Good Active Ingredient Dermal Penetration

Salicylic Acid (BHA)

INCI: SALICYLIC ACID

CAS Number
None
Function
Insufficient Data
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

SCCS NOAEL Values

NOAEL/LOAEL values cited in official SCCS opinions for Salicylic Acid (BHA).

NOAEL LOAEL Route Species Study DA% (SCCS) Opinion
75 mg/kg/day 165 mg/kg/day Oral Rat (Wistar) Developmental toxicity (OECD 414 equivalent) (GD 8-14 (gestational days)) 100 SCCS/1646/22 (2023)
75 mg/kg/day 165 mg/kg/day Oral Rat (Wistar) Developmental toxicity (OECD 414 equivalent) (GD 8-14 (gestational days)) 100 SCCS/1601/18 (2018)

Dermal Penetration Profile

Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Salicylic Acid (BHA), relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.

Absorption %
18-30%
Penetration Level
epidermis
Penetration Depth
epidermis/dermis
Molecular Weight
138.1 Da
Log P
2.26
Systemic Absorption
yes
Topical Bioavailability
12-25%
Safety Margin Factor
high
Vehicle Dependent
Yes โ€” absorption varies by formulation

Source: SCCS/1538/14, CIR

Expert Verdict

Good safety profile with established use in cosmetics; generally considered safe at appropriate concentrations.

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Concern Level: Low

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Salicylic Acid (BHA) safe in cosmetics?

Good safety profile with established use in cosmetics; generally considered safe at appropriate concentrations. The EU classifies Salicylic Acid (BHA) as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Salicylic Acid (BHA) allowed in the EU?

Salicylic Acid (BHA) EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Salicylic Acid (BHA) do in cosmetics?

Salicylic Acid (BHA) functions as: Insufficient Data. It is classified as a Active Ingredient in our database. CAS number: None.

What is the Margin of Safety for Salicylic Acid (BHA)?

not established The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

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