What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin
Tretinoin's FDA label (Retin-A Micro) of September 1, 2025 names benzoyl peroxide in its warnings and precautions section; the benzoyl peroxide labels PlainMeds reads (2) do not name tretinoin. The tretinoin label: “Advise patients that concomitant use of topical over the counter (OTC) acne products containing benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid with RETIN-A MICRO may increase the risk for local skin irritation …”
Check it at the source: the benzoyl peroxide FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 31, 2026); the tretinoin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 17, 2024, Bausch Health US, LLC).
What does the benzoyl peroxide label say about tretinoin?
Benzoyl peroxide's label (effective July 31, 2026) and its 1 other brand-application label do not name tretinoin in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Terminator 10), AcneFree, LLC, effective July 31, 2026 (SPL set c06778b6-0ed6-7d82-e053-2a95a90a2ef8), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the tretinoin label say about benzoyl peroxide?
Retin-A Micro label (Bausch Health US LLC, September 1, 2025), warnings and precautionsAdvise patients that concomitant use of topical over the counter (OTC) acne products containing benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid with RETIN-A MICRO may increase the risk for local skin irritation including dryness, erythema, and peeling.
Source: FDA drug label (Retin-A Micro, NDA020475), Bausch Health US LLC, effective September 1, 2025 (SPL set 08ab7e0c-1437-455f-815c-98904d96a289), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Retin-A), Bausch Health US, LLC, effective May 17, 2024 (SPL set 9556d73d-c573-4e0a-9feb-764ce2d1107b), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Benzoyl peroxide | Tretinoin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acne | Acne |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.0469 per gram 10% wash | $0.506 per gram 0.025% cream |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once