Type: Ingredient entity — regulatory & claim record
Topic: Salicylic Acid — cosmetic ingredient (functional cosmetic, acne-prone skin relief)
Evidence basis: KCIA ingredient list (no.812); MFDS functional cosmetic notification 제2025-88호 (Appendix 4); MFDS functional cosmetic standards 제2025-89호 (Appendix 8); KPIC OTC pharmaceutical records (Clearteen, Aclean Gel)
Evidence verified: 2026-05-24 | Draft updated: 2026-05-25
This page does not make treatment, disease prevention, or therapeutic efficacy claims. See the Evidence Boundaries section below for what this record explicitly does not cover.
What Is Salicylic Acid?
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) with a long history in both pharmaceutical and cosmetic use. In the Korean regulatory framework, it occupies two distinct positions: as a cosmetic ingredient with defined use limits, and as an active ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical acne products. Understanding which category applies is essential to interpreting any claims made about it.
In Korean cosmetics, salicylic acid is classified as a preservative and skin-conditioning agent, with concentration limits set under the cosmetic safety standards framework (화장품 안전기준 등에 관한 규정) as recorded by the Korean Cosmetic Ingredients Association (KCIA no.812): up to 0.5% in leave-on products, up to 2% in rinse-off/cleansing products, and up to 3% in hair care products. These limits apply to all cosmetic formulations within each product type, regardless of intended function.
Separately, under the MFDS functional cosmetic pathway, salicylic acid is designated as the active ingredient for acne-prone skin relief functional cosmetics (기능성화장품 — 여드름성 피부 완화) under MFDS Notice 제2025-88호 Appendix 4. This functional cosmetic designation is an additional, scope-limited layer on top of the general cosmetic use limits — it does not expand them. The functional cosmetic pathway applies only to wash-off cleansing products (인체세정용제품류) at 0.5% salicylic acid. Leave-on formulations such as toners, serums, or exfoliant pads are outside this functional cosmetic scope entirely.
Korean OTC pharmaceutical products containing 2% salicylic acid, such as Clearteen (클리어틴외용액2%) by Handok and Aclean Gel (애크린겔) by Dong-A Pharmaceutical, are registered as general medicines (일반의약품) under MFDS authorization. These products use the expression “여드름 치료” (acne treatment) — a drug-approved wording that has no equivalent in the cosmetic regulatory pathway.
Ingredient Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Ingredient Name | Salicylic Acid |
| Korean Name | 살리실릭애씨드 / 살리실산 |
| INCI Name | SALICYLIC ACID |
| Synonyms | BHA (beta hydroxy acid); 2-hydroxybenzoic acid |
| CAS No. | 69-72-7 |
| Ingredient Type | Functional Ingredient |
| Cosmetic Role | Preservative; Skin Conditioning; Keratolytic agent |
| Supplement Function | Not applicable |
| Status | To Review (DB entry confirmed; regulatory scope verified for wash-off cosmetic use) |
INCI name and CAS confirmed via KCIA ingredient dictionary (no.812), accessed 2026-05-24. Do not conflate with Betaine Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, or willow bark extract, which are distinct ingredients with separate regulatory profiles.
Regulatory Records
| Record Type | Jurisdiction | Issuing Body | Record Number | Scope | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 기능성화장품 고시 — 배합한도 (cosmetic use limits) | Korea | MFDS / KCIA | KCIA no.812; cites 화장품 안전기준 등에 관한 규정 | Leave-on: 0.5% max; rinse-off/cleansing: 2% max; hair care: 3% max | To Review | KCIA ingredient dictionary no.812 |
| 기능성화장품 — 여드름성 피부 완화 scope (Appendix 4) | Korea | MFDS | 식품의약품안전처고시 제2025-88호, 별표 4 section 6 | 인체세정용제품류(wash-off) only; salicylic acid 0.5%; specified claim wording only | To Review (Source text directly verified as of 2026-05-24) | 기능성화장품 심사에 관한 규정 제2025-88호 별표 4 PDF |
| 기능성화장품 — 살리실산 각조 monograph (Appendix 8) | Korea | MFDS | 식품의약품안전처고시 제2025-89호, 별표 8 | Monograph for acne-prone skin relief functional cosmetic testing standards | Unknown (monograph confirmed; Active status pending direct MFDS permit confirmation) | 기능성화장품 기준 및 시험방법 제2025-89호 별표 8 PDF |
| 일반의약품 — OTC pharmaceutical (boundary reference) | Korea | MFDS (KPIC 수록) | KPIC 품목코드 2013041100003 (Clearteen); 2022112200002 (Aclean Gel) | 2% salicylic acid OTC acne medicine; “여드름 치료” expression authorized for pharmaceutical use only | Unknown (KPIC listing confirmed; formal permit number pending) | 약학정보원 KPIC — OTC boundary evidence only |
Claim Safety Matrix
All entries below are at Review Status: To Review. No Claim Type has been confirmed as Allowed through the formal review process. This matrix reflects the regulatory boundary as of 2026-05-24 based on direct source verification.
