Acne.org Products
So I can't decide on whether to get retin-a or tazorac. I read that some people alternate each night because of whatever the following means:
Tazarotenic acid binds to all three members of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) family: RAR,RAR, and RAR but shows relative selectivity for RAR, and RAR and may modify gene expression. The clinical significance of these findings is unknown.
And they say that retin-a binds to everything. Do you think that alternating is a good idea?
Thanks!
I started with Tazorac cream, the lower dose. Like with all retinoids, the time it takes to get used to it is very unpleasant - red, peely, painful, lots of zits. You can minimize this by starting every other night and using lots of moisturizer. After about 6 weeks maybe, my skin was used to it and got much much better. It does eventually give you a glow, and the months I was using it, I kept getting carded for booze, and I was 34 with four kids with me all the time!!!!
The downside, however, was that it never did totally clear me and I would always have 1-2 headless ouchy pimples on my chin. It's like it didn't peel that top layer enough - perhaps that's what that third binding site would have done. I was switched to Retin-A Micro and that did completely clear me, but my skin was much rougher and redder and no longer glowed.
Honestly, I preferred the Tazorac because my skin was smooth and soft and not red once I was used to it, but the Retin-A was more effective.
Tazorac is the harshest. Your skin will be a peeling, blotchy, beet-red mess on Tazorac. Unless you have not responded to milder formulations such as Retin-A Micro or Differin, I would not recommend Tazorac. The side effects of Tazorac are almost as bad as the acne. - See more at: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/topic/326334-retin-a-and-tazorac/#sthash.xgmqfEzm.dpuf
I didn't have any issues with Tazorac the second time around. I think it depends on how you use it. For me, tazorac has been mild because of how I used it. When I don't moisturize adequately, for example, it did leave a mess. That was easily remedied. If I use it immediately after washing and moisturizing, I'm left with redness and irritation too. I think a lot of derms don't stress the importance of a regimen/moisturizing.
Whichever you decide to use, moisturizing and reducing irritation is very important!
read: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/topic/316648-using-tazorac-limiting-purging/#entry3253334