EXFOLIATING OR GENTLE?: cleansers while on tretinoin acid

Hello again guys!! BACKGROUND: I have here two cleansers. I used them too btw! I have an exfoliating face wash that was prescribed by my dermatologist before, and until now Im still using it. It's a 1.5% BHA cleanser btw. On the other hand, I have a more gentle, and low pH gel to foam cleanser. It's great to my oily skin. Non-stripping and super gentle. CONCERN: The BHA face wash / cleanser was prescribed to me by my dermatologist. Together with azelaic acid cream and tretinoin cream every night. In order to combat my face's oiliness, clogged pores, and of course breakouts. However my one concern is, sometimes it makes my skin to be more sensitive and kind of dry, in a way (Im using sunscreen everyday FYI). Due to sensitivity and quite dryness; or irritation, Im using the gentle cleanser. QUESTION: 1) Is it okay to use my gentle cleanser alone, and use the BHA one as an exfoliator? 2) My other way is that Im just using my gentle cleanser whenever I feel dry and sensitive from using the BHA cleanser. I used this method or routine actually. I wanna know your thoughts? 3) Or should I just continue what my derma prescribed and adviced to me of using BHA face wash twice daily, together with my other actives namely azelaic and retinoic acids? [ADDITIONAL QUESTION] Whenever I use my BHA face wash, I massage it for about a minute. Now, how long (or how many minutes) can I let it sit on my skin, to effectively penetrate or absorbed the actives such as the Salicylic Acid aka BHA? ***Hope you can help me!! Im such an overthinker and can't focus something such as this, without an answer or opinions coming from you guys! 😭