Numerous over-the-counter (OTC) products can treat acne, including salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.
You may have also read about various home remedies that some may use for acne treatment, one of which is topical aspirin.
You might primarily know of aspirin as a pain reliever. It also contains a substance called acetylsalicylic acid. While this ingredient is related to the OTC anti-acne ingredient salicylic acid, it isn’t the same thing.
Cyclical acid has drying effects that can get rid of excess oil and dead skin cells, helping to clear up acne blemishes.
It’s a well-known treatment for mild acne, although the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes that clinical trials demonstrating its effectiveness are limited.
Aspirin and acne
There’s currently no evidence of anti-inflammatory benefits from using topical aspirin for acne.
The AAD recommends taking aspirin orally to reduce skin swelling related to conditions like sunburn. However, they do not have any specific recommendations for aspirin in the treatment of acne.
One small study involved 24 adults with histamine-induced skin inflammation.
It concluded that topical aspirin helped reduce some symptoms, but not the accompanying itch. This study didn’t look at the role of aspirin on acne lesions, though.
