Can you use adapalene with glycolic acid?
It's best not to layer them. Adapalene and AHAs like glycolic acid can both cause dryness, peeling and redness, so use them on different nights.
Why
There's no known chemical conflict, but a retinoid and glycolic acid both increase water loss from the skin and dryness, so their effects overlap. Adapalene's label notes irritation is more likely in the first few weeks, and AHAs add UV sensitivity, so both are best kept to the evening. Adapalene 0.1% gel is an OTC drug ingredient in the US, so its label directions come first.
How to use them
Put adapalene and the AHA on different nights; many people use adapalene most nights and the AHA once or twice a week after their skin has adjusted. Wear sunscreen daily.
Adapalene is regulated as an OTC drug in the US. The directions on the product's label come first, and Dermo doesn't recommend specific drug products.
Sources
- 1Adapalene Gel USP, 0.1% (OTC) - Drug Facts label · DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2026
- 2Functional changes in human stratum corneum induced by topical glycolic acid: comparison with all-trans retinoic acid · Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 1995
- 3Alpha Hydroxy Acids · U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2022
General cosmetic information, not medical advice. Written with AI assistance from the sources above; updated October 2026.