Talk:Salicylic acid

message: Previously, the mechanism of action of anti-diabetic effect claimed that salicylic acid did not work through AMPK, which is contradicted by the given source.  Consequently, I edited it to say that it DOES work through AMPK.  I duly note, and consequently left it in the article, that salicylic acid also can have its anti-diabetic effect through a yet-to-be described mechanism.  BioSciEngr (talk) 18:29, 18 December 2012 (UTC)
thread_title: Mechanism of action

message: The "Vitamin S" section needs work.  The one reference cited (European Journal of Nutrition) seems OK, but are there any corroborating references available?  It isn't clear if this is given much credence in the mainstream scientific world or if it is borderline quackery.  In any case, the section is too long, poorly written, and so loaded with weasel words it reads more like a plea to accept the author's opinion than a statement of fact.  If the Vitamin S stuff is kept, most of it should be moved to vitamin which already has a brief Vitamin S section and only a short pointer to it left here.  Currently it's over half the article.  (Another problem in passing: salicylate is used several times throughout the entry without any prior definition.) --66.188.84.209 07:14, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: Vitamin "S" section

message: Why is Salicylic acid (plant hormone) split off from this? Neither article is very long. Shouldn't they be merged?  — Gwalla | Talk 8 July 2005 20:24 (UTC)
*They just have been. Physchim62 13:35, 16 October 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Plant hormone 

message: I removed the following boiling point info from the table as it seems ludicrous to me. Maybe a typing error has got in there somewhere...
:211°C at 2666 Pa (reduced pressure), sublimes at 76°C
I will see what I can find for more reliable data. Physchim62 13:35, 16 October 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: My 1960 Merck Index says the same thing.  Clearly the 76 number is wrong, or else (more likely) an even lower pressure should be listed and isn't.  My rubber handbook (CRC) just gives the same 211 C at 20 torr figure, so I put that in.  The MP is right, we use it in our intro organic lab! Walkerma 07:44, 13 November 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: Boiling point

message: I am wondering if Salicylic acid for acne treatment is to be left on the skin indefinately or washed off.  There are products with differing instructions.  How long does Salicylic acid need to remain on the skin to be effective, and is there a risk of leavingit on too long?
--Jeiki Rebirth 01:58, 2 February 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: It depends on the concentration of the acid used. Stronger concentrations(i.e. 5%)  usually means that you need to wash them off after a period of time, and lower ones(i.e. 0.5%) are deisigned to be left on the skin.--Chicbicyclist 22:26, 2 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Acne treatment 

message: I think the line stating that SA is an 'anti-biotic' either needs to be reworded or referenced. I don't dispute the accuracy of the statement in principle, but I'm not sure if 'anti-biotic' is the best term to use. If it is, I think it should have a citation. The statement elsewhere that it is an antiseptic is similar, and there is also 'anti-microbal' (not in the article, but a similar term). It depends I guess on how it acts upon microbes (does it actually kill bacteria through dispersal in the bloodstream when ingested, or just on contact or when topically applied?), and also how specific the term 'antibiotic' is: even with the hyphen, can it be used for something that is not in the normal pharmacological range in current use? Volume1 09:04, 31 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Antiseptic? Anti-biotic?