| Claim Text | Claim Type | Why It Matters | Safer Alternative Wording | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 여드름성 피부를 완화하는 데 도움을 준다 (Helps relieve acne-prone skin) | Caution | This is the exact wording from MFDS Appendix 4, but its application is strictly limited to wash-off cleansing products at 0.5% salicylic acid. Using it for leave-on products, higher concentrations, or general BHA exfoliant contexts misrepresents the regulatory scope. | 여드름성 피부 완화에 도움을 줄 수 있음 — 기능성화장품 보고/심사 조건 충족 제품에 한함 (wash-off, 0.5%) | MFDS 제2025-88호 별표 4 section 6 |
| 여드름 치료 (Treats acne) | Avoid / Prohibited in cosmetic context | This expression appears in OTC pharmaceutical product authorizations (Clearteen, Aclean Gel) under MFDS general medicine registration. It is a drug-approved wording. Applying it to cosmetic products would imply pharmaceutical-level therapeutic efficacy, which is legally prohibited in Korean cosmetic claims and marketing. | 여드름성 피부 완화에 도움 (기능성화장품 조건 충족 시만) | KPIC 클리어틴외용액2% / 애크린겔 — OTC drug boundary evidence |
| 여드름 완치 / 결절성·낭포성 여드름 치료 / 중증 여드름 치료 (Cures acne / treats severe, nodular, or cystic acne) | Prohibited in cosmetic context | No cosmetic regulatory source supports cure or severe acne treatment wording. Even the OTC pharmaceutical pathway uses “치료” (treatment), not “완치” (cure). These expressions describe disease cure and would constitute a prohibited therapeutic claim under Korean cosmetic law. | 여드름성 피부 완화에 도움 (기능성화장품 조건 충족 시, wash-off 0.5% 범위 내) | KPIC OTC boundary records; MFDS 제2025-88호 별표 4 |
Evidence Boundaries: What This Page Does Not Claim
The following claims are outside the scope of this ingredient record:
Salicylic acid does not treat, cure, or prevent acne as a cosmetic ingredient. The expression “여드름 치료” (acne treatment) is authorized only for OTC pharmaceutical products registered under MFDS general medicine classification. Korean law distinguishes cosmetic and pharmaceutical functions; using pharmaceutical wording in cosmetic marketing is prohibited regardless of concentration or formulation.
The functional cosmetic pathway for salicylic acid does not apply to leave-on products. MFDS Notice 제2025-88호 Appendix 4 limits the acne-prone skin relief functional cosmetic designation to human cleansing products (인체세정용제품류) used as wash-off formulations at 0.5% salicylic acid. Toners, serums, exfoliant pads, and other leave-on products are outside this scope, regardless of their salicylic acid content.
The KCIA ingredient dictionary entry does not establish functional claim allowance. KCIA no.812 confirms the ingredient name (INCI: SALICYLIC ACID), CAS number (69-72-7), and cosmetic concentration limits. It does not evaluate or authorize functional or therapeutic claims, and should not be cited as the sole basis for any efficacy statement.
Monograph listing in Appendix 8 is not product-level claim clearance. MFDS Notice 제2025-89호 Appendix 8 establishes testing standards for salicylic acid as a functional cosmetic ingredient for acne-prone skin relief. Inclusion in a monograph does not automatically authorize claims for any individual product; the conditions set out in Appendix 4 must also be met.
This page does not evaluate individual products, endorse formulations, or guarantee outcomes. The regulatory records and claim boundaries documented here reflect the general framework as understood from publicly available official sources as of 2026-05-24.
