What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Salicylic acid and tretinoin
Tretinoin's FDA label of May 17, 2024 names salicylic acid in its drug interactions section; the salicylic acid label PlainMeds reads does 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 salicylic acid FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 22, 2024); the tretinoin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 17, 2024, Bausch Health US, LLC).
What does the salicylic acid label say about tretinoin?
Salicylic acid's label (effective October 22, 2024) does 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 (bareMinerals Blemish Rescue Skin-Clearing Loose Foundation Fair 1C), Orveon Global US LLC, effective October 22, 2024 (SPL set 139e2d26-76de-4ad3-a6e6-7465bf5987ad), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the tretinoin label say about salicylic acid?
Tretinoin label, drug interactionsParticular caution should be exercised in using preparations containing sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid with RETIN-A. It also is advisable to “rest” a patient’s skin until the effects of such preparations subside before use of RETIN-A is begun.
Tretinoin Cream label (Obagi Cosmeceuticals LLC, February 11, 2025), drug interactionsParticular caution should be exercised in using preparations containing sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid with tretinoin.
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 (Tretinoin Cream, NDA017522), Obagi Cosmeceuticals LLC, effective February 11, 2025 (SPL set 745cc3ce-60b4-4479-a055-316817567949), via openFDA
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
| Salicylic acid | Tretinoin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acne, Pain, Psoriasis | Acne |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.102 per patch Callus removers patch | $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