Solution's active ingredient is salicylic acid (0.5 percent), and the inactive ingredients are water, sodium hydroxide, lactic acid, glycolic acid, gluconolactone, propanediol, ethoxydiglycol, magnesium chloride, glycereth-7 trimethyl ether, niacinamide, betaine, inositol, citric acid, glycerin, phytic acid, pentylene glycol, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglycerin, fragrance, PEG-8, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, acetic acid, and potassium hydroxide. Not exactly words nonexperts are familiar with, right?
I consulted several dermatologists to determine what, if any, red-flag ingredients in this product could irritate people with sensitive skin. "Skin irritation may develop as a result of the alpha and beta hydroxy acid," Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, told me. Types of alpha hydroxy acids include glycolic, lactic, and citric, while beta hydroxy acids include salicylic acid, Solution's active ingredient. These acids can do great things for some people, but they can also disagree with sensitive skin.
Mona Gohara, MD, also noticed some ingredient-driven irritation, saying, "Propanediol is a synthetic substance that is colorless. It's comparable to propylene glycol, which can be irritating to the skin."