message: I got this information from Paula Begouns books, you can find it on the www.cosmeticscop.com site. I thought it was interesting as it relates to skin care but maybe needs more evaluation before its posted. I usually trust what she says because she evaluates products only based on medical journals that are legitmate and not funded by companies, or journals that just anyone can publish in (which is a bigger problem then you might think), and she usually states when the studies aren't big enough to draw conclusions. Although, she started selling her own line now which definitly hurts her credibility; her reputation before that was as a debunker of expensive and ineffective ingredients, based on pseudoscience or inconclusive evidence. 
"BHA works best at concentrations of between 1 and 2%, and at an optimal ph of 3, diminishing in effectiveness as you go past  a ph of 4" She goes on to give tips about use such as testing with ph paper before you buy. And that willow bark (which is often touted as the natural salicylic acid) actually contains salicin which can be converted into salicylic acid, but is by no means as direct as is often stated. She argues against higher concentrations for daily use but then lists some common peels that use higher concentrations (20-30% for the most high-powered peel) and says they can be more effective or better to start with then ahas peels of high concentrations because of their anti-inflammatory properties. She recommends bha for men's and women's grooming  for the same properties, to reduce swelling and redness after shaving. She recommends a 5-10% solution for calluses on the feet and a 1.8% to 3% for psoriasis because it softens skin layers on psoriatic lesions. 
I also read this, but can't find a direct reference, 1-2% daily, 2-8% irritaions may become more apparent, and at 8-13% may experience some bigger side effects. And I assume something as high as 20-30% is an only once in a blue moon, downtime treatment but I'm not sure. 
Finally, I know that aspirin and salicylic acid are related and not necasarily the same but I thought this might be valid to mention in a cosmetics section, because its a cheap relatively afforadable option. I know from my own experience that using crushed up aspirin (uncoated) on the face is a common beauty treatment to get rid of blackheads, usually mixed with honey or a cream or just plain water. Given that you need a lower ph for salicylic acid, I personally use a little lemon juice ph2, diluted with water neutral 7. I don't know if that is the best method or even applicable for aspirin since they are slightly different, so I don't recommend it but I know that the honey or water and aspirin method is tested and true and you can probably look it up online somewhere.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.235.115.115 (talk) 18:06, 5 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: ph and concentrations used in cosmetics

message: Dumping this section here until someone has the time to find refs/disprove. --Rifleman 82 (talk) 09:08, 25 September 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  tris chelate/phenol test 

message: Salicylic acid is effective against a plethora of skin ailments.  Salicylic acid is a keratolytic agent.  That is, it catalytically dissolves keratin, the skin protein.  Keratin is most noted for its role in skin callus formation.   Skin malformations employ keratin as a building block.  Destruction of the keratin with salicylic acid destroys the skin malformation without destroying the healthy skin around or underlying the malformation.  Thus salicylic acid is curative for many skin disorders.  While the chemical, 2-hydroxybenzoic acid by IUPAC name, is named salicylic acid for its presence in Salix, its most common botanical source is Aloe vera.  It is found in many plant sources, including many species of ice-plant and in wandering Jew.  Its biological role in plants is as a protection against being eaten by animals.  Enough salicylic acid eventually causes the inside of the animal’s mouth to become raw.  (The proteolytic enzyme in raw pineapple does similarly if you would like to home experiment.)  As a proteolytic, salicylic acid is antagonistic to the body’s larger biochemistry.  Salicylic acid in the blood stream is ejected through the intestinal tract. My Flatley (talk) 14:56, 14 July 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Role in herbalism 

message: The external link to the MSDS does not work. 160.62.4.100 (talk) 13:39, 30 September 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: . I replaced the broken link with a working one.  Thanks for catching the problem and reporting it here.  -- Ed (Edgar181) 14:29, 30 September 2014 (UTC)
thread_title: Link broken

message: The article with the medical use does not contain much content, and would likely fit better if merged. iczero (talk) 21:41, 18 December 2017 (UTC)
thread_title:  Proposed merge with [[Salicylic acid (medical use)]] 

message: This article repeats the widespread myth that willow back was used as a painkiller. As far as I can make out, this is completely untrue, and attributions to Hippocrates and other early sources are all recent and incorrect. Salicylic acid is too dangerous to be taken internally and it is not the same as acetylsalicylic acid. Here's a good article on the subject: https://theconversation.com/hippocrates-and-willow-bark-what-you-know-about-the-history-of-aspirin-is-probably-wrong-148087. Can we edit to remove this misinformation? Apart from accuracy, it could also be hazardous to people who try to treat pain with willow. E Wusk (talk) 19:43, 28 December 2021 (UTC)
replies: text: You are welcome to edit.  The article has pretty convincing references to ancient medicine published in real journals vs your "theconversation.com". If you are correct, then your proposed edits would be influential.  I would not be surprised if the use of willow bark as a painkiller is in fact untrue because so many people are convinced of the wisdom of the ancients. So go for it.--Smokefoot (talk) 20:42, 28 December 2021 (UTC)
thread_title:  History 

message: Can someone add reaction mechanism or atleast molecule structures in reactions and production? Clepenji1150 (talk) 13:00, 21 February 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  Illustrations