Quick Search
Salicylic Acid is an aromatic hydroxy acid used in personal care, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications as a keratolytic active, pH adjuster, and preservative-support ingredient, and Salicylic Acid is valued for exfoliation performance and broad formulation utility.
Salicylic Acid is widely used in acne and scalp-care products to help unclog pores and reduce flaking, and Salicylic Acid is also used in topical pharmaceutical products and certain industrial processes where controlled acidity and aromatic acid chemistry are required.
Salicylic Acid is typically supplied as a white crystalline powder, and Salicylic Acid has limited water solubility, so formulation design often uses solubilizers, solvents, or salt formation to achieve desired delivery and stability.
CAS Number: 69-72-7
EC Number: 200-712-3
Molecular Formula: C7H6O3
Molecular Weight: 138.12 g/mol
Synonyms: Salicylic Acid, 2-Hydroxybenzoic Acid, o-Hydroxybenzoic Acid, Salicylate Acid, Salicylic Acid USP, Salicylic Acid BP, Salicylic Acid Cosmetic Grade, Salicylic Acid Keratolytic, BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid), Salicylic Acid Powder, Salicylic Acid Exfoliant, Salicylic Acid, 2-Hydroxybenzoic Acid, o-Hydroxybenzoic Acid, ortho-Hydroxybenzoic Acid, 2-Carboxyphenol, o-Carboxyphenol, ortho-Carboxyphenol, Hydroxybenzoic Acid, Beta-Hydroxy Acid, BHA Salicylic Acid, Phenolic Acid Salicylic Acid, Salicylic Acid Powder, Salicylic Acid Crystalline Powder, Salicylic Acid Crystals, Salicylic Acid Pure, Pure Salicylic Acid, Salicylic Acid High Purity, High Purity Salicylic Acid, Salicylic Acid Reagent Grade, Salicylic Acid Laboratory Grade, Salicylic Acid Technical Grade, Salicylic Acid Industrial Grade, Salicylic Acid Pharmaceutical Grade, Salicylic Acid Cosmetic Grade, Salicylic Acid Food Grade, Salicylic Acid Preservative, Salicylic Acid Keratolytic Agent, Salicylic Acid Intermediate, Salicylic Acid Synthesis Grade, Salicylic Acid for Synthesis, Salicylic Acid Organic Acid, Salicylic Acid Phenolic Compound, Salicylic Acid CAS 69-72-7, 2-Hydroxybenzoic Acid CAS 69-72-7, o-Hydroxybenzoic Acid CAS 69-72-7, Salicylic Acid USP Grade, Salicylic Acid BP Grade, Salicylic Acid EP Grade
APPLICATIONS
Salicylic Acid is used in acne treatments to exfoliate inside pores, reduce comedones, and improve skin clarity in compatible leave-on and rinse-off products.
Salicylic Acid is incorporated into facial cleansers to support pore cleansing and reduce breakouts with controlled contact time.
Salicylic Acid is used in toners and serums in selected applications to provide chemical exfoliation and smoother skin texture.
Salicylic Acid is used in scalp-care and anti-dandruff products to reduce flaking and help loosen scale in compatible shampoo and treatment systems.
Salicylic Acid is incorporated into exfoliating scalp treatments to improve scalp comfort and reduce buildup.
Salicylic Acid is used in oily scalp formulations to support sebum management and improved scalp feel.
Salicylic Acid is used in body care products such as exfoliating lotions and keratosis pilaris treatments to smooth rough skin.
Salicylic Acid is incorporated into foot and elbow products to soften thickened skin and improve texture.
Salicylic Acid is used in deodorant and body-clearing products in selected applications to support odor control through exfoliation and pH effects.
Salicylic Acid is used in topical pharmaceutical products such as wart removers and psoriasis-related keratolytic products where controlled exfoliation is required.
Salicylic Acid is incorporated into medicated ointments and solutions to soften and remove hyperkeratotic skin.
Salicylic Acid is used in callus treatments to improve comfort and reduce thickened skin.
Salicylic Acid is used in preservative systems in selected formulations to support antimicrobial performance by lowering pH and contributing weak-acid preservative activity.
Salicylic Acid is incorporated into certain cosmetic and household products in selected applications where regulatory permission and labeling requirements are met.
Salicylic Acid is used as an intermediate in chemical manufacturing for dyes, fragrances, and salicylate derivatives.
Salicylic Acid is valued because Salicylic Acid provides effective keratolytic exfoliation and versatile formulation support across personal care, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications when used within appropriate concentration and regulatory limits.
Salicylic Acid is used in skin care as a beta-hydroxy acid to support exfoliation in leave-on products.
Salicylic Acid supports desquamation by helping loosen corneocyte adhesion in the stratum corneum.
Salicylic Acid helps improve skin texture and clarity in acne-prone routines.
Salicylic Acid is used in acne treatments to help unclog pores and reduce comedones.
Salicylic Acid supports penetration into oily pores due to lipophilic character.
