Tazarotene is available as a prescription topical treatment. It is available in cream, foam, lotion, and gel forms, but physicians usually only prescribe the foam or gel to people with acne.
- Available forms:
- Topical treatment:
- Cream (not usually prescribed for the treatment of acne):
Available as prescription- Brand names (US):
- Avage®
Generic available (US)
- Avage®
- Brand names (US):
- Foam:
Available as prescription- Brand name (US):
- Fabior®
Generic available (US)
- Fabior®
- Brand name (US):
- Lotion:
Available as prescription- Brand name (US):
- Arazlo®
- Brand name (US):
- Gel:
Available as prescription- Brand name (US):
- Tazorac®
Generic available (US)
- Tazorac®
- Brand name (US):
- Cream (not usually prescribed for the treatment of acne):
- Topical treatment:
- Available in these doses:
- Cream: 0.1% (not usually prescribed for the treatment of acne)
- Foam: 0.1%
- Lotion: 0.045%
- Gel: 0.05%, 0.1%
- Who is it for?
- Gender:
- Males and females
- Severity of acne:
- Mild-to-moderate acne
- Age:
- Fabior® and Tazorac®: Children of 12 years and older, adolescents, and adults
- Arazlo®: children of 9 years and older, adolescents, and adults
- Other:
- It is also prescribed to treat hypo-/hyperpigmentation marks left behind after acne lesions heal (post-inflammatory hypo- or hyperpigmentation)
- Gender:
How to use it:
Tazarotene is a topical treatment and is available as a foam and gel for the treatment of acne.
Tazarotene is usually applied once a day around the same time, preferably in the evening.
When you start tazarotene, your acne may initially seem to become worse. You may also experience skin irritation, sometimes moderate-to-severe irritation when using tazarotene. Visible improvement in acne is usually seen after 4 weeks of treatment. Applying more tazarotene will not speed up the healing process. If your symptoms do not improve within 8 to 12 weeks or get worse even after the first 4 weeks, contact your physician.
The amount and frequency of application may vary between individuals. Your physician will specify how much of the medication you need to apply and how often. Your physician may adjust the dose and frequency of the treatment, or even temporarily stop treatment, depending on the improvement of your acne or the side effects you experience.
Keep regular appointments with your physician so that your response to the treatment may be monitored.
Tazarotene should only be applied to intact skin. If the skin is scraped, irritated, or sunburned, do not apply tazarotene until the skin has healed completely. If tazarotene gets into a cut or scrape, rinse it off with water.
Moisturizers may be used to lessen skin reactions such as dryness, redness, scaling, burning, or stinging when using tazarotene. Apply the moisturizer first and wait until it is fully absorbed (usually 1 hour) before applying tazarotene.
Do not get tazarotene in your eyes, nose, or mouth. If it does get into your eyes, wash your eyes with a generous amount of water and seek medical attention if there is any persisting irritation.
Follow the instructions on your prescription carefully and use tazarotene exactly as prescribed by your physician. Do not change the dose or the frequency of your medication because this may cause skin irritation. If you have any questions about the medication or the prescription, ask your physician or pharmacist.
- Foam/Lotion:
- Before applying tazarotene, wash the acne-affected skin with water and a mild cleanser. Rinse the skin and pat dry with a soft towel. You can ask your physician to recommend a gentle cleanser.
- Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes after washing your skin before applying the tazarotene foam. Wash your hands again before applying it to your skin.
- Shake the foam before use.
- Apply a thin layer of foam on acne-affected areas.
- Do not use bandages, dressings, or wrappings to cover the affected area.
- Once you have finished applying the medication, wash your hands with soap and water.
- Tazarotene foam is flammable. Stay well away from fire and flames, and avoid smoking while applying azelaic acid foam, and for a short time afterward.
- Gel:
- Before applying tazarotene, wash the acne-affected skin with water and a mild cleanser. Pat the skin dry with a soft towel. You can ask your physician to recommend a gentle cleanser.
- Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes after washing your skin before applying the tazarotene gel. Wash your hands again before applying it to your skin.
- Apply a thin layer of foam on acne-affected areas.
- Do not use bandages, dressings, or wrappings to cover the affected area.
- Once you have finished applying the medication, wash your hands with soap and water.
Be aware of:
- Before using tazarotene, let your physician or pharmacist know if you are allergic to tazarotene or to any of the other ingredients in the cream, foam, or gel.
- Before using tazarotene, inform you physician about the prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are using/taking.
- If you are using tazarotene, talk to your physician before taking vitamin A supplements because tazarotene contains a form of vitamin A.
- If you are using benzoyl peroxide in addition to tazarotene, apply benzoyl peroxide at a different time of day.
- Before using tazarotene, inform your physician if you or a family member currently has or has ever had skin cancer.
- Before using tazarotene, inform your physician if you have ever suffered from eczema or any other skin condition, or skin sensitivity to sunlight.
