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Salicylic acid effective in anhydrous formulas? (since oils don’t have pH..)
SA’s functionality as an acid is very pH dependent, being a good H donor in a narrow range up to about 3.5 or 4. pH 3 is ideal. Now how will salicylic acid work in a anhydrous ointment?
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5 Replies
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It won’t.
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What are you using it for? If it is for Acne, may be you can try Benzoyl peroxide.
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Chemicalmatt. There’s more to it that acidity I believe, so It could work great.
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The answer, like so many answers in cosmetic chemistry, is “it depends”.
If the SA in the anhydrous formula is able to penetrate into at least some of the stratum corneum, it may work well enough to provide exfoliation. The exfoliating effect of SA may not be dependent on it’s pH, either. -
Wiki could give some hints, not sure which would apply for topical use:
Salicylic acid has been shown to work through several different pathways. It produces its anti-inflammatory effects via suppressing the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX), an enzyme that is responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as the prostaglandins. It does this not by direct inhibition of COX like most other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) but instead by suppression of the expression of the enzyme (via a yet-unelucidated mechanism).[23] Salicylic acid has also been shown to activate adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and it is thought that this action may play a role in the anticancer effects of the compound and its prodrugs aspirin and salsalate. In addition, the antidiabeticeffects of salicylic acid are likely mediated by AMPK activation primarily through allosteric conformational change that increases levels of phosphorylation etc etcAnyways, I guess I just have to test it.
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