BuzzFeed may receive a share of sales or other compensation from links on this page if you choose to shop through them. All products were independently selected by our editors, prices were accurate and items were in stock at the time of publication.
It's rare for a skincare product to go viral on Twitter, so when it does, you pay attention.
This month @kaseyonnuh tweeted a photo from Perfector body gel with salicylic acid from Naturium with the caption: “Everyone should have this shower gel and your skin will be the most beautiful. I've been using it since October and all my baby scars and stuff are gone.”
The tweet has nearly 16 million views and more than 150,000 bookmarks. Of course I ordered it. But first I asked dermatologists if it really had that power. to get rid of scars. And if not, what will it be useful for?
What does salicylic acid do?
“Salicylic acid has several properties,” said Dr. Adelina Kikamdermatologist from South Florida. “It's what we call a keratolytic, so it breaks down dead skin and is comedolytic, meaning it unclogs your pores.”
Dr. Julia Tzu, Founder and Director Dermatology on Wall Streetexplained that it targets the sebum or oil in the pores and also breaks down the keratin that can clog them, making it an effective acne treatment. Since it is an acid, it can also exfoliate the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Many products intended to treat psoriasisdandruff or seborrheic dermatitis will also include salicylic acid since it can penetrate deep into pores, but is especially helpful for acne.
Although it is not usually used as scar remedyKickam said it can help improve the appearance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or dark spots from acne, and she's noticed that the internet tends to equate these conditions with actual scars. However, if you're looking to treat deep scars, she recommends looking for ingredients like topical retinoids, which can stimulate collagen and elastin production.
Is this Naturium Body Wash any different from other salicylic acid skin care products?
The fact that Naturium uses encapsulated salicylic acid in this body wash makes it stand out from other products and could potentially be more effective, according to Kickam.
She says encapsulated salicylic acid is a bit like an onion: Its layers peel off over time, continuously releasing the ingredient into the skin. It is known as a controlled release or timed release delivery system.
“Studies done with 2% encapsulated salicylic acid actually show that it has deeper skin penetration and twice the delivery of salicylic acid compared to unencapsulated or free form salicylic acid,” she said.
Kickam also likes the other ingredients in this body wash, like glycerin and linoleic acid, which can help replenish moisture and boost ceramide levels, promoting a healthy skin barrier. Because salicylic acid controls sebum buildup, it can be drying to the skin, like most acne treatments. Naturium aims to balance this with linoleic acid-rich oils and glycerin.
However, salicylic acid may irritate sensitive skin. Tzu suggests using this body wash about once every three days to see if your skin tolerates it before moving on to everyday use. Another way to soothe irritation and soothe your skin is to apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer after cleansing, like this. CeraVe Moisturizer.
Otherwise, products such as Perfector Body Wash Salicylic acid products are generally safe for topical use with minimal risk. Just be sure to moisturize don't forget sunscreen so you can avoid additional irritation or burning and enjoy potentially skin-improving results. Stay tuned for more updates on my personal journey.
You can buy Naturium The Perfector Smoothing Body Gel with Salicylic Acid from Target for about $14.