- If you are using tazarotene, you should not become pregnant because tazarotene may harm the fetus. You need to have a negative pregnancy test within 2 weeks before starting tazarotene if you can become pregnant. Stop tazarotene immediately when you become pregnant during treatment and call your physician. Talk to your physician about birth control methods during the treatment period to avoid pregnancy. If you are planning to become pregnant, talk to your physician.
- If you are using tazarotene and are breastfeeding, talk to your physician about using tazarotene during this period.
- Tazarotene may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight or extreme weather so avoid unnecessary direct or prolonged exposure to sunlight, especially between 10 am and 3 pm, and wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen (with an SPF of at least 15) while using tazarotene. Avoid prolonged exposure to cold and wind as well. Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed. Inform your physician if you develop a skin rash, itching, redness, or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn after exposure to the sun.
- Before using tazarotene, inform your physician about the skin and hair care products you use, including soaps, shampoos, cleansers, moisturizers, and cosmetics. Certain products may irritate the skin if used with tazarotene, especially products that are harsh, dry the skin, or contain alcohol, spices, or lime rind. Your physician may want to wait before prescribing tazarotene if you use these products. Ask your physician to recommend products that do not irritate the skin.
- When using tazarotene, do not use hot wax or remove unwanted hair from an area treated with tazarotene.
- If tazarotene was prescribed for acne, you can continue your regular diet unless your physician advises otherwise.
- Do not use tazarotene for a skin condition that it was not prescribed for, without consulting your physician first.
- Do not share your medication with anyone else.
- Keep your regular appointments with your physician to track your response to tazarotene.
Drug interactions:
Do not use alcohol-containing or abrasive skin care products or peel-off products (including facial masks) while using tazarotene. Inform your physician or pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take before starting tazarotene. Also inform your physician or pharmacist of any skin products you use including soaps, cleansers, moisturizers, and cosmetics.
Full list of drug interactions (From PubMed and Medline Plus):
- Chlorothiazide
- Chlorpromazine
- Chlorthalidone
- Ciprofloxacin
- Co-trimoxazole
- Doxycycline
- Fluphenazine
- Gemifloxacin
- Hydrochlorothiazide
- Indapamide
- Levofloxacin
- Methyclothiazide
- Metolazone
- Moxifloxacin
- Ofloxacin
- Perphenazine
- Prochlorperazine
- Sulfisoxazole
- Tetracycline
- Thioridazine
- Tigecycline
- Trifluoperazine
- Vitamin A supplements
Do not swallow
If tazarotene is swallowed, contact an emergency facility or call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 1 (800) 222-1222 (available 24/7).
If immediate assistance is necessary because the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, call 911.
Information can also be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help
What if I miss a dose?
If you are using tazarotene foam or lotion, apply the missed dose as soon as you recall that you have missed a dose. However, skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose and continue with your prescribed dosing schedule.
If you are using tazarotene gel, skip the missed dose. Do not apply the missed dose but continue with your regular dosing schedule.
Do not increase the quantity or frequency of application to make up for the missed dose.
Storage:
Store your medication in the container that the pharmacist provided and keep it out of reach and out of sight of children. Many containers can be opened by children. Keep the container tightly closed. Always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location that is up and away from the sight of young children, to prevent poisoning (www.upandaway.org).
Store the medication at room temperature. Keep the medication away from excessive heat and moisture – do not store in the bathroom. Do not freeze tazarotene.
Foam: Tazarotene foam is flammable so keep it well away from flames and extreme heat. Do not use tazarotene foam near heat or while smoking. Do not throw the can into a fire, even when the can is empty. Do not poke holes or break the can.
Disposal:
Do not keep outdated medication and medication that you no longer use. Unneeded medications should be disposed of in a way that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. Do not flush the medication down the toilet. Contact your pharmacist to learn about the availability of a medicine take-back program in your neighborhood, or get in touch with your local garbage/recycling department to ensure safe disposal. If you do not have access to a take-back program, you can find more information on safe disposal of medication on the FDA website: (https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/EnsuringSafeUseofMedicine/SafeDisposalofMedicines/ucm186187.htm)
References
- Medlineplus.gov. (2024). Tazarotene: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a616052.html. [Accessed 24 Dec. 2024].
- Uptodate.com. (2024). Tazarotene. [online] Available at: https://www-uptodate-com.eresources.mssm.edu/contents/tazarotene-drug-information?search=tazarotene&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~30&usage_type=default&display_rank=1. [Accessed 24 Dec. 2024].
- Epocrates.com. (2024). Tazarotene. [online] Available at: https://online.epocrates.com/drugs/128010/tazarotene-topical/Monograph. [Accessed 24 Dec. 2024].
- DailyMed.nlm.nih.gov. (2024). ARAZLO- tazarotene lotion. [online] Available at: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=d941ff25-c221-4a55-8012-0dcf3bbcbbd1. [Accessed 24 Dec. 2024].