Can you use adapalene with salicylic acid?
You can use both, but not in the same step. Keep adapalene for the evening and use salicylic acid in the morning or on other nights.
Why
Both are drying, and adapalene's label says irritation is more likely when more than one product of this type is used at a time. Salicylic acid didn't increase UV sensitivity in an FDA study, so it can go in the morning, while retinoids like adapalene are best used at night. Adapalene 0.1% gel and salicylic acid (in some products) are OTC drug ingredients in the US, so each label's directions come first.
How to use them
Start adapalene first, then add salicylic acid in the morning or on alternate nights once your skin has adjusted. If irritation builds up, use just one until it settles.
Adapalene and BHA are regulated as an OTC drug active in some products 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
- 2The effects of topically applied glycolic acid and salicylic acid on ultraviolet radiation-induced erythema, DNA damage and sunburn cell formation in human skin · Journal of Dermatological Science, 2009
- 3Retinoid or retinol? · American Academy of Dermatology, 2021
General cosmetic information, not medical advice. Written with AI assistance from the sources above; updated October 2026.