Related Entities
Related Ingredients (published)
- Niacinamide — functional cosmetic whitening ingredient (published)
Planned Related Entities (not yet published)
- Retinol — functional cosmetic wrinkle improvement ingredient (planned)
- Arbutin — functional cosmetic whitening ingredient (planned)
- Betaine Salicylate — salicylate derivative; distinct regulatory profile, do not conflate (planned)
Related Product Types
- 기능성화장품 — 여드름성 피부 완화 (functional cosmetic, acne-prone skin relief category)
- 인체세정용제품류 (human cleansing products) — wash-off product type where Appendix 4 scope applies
- 일반의약품 OTC acne medicine — pharmaceutical category; separate from cosmetics
Related Claims
- 여드름성 피부를 완화하는 데 도움을 준다 — Caution; scope-limited to wash-off 0.5% functional cosmetics
- 여드름 치료 — Avoid / Prohibited in cosmetic context; OTC pharmaceutical expression only
Related Regulatory Concepts
- 기능성화장품 (functional cosmetic) — Korean regulatory designation for cosmetics with specific approved functions
- 인체세정용 제품류 (human cleansing product type) — the product category to which salicylic acid’s functional cosmetic scope is limited
- 일반의약품 (general medicine / OTC pharmaceutical) — the category under which 2% salicylic acid acne products are registered in Korea
- 화장품 안전기준 등에 관한 규정 — the regulation governing cosmetic ingredient concentration limits
Source Transparency Note
| Source | Role on This Page | Authority Scope | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCIA ingredient dictionary (no.812) | Naming & limits reference | INCI name, CAS, Korean name, cosmetic concentration limits | Does not establish functional or therapeutic claim allowance on its own |
| MFDS 제2025-88호 별표 4 | Functional cosmetic scope | Permitted claim wording, product type scope, concentration limit for acne-prone skin relief functional cosmetics | Wash-off / cleansing products only; 0.5% limit; specified dosage forms |
| MFDS 제2025-89호 별표 8 | Monograph / testing standard | Functional cosmetic testing requirements for salicylic acid | Testing standards only; does not authorize product-level claims independently |
| KPIC — Clearteen / Aclean Gel | OTC pharmaceutical boundary evidence | Confirms 2% salicylic acid OTC drug classification and “여드름 치료” as drug-only expression | OTC boundary evidence only; must not be used as cosmetic claim basis |
KCIA is used for naming and concentration limit reference only. KCIA alone is not a valid basis for functional or therapeutic claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is salicylic acid a regulated cosmetic ingredient in Korea?
Yes. Salicylic acid (INCI: SALICYLIC ACID; CAS: 69-72-7) is regulated in Korea as a cosmetic preservative and skin-conditioning agent with concentration limits: up to 0.5% in leave-on products, 2% in rinse-off/cleansing products, and 3% in hair care products (KCIA no.812). It is also designated as the active ingredient for acne-prone skin relief functional cosmetics under MFDS Notice 제2025-88호, limited to wash-off cleansing products at 0.5%.
What claims are permitted for salicylic acid in Korean cosmetics?
The regulatory-backed claim wording is “여드름성 피부를 완화하는 데 도움을 준다” (helps relieve acne-prone skin), from MFDS Notice 제2025-88호 Appendix 4. This applies only to wash-off cleansing products containing 0.5% salicylic acid that have completed the functional cosmetic report or review process. It does not apply to leave-on formulations or higher concentrations.
Can salicylic acid cosmetic claims use the phrase “acne treatment” or “여드름 치료”?
No. “여드름 치료” is an OTC pharmaceutical (일반의약품) expression authorized for registered medicines such as Clearteen (클리어틴외용액2%) and Aclean Gel (애크린겔), both registered as general medicines under MFDS authorization. This expression must not be used in cosmetic product claims or marketing, as it implies pharmaceutical-level therapeutic action prohibited under Korean cosmetic law.
Does the functional cosmetic designation for salicylic acid apply to leave-on products like toners or serums?
No. The functional cosmetic pathway for salicylic acid under MFDS Notice 제2025-88호 Appendix 4 is limited to human cleansing products (인체세정용제품류) used as wash-off formulations at 0.5%. Leave-on products such as toners, serums, or exfoliant pads are outside this regulatory scope regardless of salicylic acid concentration.
What is the difference between salicylic acid in Korean cosmetics and in OTC pharmaceutical products?
In Korean cosmetics, salicylic acid is regulated at up to 0.5% in leave-on products, with a functional cosmetic designation available only for wash-off cleansing products at 0.5%. Korean OTC pharmaceutical acne products such as Clearteen and Aclean Gel contain 2% salicylic acid and are registered as general medicines (일반의약품) under separate drug authorization. The drug-use expression “여드름 치료” applies only to the pharmaceutical category.