Salicylic Acid helps reduce blackheads and whiteheads in some regimens.
Salicylic Acid is used in anti-blemish serums to reduce roughness and improve tone in some formulations.
Salicylic Acid supports smoother skin feel with consistent use.
Salicylic Acid helps reduce appearance of blemish marks over time in some routines.
Salicylic Acid is used in facial cleansers as an exfoliating active in rinse-off formats.
Salicylic Acid supports gentle keratolytic action with short contact time in some cleansers.
Salicylic Acid helps improve clarity and reduce oiliness in some wash products.
Salicylic Acid is used in toners to provide exfoliating benefits in some formulations.
Salicylic Acid supports balanced pH and improved pore appearance in some toners.
Salicylic Acid helps reduce congestion and dullness in some skincare routines.
Salicylic Acid is used in body washes to target body acne and rough texture in some products.
Salicylic Acid supports exfoliation on thicker skin areas such as back and shoulders.
Salicylic Acid helps reduce ingrown-hair related bumps in some use cases.
Salicylic Acid is used in scalp treatments to reduce flaking and help manage oily scalp conditions in some products.
Salicylic Acid supports loosening of scale in dandruff-prone scalp.
Salicylic Acid helps improve scalp cleanliness and reduce buildup in some regimens.
Salicylic Acid is used in anti-dandruff shampoos as a keratolytic ingredient in some formulations.
Salicylic Acid supports removal of scalp scale that traps microbes and oils.
Salicylic Acid helps improve anti-dandruff regimen effectiveness when paired with antifungal actives in some systems.
Salicylic Acid is used in foot care products to soften calluses and rough skin in some formulations.
Salicylic Acid supports keratolytic action to reduce thickened skin.
Salicylic Acid helps improve smoothness in heel and sole treatments.
Salicylic Acid is used in wart and corn removers as a keratolytic active in OTC products.
Salicylic Acid supports gradual removal of hyperkeratotic tissue with repeated use.
Salicylic Acid helps break down thickened skin layers in targeted treatments.
Salicylic Acid is used in chemical peels at controlled concentrations under professional guidance.
Salicylic Acid supports superficial exfoliation and pore clearing in clinical settings.
Salicylic Acid helps improve texture and acne outcomes in professional treatments.
Salicylic Acid is used in cosmetics as a preservative-supporting component in some formulations by controlling pH and microbial environment.
Salicylic Acid supports stability of some formulations by maintaining acidic conditions.
Salicylic Acid helps reduce contamination risk when used within regulatory limits.
Salicylic Acid is used in pharmaceutical topical formulations as a keratolytic and anti-scaling agent.
Salicylic Acid supports treatment of psoriasis-like scale and hyperkeratosis in some medicated products.
Salicylic Acid helps improve penetration of other actives by removing excess scale in some therapies.
Salicylic Acid is used in dermatology compounding to prepare keratolytic ointments and solutions in some prescriptions.
Salicylic Acid supports customized dosing in pharmacy compounding.
Salicylic Acid helps improve patient outcomes by tailoring strength to condition severity.
Salicylic Acid is used in personal care products to improve skin feel in some formulations at low levels.
Salicylic Acid supports mild exfoliation and smoother appearance.
Salicylic Acid helps reduce roughness and improve radiance in some routines.
Salicylic Acid is used in cosmetics manufacturing to adjust pH in some formulations.
Salicylic Acid supports maintaining acidic pH targets for stability.
Salicylic Acid helps improve compatibility of certain preservatives in low-pH systems.
Salicylic Acid is used as an intermediate in pharmaceutical synthesis.
Salicylic Acid supports manufacture of salicylate derivatives and related APIs.
Salicylic Acid helps provide aromatic acid building blocks in chemical manufacturing.
Salicylic Acid is used in manufacture of acetylsalicylic acid in industrial synthesis routes.
Salicylic Acid supports aspirin production as a key precursor.
Salicylic Acid helps enable efficient esterification with acetic anhydride in industrial processes.
Salicylic Acid is used in dye and pigment manufacturing as an intermediate in some routes.
Salicylic Acid supports production of specialty colorants and optical materials.
Salicylic Acid helps provide aromatic functional groups for dye chemistry.
Salicylic Acid is used in fragrances as an intermediate for salicylate esters in some manufacturing.
Salicylic Acid supports production of wintergreen-like and floral salicylate ingredients.
Salicylic Acid helps enable ester formation with alcohols to create fragrance materials.
Salicylic Acid is used in preservatives and antimicrobial research as a reference aromatic acid in some studies.
Salicylic Acid supports screening of antimicrobial behavior under acidic conditions.
Salicylic Acid helps benchmark efficacy and pH effects in lab testing.
Salicylic Acid is used in polymer chemistry as a functional aromatic acid building block in some research.
Salicylic Acid supports preparation of functional resins and additives in some routes.
Salicylic Acid helps enable hydrogen bonding and chelation motifs in materials design.
Salicylic Acid is used in analytical chemistry as a standard compound for method validation.
