-hand/689631/6 "2014-05-30T17:03:51Z")
I’m thinking your hands might actually absorb less of the material than a cotton ball, meaning more gets to where you want it. Also, what effect will the liquid have on your hands? Over time it could break down callouses protecting your hands from abrasion (at the base of your fingers, and along the outside of your hand). ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-salicylic-acid-to-the-face-with-cottonball-vs-rubbing-on-face-with-bare-hand/689631/7 "2014-05-30T17:38:48Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Is there a reason you can’t just use Oxy pads or similar? They come pre-dosed and ready to go. I guess I never bothered to learn that those were salicylic acid. Thanks, that’s an option now. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applying-salicylic-acid-to-the-face-with-cottonball-vs-rubbing-on-face-with-bare-hand/689631/8 "2014-05-30T17:39:54Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > controlling where you put it is good. keep away from eyes. Hasn’t been an issue so far. Could be the first time that happens it will be so horrible that that would be last time I do the bare hand method.