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Salicylic acid: the research history.

Salicylic acid appears in a four-ingredient topical formulation with zinc oxide, niacinamide and urea. Its concentration and vehicle belong in any comparison with skincare research.

18,948records matching the ingredient search
1connected formulations
8displayed publication records

How the research connects to the formula

The catalog lists salicylic acid 2%, zinc oxide 5%, niacinamide 8% and urea 2%. The different components can be mapped to their own studies while preserving the blend as a separate intervention.

The ingredient-name search also captures subjects outside topical skincare. A publication’s route, condition and material preparation decide whether it addresses this formulation closely or only contributes to the broader history.

Current HealthRX.com formulation map
ProductListed formulationConnected ingredient research
Salicylic Acid / Zinc Oxide / Niacinamide / Ureasalicylic acid 2%, zinc oxide 5%, niacinamide 8% and urea 2%Salicylic acid · Zinc oxide · Niacinamide · Urea

Publication history

When the ingredient appeared in the literature

The chart counts records mentioning the search terms in their title or abstract. It includes research beyond skin. Use the period controls to inspect the count.

2026: 914 indexed publications. 2026 includes publications dated through October 5. The earlier bars cover longer periods than the annual bars.

View the chart as a data table
PeriodPublications
1900-1959281
1960-1969176
1970-1979516
1980-1989892
1990-19991240
2000-20093099
2010-20142521
2015-20193286
2020878
2021909
20221037
2023980
20241008
20251211
2026914
Search query and data source

Source: Europe PMC’s PubMed-indexed records. Retrieved October 5, 2026. The index’s firstPublicationDate field supplies the dates and chart periods; it can normalize a month-only record to the first day of the month. Dates through October 5 are included. Counts can change as the index adds or corrects records.

TITLE_ABS:("salicylic acid") AND SRC:MED AND FIRST_PDATE:[1900-01-01 TO 2026-10-05]

Open this literature search · Download the data

A closer search for this product question

The focused search returns 97 publications. It narrows the ingredient query to terms connected with its catalog use. Its displayed records remain a search sample, not a ranking of study quality.

View the focused query

TITLE_ABS:("salicylic acid") AND TITLE_ABS:((topical AND acne)) AND SRC:MED AND FIRST_PDATE:[1900-01-01 TO 2026-10-05]

Open the focused search

Dated publications

Read individual records in context

The timeline combines selected references with a sample from the ingredient search. Dates use the index’s firstPublicationDate field; the PubMed record may distinguish an earlier online date from the print date. Written study notes appear alongside the records that have them. Other entries show the indexed bibliography and link to the paper.

Journal Article

Tailored dual release of retinol and salicylic acid from salicylate-based poly(anhydride-ester) microspheres with tunable degradation profiles.

Lima MRN, Nguyen NQ, Safi L, Gill T, Song S, Dugger T, Ngo K, Batiz V, Zeyons O, Akanny EBK, Speros JC, Gupta R, Uhrich KE. International journal of pharmaceutics. PMID 42025657.

This record identifies a publication and its indexed publication types. The full paper contains the study methods, population, formulation and results.

Read the PubMed record · Publisher record

Questions that shape the comparison

Was salicylic acid tested in a leave-on cream, another topical preparation or a different route? Were the other three ingredients present?

Source records

Tailored dual release of retinol and salicylic acid from salicylate-based poly(anhydride-ester) microspheres with tunable degradation profiles.Lima MRN, Nguyen NQ, Safi L, Gill T, Song S, Dugger T, Ngo K, Batiz V, Zeyons O, Akanny EBK, Speros JC, Gupta R, Uhrich KE.International journal of pharmaceutics. 2026-04-21. PMID 42025657. Journal Article.
A Novel Retinoid and Salicylic Acid Topical Treatment for Moderate-Severe Acne.Hornby SB, Ly YH, Obagi ZA, Obagi ZE, Stahl CC, Woodin FW.Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD. 2026-06-01. PMID 42235053. Journal Article.
Benzyl alcohol biosynthesis and its subcellular compartmentalization enable scent formation and salicylic acid production.Lee JH, Huang XQ, Bergman ME, Morgan JA, Liu YK, Tao WA, Dudareva N.Nature communications. 2026-07-13. PMID 42443198. research-article, Journal Article.
A grass-specific route to salicylic acid.Oliveira DM, Labate CA, Mota TR.Nature plants. 2026-09-01. PMID 42521755. Journal Article.
Enhancing cold tolerance through HubZIP6-mediated CBF activation and salicylic acid signaling in pitaya.Hu X, Sabir IA, Xu Z, Zhang Z, Zhao J, Hu G, Qin Y.Molecular horticulture. 2026-09-03. PMID 42687200. research-article, Journal Article.
Current and Emerging Drug Therapy for Acne Vulgaris: A Comprehensive Review.Ankur, Verma R, Kaushik D, Kumar C, Yadav M, Redhu R.Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery. 2026-09-29. PMID 42817086. Journal Article.
Salicylic acid engages central metabolic regulators SnRK1 and TOR to govern immunity by differential phosphorylation of NPR1.Chen Y, Withers J, Sun Y, Chen T, Karapetyan S, Draken J, Xiang Y, Yuan Y, He Y, Dröge-Laser W, Weng JK, Dong X.Cell. 2026-09-30. PMID 42815464. research-article, Journal Article.
Effect of salicylic acid on morphological traits and the expression of key rubber biosynthesis genes in Parthenium argentatum A. Gray.Mohammadi F, Naghavi MR, Mahmoudieh M, Zargar M.PloS one. 2026-10-01. PMID 42821544. research-article, Journal Article.

Research data assembled by HealthRX.com from the displayed source records, October 5, 2026. The atlas contains a dated literature search and selected studies; it is not an exhaustive systematic review.