Yes, but layering two leave-on exfoliating acids can over-exfoliate. Splitting them, with salicylic acid in the morning and the AHA at night, is gentler.
Why
AHAs (glycolic, lactic, mandelic) and salicylic acid exfoliate in slightly different ways, and some products combine them at modest strengths, but stacking separate products raises the risk of stinging, redness and flaking. In an FDA study, glycolic acid increased the skin's sensitivity to UV light while salicylic acid did not, so the AHA fits better at night. In the US, salicylic acid is also an OTC drug ingredient in some products; if yours has a Drug Facts label, follow its directions first.
How to use them
Use salicylic acid in the morning and the AHA at night, or keep both in the evening on different nights. Wear sunscreen every day.
BHA is 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
- 1The 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
- 2Applications of hydroxy acids: classification, mechanisms, and photoactivity · Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2010
- 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.