The key difference between salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid is that salicylic acid is a monomeric substance, whereas hyaluronic acid is a polymeric substance. Moreover, application-wise, salicylic acid is used as a medication in treating warts, dandruff, acne and other skin disorders. Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid is used in the cosmetic industry as a common ingredient in skincare products.
We can name salicylic acid as a single molecule, but hyaluronic acid contains more than one unit bonded to each other through linkages. Therefore, we can call it a polymeric substance.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Salicylic Acid
3. What is Hyaluronic Acid
4. Side by Side Comparison – Salicylic Acid vs Hyaluronic Acid in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Salicylic Acid?
Salicylic acid is an organic compound that is very important as a medication that helps to remove the outer layer of the skin. This substance appears as a colourless to white crystalline solid that is odourless. The chemical formula of this compound is C7H6O3, and the molar mass is 138.12 g/mol. The melting point of salicylic acid crystals is 158.6 °C, and it decomposes at 200 °C. These crystals can undergo sublimation at 76 °C (sublimation is the conversion of a solid directly into its vapour phase without going through a liquid phase). The IUPAC name of salicylic acid is 2-Hydroxybenzoic acid.
Figure 01: Appearance of Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is important as a medication in treating warts, dandruff, acne, and other skin disorders due to its ability to remove the outer layer of the skin. Therefore, salicylic acid is a major ingredient useful in manufacturing skincare products; for example, it is useful in some shampoos to treat dandruff. It is significant in manufacturing Pepto-Bismol, a medication used to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Additionally, salicylic acid is also useful as a food preservative.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a polymeric organic molecule having the chemical formula (C14H21NO11)n. We can categorize this compound under the category of glycosaminoglycan compounds. However, hyaluronic acid is unique because it is the only non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan. This compound naturally occurs in the human body. It can undergo distribution throughout connective, epithelial, and neural tissues.
Figure 02: Chemical Structural Unit of Hyaluronic Acid
Furthermore, unlike other glycosaminoglycan compounds, this compound is formed in the plasma membrane (other glycosaminoglycan compounds form in the Golgi apparatus). There are many important facts about this compound. Considering its application in the cosmetic industry, it is a common ingredient in skincare products. Moreover, it is useful as a dermal filler in cosmetic surgeries. Manufacturers produce hyaluronic acid mainly via microbial fermentation processes. This is because of the lower production cost and less environmental pollution. The major microorganisms they use for this is Streptococcus sp. However, there is a great concern about this process since these microbial species are pathogenic.
What is the Difference Between Salicylic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid?
We can show salicylic acid as a single molecule, but hyaluronic acid contains more than one unit bonded to each other through linkages. Therefore, we can name it a polymeric substance. Thus, the key difference between salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid is that salicylic acid is a monomeric substance, whereas hyaluronic acid is a polymeric substance. Salicylic acid appears as a colourless to white crystalline solid that is odourless whereas hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the human body. Moreover, salicylic acid is used as a medication in treating warts, dandruff, acne and other skin disorders due to its ability to remove the outer layer of the skin whereas hyaluronic acid is used in the cosmetic industry and is a common ingredient in skincare products. Thus, this is the difference between salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid in terms of usage.
The below infographic lists the differences between salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid in tabular form.
Summary – Salicylic Acid vs Hyaluronic Acid
The key difference between salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid is that salicylic acid is a monomeric substance, whereas hyaluronic acid is a polymeric substance.
Reference:
1. “Salicylic Acid.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Kwas salicylowy” By Adam001d – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Hyaluronan” By Vaccinationist – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia