Utah Master Esthetician Practice Exam

What is a contraindication to using salicylic acid?

1. Pregnancy

2. Use of retinoids

3. Use of tretinoin

4. Allergic reactions

The correct answer is: Use of tretinoin

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) widely used in skincare for its exfoliating and acne-fighting properties. However, one significant contraindication for its use involves the use of tretinoin, which is a form of retinoid. Both salicylic acid and tretinoin can cause irritation and dryness when used together due to their potent active ingredients. Using them concurrently may lead to increased sensitivity and adverse reactions such as redness, peeling, or overly dry skin. Therefore, it's important to stagger the use of these products to prevent such irritation and to ensure they can be effective without causing excessive discomfort to the skin. In consideration of the other options, while pregnancy and allergic reactions are indeed important factors to consider, not all professionals agree on withdrawing salicylic acid use during pregnancy. Its safety is often debated depending on the concentration and formulation. The use of retinoids is relevant as there are multiple types, and they might interact differently with salicylic acid depending on their specific formulations and concentrations.