NotMeAtAll

I had used the gel because the doctor had free samples and it was very difficult to apply - very dry and pasty and you're not supposed to use lotion with it.  Apparently the pump form comes out in a thinner/easier to spread/larger amount so that it is easier to apply, but it is also newer and thus very expensive (they gave me a free first prescription card for it but I never did fill it.)  If price is important, go with the gel, but for ease of application, I hear the pump is better.

D'oh!  Oh well.

Skin totally clear.  Could leave without makeup.  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I used BPO and salicylic acid throughout all my pregnancies without a problem.  I always had a time in the middle where I broke out anyway, but these at least helped control it.

Dude.  It's the blind leading the blind around here a lot of the time.  Also, it's pretty rude to go to any internet forum and complain that no one is answering you.  It's just not done, as they say.  It's almost never personal; it's just that the person with an answer didn't happen to come on the forum at the time that you posted.  There is a lot of churn here, and not a lot of senior members who keep coming back once they're better.  I think people naturally want to forget about this when they get better.

Why did you quit the Ziana?  My derm says you have to continue using something to kill bacteria in the mornings while you use the Tazorac at night.

I guess my problem is is that I don't like to gamble with new things, especially when it deals with my face, and also when I hear so many opposing viewpoints that it's hard to make a decision. It's also scary that it's a very potent drug. Well, I am going to keep with the ziana and just talk more about it with my derm during my next scheduled appointment. I'm just going to have to wait and see how my skin takes to the treatment.

You gotta be careful of Dr. Google.  Anything has some bad reviews and bad side effects, and it is easier to find negatives on the internet because people will go to complain more often than they go to rave about a product.  KWIM?

How did you start?  I started every other night for two weeks, just a pea for my whole face.  I washed with something gentle, then moisturized, then waited an hour, then applied the Tazorac.  I also moisturized + jojoba oil in the morning.

After two weeks, I went to every night, following the same routine.

Now after five weeks, I don't need any moisturizer at morning or night, nor the jojoba oil.

Day 16: I have used Tazorac three nights in a row without irritation.  I am preferring it to using BPO every other night as the Tazorac seems to make any growing pimples disappear overnight.  I have two healing pimples and the same two papules that seem to be going nowhere.  I am not red at all.  I could totally just cover the healing pimples with concealer and leave the house!  YAY!  I hope I don't start breaking out again.