We’ve all heard the warning at the drugstore: “Don’t get it in your eyes!” But how many of us have followed that advice?
Probably not enough if we’re being honest.
Those who do, however, might end up asking another question: Can you go blind from using salicylic acid around your eyes?
Can You Go Blind From Salicylic Acid?
Salicylic acid is not toxic to your eyes. It is not a strong acid, corrosive, heavy metal, alkali, or lightening agent.
Salicylic acid does not bleach hair either. If you are using a salicylic acid-based product in your body and it gets into your eye accidentally then wash your eyes thoroughly with water immediately after flushing out any residue from the eye area with water.
The only way that salicylic acid could possibly cause blindness is if you were to ingest an excessive amount of it on purpose which might result in internal bleeding and eventually death due to poisoning (poisoning).
What Happens if You Get Salicylic Acid in Your Eye?
If you get salicylic acid in your eye, the best thing to do is rinse the area with water.
If any of the chemical remains on your skin and gets washed away, use a cotton swab to remove it.
If irritation persists or if there’s redness around your eyes after washing them, see a doctor.
In rare cases where these symptoms persist for more than 72 hours, seek emergency medical attention
Are There Some People Who Should Not Use Salicylic Acid?
You should not use salicylic acid if you have any of the following:
1. A heart condition
This can include high blood pressure, angina, or a history of stroke.
2. Liver disease
You should also avoid using salicylic acid if you have liver problems such as cirrhosis and hepatitis.
3. Kidney disease
If you have kidney problems or experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or weakness after using salicylic acid for more than a few days in a row then stop using it immediately and see your doctor right away!
Can Salicylic Acid Cause Glaucoma or Cataracts?
Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve, which can lead to loss of vision.
Cataracts are caused when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy. Glaucoma and cataracts are both common in older adults, but they can occur at any age and affect both men and women equally.
Salicylic acid affects your eyes in two ways: by causing swelling around the eye area and by irritating and burning sensitive tissues within your eyelids (the conjunctiva).
The severity of these effects depends on how long you use salicylic acid products under your eyes and how much product you use each time you apply it.
Some research suggests that salicylic acid causes conjunctivitis—inflammation of the conjunctiva—in some people who use acne treatments containing this ingredient regularly over an extended period of time.
This condition is characterized by excessive tearing (epiphora), redness around both eyes, pain when blinking or closing eyes tightly for an extended period of time, light sensitivity due to inflammation inside eyelids, clear discharge from one or both eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) along with other symptoms such as sore throat or cough.
These may be unrelated to breathing problems such as asthma attacks triggered by allergies affecting airways leading into the lungs from nose passages inside nostrils where mucus membranes line up closely together so particles like pollen grains cling tightly onto hairs growing outwards from them like tiny flags fluttering proudly at sunrise after rainstorms end before sunset arrives again tomorrow morning then evening falls upon us once more making shadows grow longer before darkness comes closer still until dawn arrives once more after midnight passes us by then midafternoon arrives too early.
So we can see clearly again without glasses because our sight has been restored thanks to now knowing all about using salicylic acid under the eyes safely without risk of damaging ourselves being blinded forever losing sight completely going blind permanently losing sight permanently.
Can Salicylic Acid Affect the Optic Nerve of the Eye or Lead to Other Neurologic Diseases?
No. Salicylic acid is not a neurotoxin and it does not cause nerve damage.
However, there have been cases where people with dry eyes have experienced temporary vision loss when using strong salicylic acid products on their skin.
Can Salicylic Acid Be Used Under Eyes?
You can use salicylic acid under your eyes, but the results may not be as great as with other areas of your face.
Typically, using a cleanser and toner to treat acne is enough on its own to keep breakouts under control.
However, if you have stubborn spots that won’t go away or need extra help getting rid of them, salicylic acid can be an effective treatment.
Before applying this type of product under your eyes, we recommend testing a small amount on another part of your face just to make sure it doesn’t cause irritation or redness.
If it does cause irritation or redness after trying a small test patch first then discontinue use immediately and try something else instead.
If everything goes well during the testing phase then proceed with caution: only apply sparingly—a little goes a long way!
Final Thoughts
There you have it, folks. While salicylic acid is a very useful ingredient for treating your acne, there are some serious precautions to consider.
If you’re not sure whether or not you should be using it, reach out to a dermatologist—they can be a great resource for learning about how to take care of your skin.
Also, remember that if you’re considering adding salicylic acid into your skincare routine, do your research and choose an over-the-counter product that will work best with your skin type.
And while we’re on the subject of doing research: if you’d like to learn more about skincare, check out our other articles on everything from pimples to moisturizers!
