Clarification on Willow Bark Extract Salicylic Acid Equivalence and Encapsulated Salicylic Acid Use During Pregnancy
Question
Regarding Willow Bark Extract and Encapsulated Salicylic Acid:
- The description for Willow Bark Extract states that 10% Willow Bark Extract is approximately equivalent to 1.8-2.0% Salicylic Acid. Does this 1.8-2% refer to the amount permitted by the FDA/Thai FDA or the amount to be used in a 100g formulation?
- Can Encapsulated Salicylic Acid (Powder, Timed-Release) be used by pregnant women?
Answer
Clarification on Willow Bark Extract and Salicylic Acid
Regarding your questions:
The statement that 10% Willow Bark Extract is equivalent to approximately 1.8-2.0% Salicylic Acid refers to the amount of active salicylic acid naturally present in the extract or its equivalent efficacy in terms of exfoliation and pore clearing. This is not referring to the general FDA usage limit for synthetic Salicylic Acid. The FDA limit for Salicylic Acid in leave-on cosmetic products is 2.00%. Therefore, using 10% Willow Bark Extract provides an amount of natural salicylic acid that falls within the permitted FDA concentration for synthetic Salicylic Acid in leave-on products.
Regarding Encapsulated Salicylic Acid (Powder, Timed-Release), while this form is designed for gentler, timed release of Salicylic Acid, the general recommendation for pregnant women is to consult with a doctor or healthcare professional before using products containing Salicylic Acid. This is a standard precaution during pregnancy for many cosmetic ingredients.
