Salicylic Acid Face Wash vs Benzoyl Peroxide: Which Wins?

Have you been one of those people that often find yourself checking the skincare items while trying to decide which acne item to purchase?

Well, if you do so, you have most definitely encountered these two most effective active ingredients for getting rid of acne, and that is salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. 

These active ingredients have an effect in the removal of acne, although they do so in their very own way. Thus, you have to be cautious about making a choice since an incorrect choice can damage your skin even further.

Key Takeaways

1. The mechanism of action of salicylic acid mainly involves breaking down of oils and dead skin cells that will result in blackhead formation. Whereas, benzoyl peroxide will help in killing acne causing bacteria that could be the reason for severe inflammation.
2. Different types of acne can be treated using specific medications. Salicylic acid is considered as an optimal solution for non-inflammatory acne while benzoyl peroxide can act more on pustules.
3. Combination treatment of acne using both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide is not recommended due to increased risks of dry skin.
4. In order to use face wash for everyday use, the comparison of salicylic acid vs benzoyl peroxide consists of  face wash products with active ingredients which can help you offer fast treatment of acne.

What Do You Mean by Salicylic Acid?

Salicylic acid is also called Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) that can act by deeply penetrating into the oil from the top of the skin and down through the pores for properly cleansing the inside of your skin pores. Salicylic acid is a lipophilic substance which can attack the cause of acne from its root by breaking the bonds between dead skin cells.

It breaks up the oil as well as dirt which can further lead to congestion and thereby making it ideal for treating blackheads, whiteheads, excess oil, and bumpy skin. Even though this acid does not have any strong effect on the skin and does not produce any serious peeling, it also does not have any bacteria destroying property.

What Do You Mean by Benzoyl Peroxide?

Benzoyl peroxide is a very powerful antimicrobial which is responsible for killing acne causing bacteria as well as preventing occurrence of any infection. Once it gets into the pores, it will eliminate the acne bacteria very fast, and in turn reduce the inflammation in the area. Therefore, it is very effective in decreasing the size of red acne, pustules, and cystic acne.

However, this component is extremely drying and irritating, as well as leaving stubborn stains on the dark towels, pillows, and clothes. But, finally, the choice of the product mainly depends on the type of your acne. Just in case, you are also having an oily skin type with blackheads and whiteheads, then salicylic acid is better suited for your skin type.

What Are the Major Differences Between Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide?

For one to be able to know more about the dynamics between BHA vs BPO, it is vital that we consider the distinct parameters between these two products under different dermatological groups. It is important to take into consideration the unique parameters between salicylic vs benzoyl products.

How Salicylic and Benzoyl Acid Affects Your Skin?

Impact of Salicylic acid:

When applying a BHA, it means that skin is undergoing a chemical exfoliation process. It is a process in which the acid acts on the desmosomes. These are the cellular structures responsible for holding the skin cells in place at the outermost layer of the epidermis.

In the process of loosening up these structures, it increases the turnover of the cells. When used by people who have acne-prone skin, this helps in correcting a physiological condition called retention hyperkeratosis.

Impact of Benzoyl acid:

The mechanism by which BPO functions is quite different and uses chemical reactions. When BPO is applied on the skin surface, it breaks down into benzoic acid and free oxygen radicals.

These radicals attack the cell wall of the acne causing bacteria. Being a physical and oxidative process, it does not give any chance to the bacteria to develop a mutation resistance mechanism against it.

That is why it is an important treatment option to be used alongside topical prescription antibiotics. But again, the free radicals have an effect on the skin lipid layer causing TEWL and flaking.

How to Identify the Need of Bha Vs Bpo for Your Specific Acne Type?

In order to be most successful in your salicylic acid vs benzoyl peroxide battle, you need to properly identify your lesion type first.

1. Comedonal Acne (Non-Inflammatory)

If you experience small flesh-coloured spots, roughness of skin, white or black heads in your nose and forehead area, you suffer from comedonal acne, which means pure congestion as a result of excessive production of sebum along with sticky dead skin cells. 

The choice in this is Salicylic Acid. As being lipophilic in nature, it easily cuts through the layer of sebum in order to unclog the spot. BPO would be practically useless in this case, as there is no bacterial involvement in formation of an open comedone.

2. Inflammatory Acne (Papules and Pustules)

If your acne involves raised red bumps or white-headed pimples encircled by reddish area, then you experience inflammatory acne in which the bacteria has reached the clogged pore, consumed the sebum and produced the inflammatory substances. The ingredient choice in this is Benzoyl Peroxide. BPO stops bacteria's production process and relieves swelling and inflammation.

3. Nodulocystic Acne (Deep and Severe)

Cystic Acne comes in the form of painful lumps under the skin that contain pus, but do not develop into whiteheads. Cysts result from the rupture of the pore wall deep inside Here It’s a draw, but Benzoyl Peroxide is considered the better choice to begin with because of its deep inflammation-fighting properties.

