What do systematic reviews say?

Glycolic acid (alpha‐hydroxy acid) vs salicylic‐mandelic acid

Glycolic acid (alpha‐hydroxy acid) showed no clear difference in participants' global self‐assessment of acne improvement Fair to… compared with salicylic‐mandelic acid (low certainty).

• Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha‐hydroxy acid) for acne 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.06 [0.88, 1.26]
  1 study · 40 participants
  Low

Glycolic acid (alpha‐hydroxy acid) vs salicylic‐mandelic acid

• Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha‐hydroxy acid) for acne 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 84 participants
  Low

Glycolic acid (alpha‐hydroxy acid) vs salicylic‐mandelic acid

It is very uncertain whether glycolic acid (alpha‐hydroxy acid) changes total number of participants who experienced at least one minor… compared with salicylic‐mandelic acid (very low certainty).

• Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha‐hydroxy acid) for acne 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.8 [0.72, 4.52]
  1 study · 44 participants
  Very low

Glycolic acid (alpha‐hydroxy acid) vs salicylic‐mandelic acid

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha‐hydroxy acid) for acne 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found