Salicylic acid


Generic Medicine Info
Indications and Dosage
Topical/Cutaneous
Warts
Adult: Before application, soak the area in warm water for 5 minutes. Remove any loose tissue by gently rubbing with a washcloth, emery board or pumice stone. Dry thoroughly. As 26% cutaneous solution: Apply to wart surface twice, allowing the 1st application to dry before applying the 2nd. Use once daily. As 27.5-28.5% film-forming solution: Apply to wart surface twice, allowing the 1st application to dry before applying the 2nd. Use 1-2 times daily until resolved (approx 4-6 weeks). As 17% gel or liquid: Apply 1 drop at a time to cover each wart 1-2 times daily until wart is removed (for up to 12 weeks). As 12% solution: Apply to the affected area once daily. As 40% plaster or patch: Apply to the affected area and leave in place for 48 hours. Cut to fit if necessary. Repeat every 48 hours for up to 12 weeks.
Child: Dosage recommendations may vary among countries or individual products. Refer to country- or product-specific guidelines.

Topical/Cutaneous
Acne
Adult: As 2% cleanser: Use 2 times daily.
Child: ≥12 years Same as adult dose.

Topical/Cutaneous
Callus
Adult: Soak the area in warm water for 5 minutes then dry thoroughly before application. As 12% solution: Apply to the affected area once daily. As 40% plaster or patch: Apply to the affected area and leave in place for 24 hours or 48 hours (refer to specific product guideline). Cut to fit if necessary. Repeat every 24 hours or 48 hours, respectively, for up to 14 days.
Child: Dosage recommendations may vary among countries or individual products. Refer to country- or product-specific guidelines.

Topical/Cutaneous
Hyperkeratotic and scaling skin conditions
Adult: As 6% cream, lotion or gel: Apply to the affected area daily before bedtime. Hydrate skin for at least 5 minutes before application. Wash off in the morning. If gel is to be used for the scalp, apply at a frequency directed by your doctor and wash off after 10-20 minutes, or may be left for up to 1 hour as treatment progresses. As 3% gel: Apply to the affected area 1-4 times daily. As 6% shampoo: As medicated shampoo: Lather into wet hair, gently massage into scalp, leave on for several minutes and then rinse thoroughly. As concentrated scalp treatment: Do not wet hair. Apply to the affected areas of the scalp using the applicator. Leave on for 5 minutes, gradually increasing treatment time up to 1 hour or as directed. Rinse thoroughly with water after treatment. Use daily until the condition clears. As 6% foam: Apply to affected area 2 times daily. Rub into the skin until completely absorbed. As 2% ointment: Apply to the affected area 2 times daily.
Child: Dosage recommendations may vary among countries or individual products. Refer to country- or product-specific guidelines.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity. Diabetes or impaired blood circulation (wart/callus removal preparations). Children <2 years (some products).
Special Precautions
Patients with significant peripheral neuropathy. Patients undergoing UVB phototherapy. Not intended for application to inflamed or broken skin, moles, birthmarks, unusual warts with hair growth, genital warts, warts on the face or mucous membranes. Children. Pregnancy and lactation.
Adverse Reactions
General disorders and admin site conditions: Application site reactions (e.g. irritation, discomfort, dryness, peeling).
Potentially Fatal: Serious hypersensitivity reaction (e.g. anaphylactic reaction).
Patient Counseling Information
Avoid contact with eyes, mouth and other mucous membranes, or broken skin. Use sunscreen and limit sun exposure.
Monitoring Parameters
Monitor for signs of salicylate toxicity.
Overdosage
Symptoms: Vomiting, headache, thirst, loss of hearing, tinnitus, lethargy, hyperpnoea, psychiatric disturbances and confusion. Management: Supportive treatment including fluid and electrolyte replacement.
Drug Interactions
May increase the absorption of other topically applied medicines. Dryness or irritation increases with other topical acne products. May diminish the therapeutic effect of calcipotriol.
Action
Description: Salicylic acid produces desquamation of hyperkeratotic epithelium via dissolution of the intercellular cement thereby causing swelling, softening, maceration, and desquamation of the cornified tissue. Salicylic acid is keratoplastic (corrects abnormal keratinisation) in low concentrations and keratolytic (causes peeling of the skin) in higher concentrations (1% or higher, depending on the vehicle).
Onset: Treatment of warts: 1-2 weeks.
Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption: Rapidly and efficiently absorbed percutaneously (65-85%). Time to peak plasma concentration: 6-12 hours.
Distribution: Distributed in the extracellular space. Crosses the placenta and enters breast milk. Plasma protein binding: 50-80%, to albumin.
Metabolism: Metabolised in the liver by microsomal enzymes.
Excretion: Mainly via urine (52% as salicyluric acid, 42% as salicylate glucuronides, 6% as salicylic acid).
Chemical Structure

