Medical uses of salicylic acid

Salicylic acid
Cotton pads soaked in salicylic acid for medical use
Clinical data
Trade namesVarious trade names
AHFS/Drugs.comMultum Consumer Information
Routes of
administration		topical
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailabilitylow
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC7H6O3
Molar mass138.122 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • c1ccc(c(c1)C(=O)O)O
  • InChI=1S/C7H6O3/c8-6-4-2-1-3-5(6)7(9)10/h1-4,8H,(H,9,10)
  • Key:YGSDEFSMJLZEOE-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Salicylic acid is used as a medicine to help remove the outer layer of the skin.[1] As such it is used to treat warts, skin tags, calluses, psoriasis, dandruff, acne, ringworm, and ichthyosis.[1][2] For conditions other than warts, it is often used together with other medications.[2] It is applied to the area affected.[1]

Side effects include skin irritation, and salicylate poisoning.[2] Salicylate poisoning tends to only occur when applied to a large area and in children.[2] Use is thus not recommended in children less than two years old.[2] It comes in a number of different strengths.[3]

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[4][5] It is also available mixed with coal tar, zinc oxide, or benzoic acid.[3]

  1. ^ a b c "Salicylic acid topical medical facts". Drugs.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. p. 310. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
  3. ^ a b British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. pp. 814–815, 825, 833. ISBN 9780857111562.
  4. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
  5. ^ World Health Organization (2021). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/345533. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02.