Originally Posted by
canklecat
The good acne washes don't strip skin oils. They use gentler surfactants than most soaps. And the salicyclic acid helps remove dead skin and schmumph that clogs pores. Using this inexpensive stuff, I've had far fewer problems with psoriasis on my hands and scalp and fewer minor skin irritations around the groin caused by irritated hair follicles.
There are harsher acne washes, but this stuff uses the same ingredients as pricey face treatments like Eucerin: primarily glycerin, sodium laureth sulfate, with the addition of salicylic acid.
For folks with sensitive skin, first try it without scrubbing -- no washcloths, loofahs, buff puffs, etc.
The thing is that salicylic acid is
not gentle. It actually works by weakening skin. The effect with a facial product is less because the concentration is limited, but it's actually the very same stuff as in corn remover. Put some on your face and realize that the "tight" feeling is actually a low-grade chemical burn; that's literally how it works to strip away the dead skin and other pore-clogging gunk.