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Salicylic Acid & Vitamin D

Sep 13, 2011 | By Francisco Javier Almeida Ponce
Salicylic Acid & Vitamin D
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Salicylic acid is a peeling agent commonly used as a topical treatment for many skin disorders, including psoriasis, acne, seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff and warts. Vitamin D, on the other hand, is famous for its positive impact on bone health. Many vitamin D products are used for treatment of eczema, warts and psoriasis. Treating similar disorders is the common thread connecting vitamin D and salicylic acid. Despite the similarities in usage, there is no medical evidence that the two substances react or affect each other's action.

Vitamin D, Eczema and Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition affecting between 1 and 3 percent of Americans. It causes thick plaques to form on the skin, which although they are not dangerous, can be unsightly and uncomfortable for the patient. Calcitriol, or calcipotriene, is a prescription variety of topical vitamin D, used in the treatment of psoriasis; the product is applied twice per day to treat this condition. This treatment may not be suitable for every case of psoriasis; your physician can prescribe the right medication for you.
Topical use of vitamin D is also very promising for eczema. A study published in the "Journal of Dermatology" reported that patients receiving topical treatment of vitamin D3 for a particularly difficult type of eczema, either completely recovered or showed dramatic improvement, within seven weeks, with no adverse effects.

Vitamin D and Autoimmune Diseases

Conditions such as vitiligo and scleroderma are considered as autoimmune diseases, the result of an immune disorder that attacks skin cells. Vitamin D is a potent immune system booster and research shows that it can interact directly with immune cells. A study published in the journal “Clinical Experimental Immunology” confirms that vitamin D plays an important role in regulating and promoting immune functions. Vitamin D deficiency is now correlated with many serious autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, diabetes type 1 and Crohn's disease.

Salicylic Acid

The MedlinePlus website reports that salicylic acid can be used as a topical treatment for various skin conditions such as acne, ichthyoses, dandruff, wart and calluses. Salicylic acid is classified as a keratolytic; it works by causing the outer layer of skin to shed. Treatment with the acid will loosen skin flakes and facilitate gentle exfoliation and removal of deposits of dead skin cells.
Depending on the condition, there are different products with various concentrations of the acid. For most cases, mild solutions of the chemical are appropriate. Warts often require a stronger concentration of the acid, sometimes up to 40 percent, to soften the hard tissue and trigger the immune system to restore the viral infection.
Salicylic acid comes in a range of topical preparations. These include lotions, creams, ointments, foams and gels. Medicated soaps and shampoos may also contain salicylic acid. Medicated dressings, pads and patch forms are also available.

Salicylic Acid and Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin; the immune system is literally attacking the skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. You can find over-the-counter products, or OTC, containing salicylic acid, to treat psoriasis. The National Psoriasis Foundation reports that it acts as a scale lifter, helping to soften and remove psoriasis scales. Although this is an OTC type of treatment, you need to be careful not to leave the solution too long on you skin, as it may cause irritations.

References

Article reviewed by DanL Last updated on: Sep 13, 2011

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