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1. The mom
   December 1st, 2010 - 15:56

   You have simply confirmed that dry skin breaks out more than oily skin, which people find hard to believe until they experience it. Salicylic acid is very drying to the skin, as a matter of fact. It also has no effect on things like enlarged pores, or even blackheads. When you dry out the skin, you remove the natural bacterial barriers skin has, which leaves the door open for the bacteria normally living on the skin to get in. Pimples are caused as a result. I suggest you leave off peeling the skin. Salicylic acid is okay for a really nasty pimple, but not all over the face. For blackhead removal, you have a choice. You can use the strips made for noses and foreheads, and use those on other areas of the face quite safely. You can also give yourself a steam facial, which will open up the pores and let them clean themselves. Once or twice a week, a steam facial is a good thing. It also helps to keep gunk off the skin, including your hands. If you live in a city where there is lots of air pollution, it can be a challenge. Use witch hazel and a cotton pad to wipe down your face a couple times a day. You’ll see all the gunk and dirt that has landed on your face. You also need to keep your hands off your face, unless they are fresh washed and you are washing your face. Everything you touch gets transferred to your face otherwise. For now, use the witch hazel to soothe the skin on your face, and leave off the peels. You’ll have to learn to live with pores the size they are, as well. Just stick with plain soap and water for washing, and only use a dab of salicylic acid gel directly on really bad spots.
2. tina
   December 1st, 2010 - 15:56

   Maybe its too strong? Or it irritated your skin? Or maybe afterwards it allowed bacteria into your skin to cause the acne. I’d stop using it if I were you, and let your face heal while using a gentler product,
3. HastyG
   December 1st, 2010 - 15:56

   Generally, the rule with acne medicine is that "its going to get worse before it gets better." it will probably get better, just keep using it.
4. Harley Quinn
   December 1st, 2010 - 15:56

   When you try a new product your skin has to adjust to it. Its bringing out more because its not used to it
5. Casey :)
   December 1st, 2010 - 15:56

   This is an article on Pro Activ but it also applies to salicylic acid because it’s about the drying of skin.

   "Here’s a little truth on Proactiv

   The truth about Proactive is that it only works straight away because it drastically dries out your skin and makes it virtually impossible for acne to occur, the problem with this is that while you’re using, secretly down below your skin is getting told to make more and more and MORE oil because it’s so dry, and eventually your skin starts developing so much oil that it overpowers the horrible drying effects of those nasty chemicals and all you’re left with is some nasty scars, dramatically aged skin (although you don’t realise it yet) and more pimples then you began with!
   Switch to a natural product before your skin produces even more oil. Go for something anti-inflammatory and find some natural jojoba oil because jojoba oil has a very close chemical structure to the skin’s own sebum and it will ‘reset’ your skin’s oil production and teach your skin to stop over producing oil. I hope anyone who has used Proactiv is able to recover their skin. I know after I used Proactiv I was left with a host of red scars some of which I’ve still been unable to get rid of.

   I feel products like Proactiv are the reason people are experiencing acne beyond puberty, it makes their skin produce even more oil then when they first entered puberty and their skin started over producing oil. Products like this put oil production into over drive. They also do horrible damage down below the skin and to the top layer of skin causing premature aging."

   Look for anti-inflammatory products rather than drying ones :)

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