However, since over-the-counter topical treatment products cannot penetrate as deeply into the skin layers as necessary for treating such cysts, it is always recommended to seek systemic prescriptions along with them.

How Can You Safely Introduce Both of These Ingredients in Your Daily Routine?

Can BHA vs BPO ever be combined? In short, it is possible, yet they should never be overlaid on the skin at the very same moment. Overlapping of these ingredients leads to destabilization of some formulations and creation of very acidic and oxidizing conditions causing loss of the lipid barrier of your skin and provoking contact dermatitis.

Here are the scientifically validated methods of using salicylic vs benzoyl components safely thanks to the dermatologically proven range of anti-acne products from Alite:

Method A: Day/Night Routines

Daytime Routine :

Start the morning routine with the cleansing of your face using the Alite Foaming Face Wash that includes 1% Salicylic Acid (BHA) and 4% Glycolic Acid (AHA). The objective of the product is to help decongest pores and eliminate micro comedones on the skin while also improving its appearance. Complete the routine with a non-oily moisturizer and SPF 30+.

Night-time Routine :

Apply the cleansing product that doesn’t contain soap on your skin. Then, apply the thin layer of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gel onto the skin as a spot-on treatment against the acne bacteria. Conclude the night-time routine with thick repairing cream.

Protocol B: Short Contact Treatment (Wash Method)

In the event that leave-on products or strong percentage levels result in flaking and irritation, the treatment can be modified by switching to short contact treatments. With such treatments, the product’s active ingredients will stay on your skin for just 1 to 2 minutes only to be washed off thereafter, ensuring therapeutic effect without irritation.

Excessive Sebum and Pollution Congestion:

Try the Alite Anti-Acne Face Wash. As an extremely efficient charcoal cleanser, this product acts as the Deep Cleansing Anti-Acne Face Wash, which contains encapsulated activated charcoal to facilitate extraction of impurities along with natural salicylates from Meadowsweet extract for exfoliation of the pores. This will definitely help you to restore your skin barrier and keep your skin soft after cleansing.

Inflammatory Acne Pimples:

Use a store bought benzoyl peroxide facial cleanser on every alternate day or when you have hormonal breakouts. Rub it gently on your face for 30-60 seconds to get rid of the acne bacteria from the skin surface.

Some Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1. Will salicylic acid make me break out even more?

Salicylic acid may indeed cause purging. Due to increased turnover of the cells, salicylic acid will make those preexisting microscopic blockages inside your pores appear on the surface way faster than usual. Purging usually lasts for 4 to 6 weeks.

Q2. Which of these products is better for acne scars?

Salicylic acid vs benzoyl peroxide will not work in getting rid of the scarring or atrophic acne scars. But just in the case of treating the skin discolorations that are caused by the inflammation resulting from the acne, namely post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation then salicylic acid will be much more effective.

Q3. What percent of benzoyl peroxide should I use?

It is scientifically proven that 2.5%, 5%, and 10% of benzoyl peroxide work equally well in the treatment of acne; however, the higher concentrations result in a lot of irritation. Therefore, one should start using the substance in lower concentrations.

Q4. Should we use the combination of salicylic acid as well as benzoyl peroxide at the same time in our daily routine?

It is not advisable for you to use salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide together during one routine. But if you do so, it will be very acidic and oxidizing for your skin and can even lead to skin barrier breakdown, skin peeling, reddening, as well as dermatitis.

So you will either need to use these products one by one in a day-and-night or a multi-day rotation, or else you could simply go for the Alite Neem and Aloe Vera Face Wash.

Q5. How much time does it take to see the results of benzoyl peroxide vs salicylic acid?

Time taken to clear the skin varies according to the product and also according to the kind of acne that you have. Topical benzoyl peroxide is capable of reducing the size and redness of active and inflamed pustules in 24-48 hours because of its fast-acting antimicrobial properties. However, the full effect of salicylic acid can be achieved in 2-6 weeks of daily usage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no single definitive victor in the clinical battle between BHA and BPO, because everything will depend completely on the individual behavior of your skin and its specific type of acne.

Salicylic acid should be your choice if your skin is either oily or combination; you have continuous blackheads, tiny clogged pores, enlarged pores and would like a smooth skin without worrying about having bleached clothes.

Moreover, you should use Benzoyl Peroxide if you have frequent occurrences of painful red pimples or pus-filled ones and bacteria control and reduction is your major concern. It is worth mentioning that choosing an appropriate skin care routine requires patience and consistency.

That is why you need to check every molecule separately and see how your skin barrier is responding to any chronic redness. In an emergency situation, don't forget about the consultation of a board-certified dermatologist.