Chemical Structure Image
Salicylic acid

Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Database. Salicylic acid, CID=338, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Salicylic-acid (accessed on Jan. 21, 2020)

Storage
Store between 15-30ºC. Protect from heat or open flame. Storage recommendations may vary among countries or individual products. Refer to specific product guidelines.
MIMS Class
Acne Treatment Preparations / Warts & Calluses Preparations
ATC Classification
D02AF - Salicylic acid preparations ; Used as skin emollients and protectants.
References
Anon. Salicylic acid (Topical). AHFS Clinical Drug Information [online]. Bethesda, MD. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. https://www.ahfscdi.com. Accessed 30/04/2021.

Anon. Salicylic acid. Lexicomp Online. Hudson, Ohio. Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. https://online.lexi.com. Accessed 30/04/2021.

Bensal HP Ointment (SMG Pharmaceuticals, LLC). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 05/05/2021.

Buckingham R (ed). Salicylic acid. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference [online]. London. Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 30/04/2021.

Compound W 17% Gel (ASO LLC). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 30/04/2021.

Joint Formulary Committee. Salicylic acid. British National Formulary [online]. London. BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 30/04/2021.

Keralyt 3% Gel (Summers Laboratories Inc.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 05/05/2021.

Keralyt 6% Gel (Summers Laboratories Inc.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 05/05/2021.

Keralyt 6% Shampoo (Summers Laboratories Inc.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 05/05/2021.

Maximum Strength Wart Remover with Salicylic Acid 17% Liquid (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 30/04/2021.

Mediplast 40% Plaster (Medline Industries, Inc.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 05/05/2021.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Liquid (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 05/05/2021.

Salex 6% Cream and Lotion (Coria Laboratories). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 05/05/2021.

Salex 6% Shampoo (Bausch Health US, LLC). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 05/05/2021.

Salicylic Acid 6% Aerosol, Foam (Acella Pharmaceuticals, LLC). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 05/05/2021.

Salicylic Acid Collodion B.P. Methylated (Wise Pharmaceuticals Limited). MHRA. https://products.mhra.gov.uk. Accessed 30/04/2021.

Salicylic Acid Ointment BP (Thornton & Ross Ltd.). MHRA. https://products.mhra.gov.uk. Accessed 30/04/2021.

Salicylic Acid- Callus Removers Patch (Premier Brands of America Inc.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 30/04/2021.

Thwart 26% w/w Cutaneous Solution (Alliance Pharmaceuticals Ltd). MHRA. https://products.mhra.gov.uk. Accessed 30/04/2021.

Ultrasal-ER Solution (Elorac, Inc.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 05/05/2021.

Virasal 27.5% Solution (Elorac, Inc.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 05/05/2021.

Disclaimer: This information is independently developed by MIMS based on Salicylic acid from various references and is provided for your reference only. Therapeutic uses, prescribing information and product availability may vary between countries. Please refer to MIMS Product Monographs for specific and locally approved prescribing information. Although great effort has been made to ensure content accuracy, MIMS shall not be held responsible or liable for any claims or damages arising from the use or misuse of the information contained herein, its contents or omissions, or otherwise. Copyright © 2024 MIMS. All rights reserved. Powered by MIMS.com
Register or sign in to continue
Asia's one-stop resource for medical news, clinical reference and education
Already a member? Sign in
Register or sign in to continue
Asia's one-stop resource for medical news, clinical reference and education
Already a member? Sign in