Medicinal Uses of Salicylic Acid: Treatment of Genital Warts

The name “salicylic acid” is derived from the Latin word “salix” which means “willow”. This is because salicylic acid is formed from a substance called salicylate, an extract from the bark of a willow tree. This willow bark extract has been known since the ancient times as a natural remedy for several illnesses, including aches and fever. With the advent of science and pharmaceuticals, salicylate has been changed into its more usable form, the salicylic acid. The actual chemical name for salicylic acid is 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (C₆H₄(OH)CO₂H). As salicylic acid, this substance now has several medicinal uses, most of which are related to skin disorders.

Salicylic acid is the active ingredient of several formulations that are used to treat calluses, corns, and acne. Acne is essentially a skin lesion that has the potential to destroy a person’s confidence. This is why people with acne desperately seek the help of a dermatologist, who may suggest an individualized acne therapy. Such can be prohibitively expensive. An alternative treatment is the use of salicylic acid topical. Salicylic acid works by making the outer damage skin easily shed off. When the skin is sloughed off, the pores will not be clogged anymore.

Salicylic acid is also the natural remedy for dandruff, an abnormally excessive shedding of dead skin at the scalp. Dandruff has several causes (oily scalp, fungi, alkali shampoos) but it can be treated by several remedies. Anti-dandruff shampoos have different active ingredients such as selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, and salicylic acid. Salicylic acid, as a natural remedy, works by restoring the acidity of the scalp and by inhibiting the spread of the fungi.

Salicylic acid is the alternative treatment for warts. Warts are caused by a virus known as human papillomavirus (HPV). When this virus attacks, benign tumors appear on the epidermis or outer layer of the skin. There are several treatments to warts, such as the use of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and formalin. A more expensive treatment for warts is the cryotherapy, which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill the affected cells. But the HPV is not killed by this method. Instead, the HPV is spread. Theoretically, the skin’s own immune system will kill the HPV, and this is why blisters can be seen after getting a cryotherapy.

The most common herbal remedy for warts, however, is the salicylic acid topical. In using salicylic acid for warts, the warts must be either pared or scrubbed, and then soaked in warm water. Right after, the salicylic acid must be carefully applied on the surface. Then, the whole affected area, already treated the natural remedy, must be allowed to dry. This use of salicylic acid must be patiently repeated until the warts are gone.

Salicylic acid is not just a natural remedy for skin disorders. When salicylic acid is reacted with the alcohol called methanol, the salicylic acid becomes methyl salicylate, which is known as the oil of wintergreen. This substance is the active ingredient in liniments. Salicylic acid can also become acetylsalicylic acid, which is known as aspirin, a popular substance used to treat headaches.