How Aspirin Can Help Your Skin

Doctors recommend that people who are at risk for heart attack or stroke begin a regimen of aspirin therapy to reduce inflammation and prevent the formation of blood clots. In addition to this life-saving benefit, aspirin is also used on a daily basis to help relieve the minor aches and pains of millions of people. However, there is another hidden benefit of aspirin that can help your skin look and feel great.

How Does Aspirin Work?

Pure aspirin tablets contain salicylic acid which is used in many health and hygiene products. It offers lots of anti-inflammatory, and exfoliating benefits to the skin. It is also an antiseptic, which is why it’s used in toothpaste as sodium salicylate.

Salicylic acid works on the skin by softening keratin which makes the skin easier to remove, revealing fresh, young skin underneath, and helping to prevent and open up clogged pores. On a regular basis, salicylic acid can even help slow down the shedding of skin cells, which helps prevent buildup that can clog the skin pores. This chemical is especially useful on thick, scaly, and flaky skin. That is why it’s popular in many products, such as dandruff shampoos, acne cleansers, and even wart remover. Of course, each of these products contains different percentages of salicylic acid depending on the job required of it. Wart removers contain up to 30% salicylic acid, while over-the-counter acne treatments only contain about .5% salicylic acid.

Crushed Aspirin Scrub

To freshen the skin and help fight blemishes and acne, you can create a crushed aspirin scrub using aspirin tablets from your local dollar store. Crush one pure aspirin tablet into a powder. Mix this powder with a small amount of honey or yogurt to form a paste. You may also use water if lacking these other two ingredients. Apply the paste to the skin, scrubbing gently for about 30 seconds. Leave the paste on the skin for a few minutes. Rinse with warm water when finished and pat the skin dry with a towel.

Repeat this regimen every other day until the skin is blemish free. You may maintain your skin once or twice a week with an aspirin scrub to keep blemishes from coming back. Avoid using the aspirin scrub frequently, such as daily. Too much salicylic acid can actually damage and irritate the skin in the long term. Keep an eye out for redness, irritation, and pain, especially when applied to broken skin. If you are allergic to aspirin, avoid using aspirin in a facial or any other kind of skin treatment.

Used properly, aspirin can be an excellent topical treatment for many skin problems. It can even help reduce ingrown hairs and inflammation from shaving. Simply mix one crushed tablet with a little water to form a solution and daub on to the skin where inflamed. This will help to reduce irritation and irritation. Always keep a bottle of aspirin on hand, not just for headaches, but also for a quick skin treatment on the go.