Living With Fibro

When you hear “Salicylic acid”, what do you think of? For many people, the answer to that question is Aspirin. Did you know that Salicylic acid and the products that contain it can actually increase the amount of inflammation that you experience as a Fibromyalgia sufferer in turn increasing your pain? And it’s not just Aspirin and other medications containing Salicylic acid that you need to avoid to lessen your pain, it’s ALL products that contain Salicylic acid. Even products that you apply to your body that contain Salicylic acid can seep thru your skin and cause inflammation and long term damage, increasing your Fibromyalgia pain.

For all of the Scientists and home chemists out there, Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid. Because it is a colorless, organic acid, many people believe that it is safe for them to use products that contain Salicylic acid. For the average person, products like shampoos, deodorants, and lotions that contain Salicylic acid are not too harmful. For a person suffering with Fibromyalgia however, Salicylic acid can make a bad day worse and a good day bad.

Salicylic acid is actually a plant hormone. Yes, you heard me right, a plant hormone. Salicylic itself is not Aspirin, but it is very similar, and many often confuse the two. Aspirin is actually acetylsalicylic acid. Salicylic acid is formed thru the hydrolysis of Aspirin or the hydrolysis of Oil Of Wintergreen when combined with a strong acid or base.

The last thing that your body as a Fibromyalgia sufferer needs is more fake chemicals and acid. The key here is to check labels, but how do you know which labels to check for Salicylic Acid?

Here is a list of common products that contain the ingredient Salicylic acid. If you suffer from Fibromyalgia, you should avoid these products entirely whenever possible. Not all brands of products are the same and some brands may not contain salicylic acid, the key here is to read the labels carefully before you purchase any of these products.

Acne treatment products (astringents, sticks, pads, etc)
Dandruff treatment products (shampoos, drops, etc)
Callus treatment products (creams, medicated strips,etc)
Corn treatment products (creams, medicated strips, etc)
Wart treatment products (gels, freezing agents, etc)
Shampoos (dandruff treatment, all in one’s, etc)
Exfoliating products (soap, body wash, etc)
Over the counter stomach relief (Pepto Bismol, etc)
Foods (sometimes used as a preservative)
Toothpaste (sometimes used as an antiseptic)
Liniments (especially joint and muscle pain relief one’s)
Liquid Makeup (some brands to help unclog pore’s)
Deodorant (especially gels and long lasting formula’s)

This is NOT a complete list of products containing Salicylic acid. You as the consumer have to do the hard part of reading the label on every product you buy.

Once you have eliminated Salicylic acid from your body, it will take awhile for your system to get back to normal. Your system actually performs sort of a self detox over time to get rid of all of the Salicylic acid in your system that has poisoned your body for so long. Once your body has completely eliminated the Salicylic acid from inside, you will start to notice that your skin is actually healthier, that you are less tired, and that your pain and inflammation is less.

My experience with eliminating Salicylic acid from my system was very successful. Shortly after I eliminated Salicylic acid from my everyday use, I noticed that I felt better, had more energy, and less throbbing pain on my Fibromyalgia pressure points. It doesn’t happen overnight however, and you have to continue to steer clear of products containing Salicylic acid, or the same problem will build up again and be even harder to get rid of.

I hope this tip works for you. Please remember that I am not a doctor, simply a patient suffering from Fibromyalgia. If  you are currently on an Aspirin regime, remember to talk to your doctor before stopping it, just to avoid Salicylic acid.

Hugs to all!

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