Salicylic Acid supports calibration in chromatography and spectroscopy workflows.
Salicylic Acid helps validate impurity and assay methods in QC labs.
Salicylic Acid is used in quality control to verify purity and related substances in cosmetic and pharmaceutical grades.
Salicylic Acid supports consistent active performance in finished products.
Salicylic Acid helps ensure compliance with specification limits in manufacturing.
DESCRIPTION
Salicylic Acid is a beta hydroxy acid with both a phenolic hydroxyl group and a carboxylic acid group, and this structure gives Salicylic Acid keratolytic activity and weak-acid antimicrobial behavior.
Salicylic Acid penetrates into oily environments better than many alpha hydroxy acids, and this is why Salicylic Acid is commonly used for acne and oily skin applications.
Salicylic Acid has limited water solubility, and formulations often use solvents such as glycols or alcohol, surfactant solubilizers, or salicylate salts to achieve effective delivery.
Salicylic Acid can cause irritation at higher levels or with frequent use, so product design typically includes concentration control, pH adjustment, and appropriate usage guidance.
Salicylic Acid should be used according to applicable cosmetic and pharmaceutical regulations because maximum concentration, allowed product types, and warning statements vary by market.
Salicylic Acid should be stored in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture uptake and maintain consistent purity.
Salicylic Acid is stable under normal storage and typical processing conditions, but strong oxidizers and very high heat can cause degradation.
Salicylic Acid powder can generate dust, so dust control practices are important during bulk handling.
Salicylic Acid should be handled with appropriate PPE to avoid eye irritation and prolonged skin exposure during manufacturing.
Salicylic Acid is an aromatic beta-hydroxy acid used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as a keratolytic and exfoliating active.
Salicylic Acid is typically supplied as a white crystalline powder with limited water solubility and better solubility in alcohols and glycols.
Salicylic Acid works by loosening dead skin cells and helping clear pores, which supports acne and roughness management.
Salicylic Acid is widely used in acne products, dandruff treatments, callus and wart removers, and medicated anti-scaling preparations.
Salicylic Acid use levels and permitted applications depend on local regulations and product type, especially for leave-on products.
Salicylic Acid can cause irritation or dryness in some users, so formulation and usage guidance typically focus on controlled dosing and skin tolerance.
Salicylic Acid performance depends on concentration, pH, solvent system, and contact time in the finished product.
Salicylic Acid should be stored in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture uptake and clumping.
Salicylic Acid is valued for proven keratolytic action, broad usefulness in skin and scalp care, and important role as an industrial intermediate.
PROPERTIES
Chemical Formula: C7H6O3
Molecular Weight: 138.12 g/mol
Common Name: Salicylic Acid
Chemical Type: Aromatic hydroxy acid; keratolytic; pH adjuster; preservative-support ingredient
Appearance: White crystalline powder
Odor: Odorless to faint characteristic odor
Taste: Bitter (not relevant for typical topical use)
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water; more soluble in alcohols and glycols; solubility increases as salicylate salts
pKa: ~2.97 (carboxylic acid; typical)
Melting Point: ~158–161°C (typical)
Stability: Stable under normal storage; avoid strong oxidizers
Storage Temperature: 15–30°C, tightly closed, dry
Shelf Life: Typically 24–60 months in original sealed packaging (supplier dependent)
FIRST AID
Inhalation:
Move to fresh air if dust is inhaled.
Seek medical attention if respiratory irritation persists.
Avoid breathing dust during powder handling.
Skin Contact:
Wash with soap and water after contact.
Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse.
Seek medical advice if irritation develops or persists.
Eye Contact:
Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes.
Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do, then continue rinsing.
Seek medical attention if irritation persists.
Ingestion:
Rinse mouth with water and seek medical attention if discomfort occurs.
Seek medical attention promptly if a significant amount is swallowed.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Note to Physicians:
Treat symptomatically.
Consider salicylate exposure if significant ingestion occurred.
Provide supportive care as needed.
HANDLING AND STORAGE
Handling:
Use appropriate PPE including gloves and safety glasses for bulk handling.
Avoid generating dust and avoid inhalation of fine powder.
Use local exhaust and closed transfer where possible for large-scale powder handling.
Ventilation:
Use general ventilation for normal handling.
Use local exhaust where dust may be generated during powder transfer.
Minimize airborne particulate accumulation in enclosed areas.
Storage:
Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place.
Protect from moisture and contamination to maintain purity and free-flowing behavior.
Keep away from strong oxidizers and incompatible chemicals.
Spill and Leak Procedures:
Sweep up spilled powder and avoid dust generation.
Collect into suitable containers for reuse or disposal according to local regulations.
Clean residues with water if needed and dry the area to prevent slip hazards.
Handling Precautions:
Control concentration and pH in formulations because Salicylic Acid efficacy and irritation potential depend on delivery and pH conditions.
Consider regulatory limits and labeling because Salicylic Acid use levels vary by market and product type.
Rotate stock using FIFO practices to maintain consistent quality and predictable performance.
