Topical Retinoid
Acne.org’s Real World Take
Produces similar results to the two other topical retinoids, tretinoin and adapalene, which means only partial clearing, and comes with far more sensitivity and side effects when you first start using it. It probably won’t be a total game changer and don’t be surprised if it’s too much for your skin to take.
Topical Retinoid
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Tazarotene? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
January 26, 2012
Cons:
Takes up to 12 weeks to see actual changes (so you can't just give up at week 7 because it's "not working"); you have to complete the 3 months to accurately assess if it's the right product for you.
Probably you will have the purging period. I have to be honest, it really sucks. I recommend sleeping a lot to help time pass faster. It lasted all the way until the 8th or 9th week for me because my pores were so clogged.
Dry, flaky skin, burnt sensation. At times hard to even smile!
Bottom line: Tazorac works for me. Today people at my work place said, "You're just glowing!" And I was not wearing any makeup. That's called the Taz Effect. But I went through hell to get here, I kid you not. My face was just littered with even more acne, whiteheads, blackheads, etc. during the purging period. It was so horrific that I couldn't even put on makeup. No amount will cover the bumpiness and might aggravate it, so I just stuck out the ugly phase...unfortunately for me, it was so much longer than I expected. And for you pickers, DO NOT PICK YOUR FACE ON THIS MEDICATION!! No really, get your picking under control and stop before you even start using Taz. The urge to pick will be very very strong when you're purging and waking up to multiple new uglies everyday. Go to [link removed] for support. Your skin is an organ and should be treated with respect. Think about it, do you go squeezing at your liver daily? There are so many reasons to stop picking, but especially important on retinoids because your skin is so thin. I've got a few scars to prove it, and hoping they'll fade more over time. I hate to sound dramatic, but Tazorac gave me my life back. To be able to live and focus on yourself and your happiness and enjoy life without giving a second thought to acne. To be one of those "normal" people without spots all over. It's simply amazing.
January 18, 2012
Pros:
Smooth skin
Dries out new acne
Cleans pores
Easy to apply
Removes dead skin cells
Cons:
Intense burning and itching during first week
Leaves skin oily
Doesn't 100% prevent new acne
Does nothing for blackheads
Expensive without insurance
Been using this for 10 weeks. The first week I was on this topical was brutal. I wanted to quit, my skin was so sensitive. But I stuck with it and it's worked really well for my acne so far. However, I am on antibiotics(Doxycycline Hyclate) for my acne as well so I haven't experienced a horrible initial breakout like others. I do still breakout here and there but the pimples are very small and gone within a few days. It will make your skin really smooth. That's probably the best thing I've experienced so far. Still waiting for the hyper-pigmentation to fade but patience is a virtue. Highly recommend this product.
January 10, 2012
Pros:
smoother, softer skin
acne scars and fine lines fading
acne cleared
Free samples from my derm
Cons:
horrible peeling
initial mass of breakouts
redness
burns
Very expensive
I had developed lots of cluster acne on my cheeks and a moderate amount on my chin as well as tiny little bumps all over my face after having a facial with dermaplaning. Apparently it caused the bacteria from some of the pimples I had to spread to the rest of my face. I tried peels and facials to try to get rid of the problems but it all made it worse. I finally went to the derm. I was placed on a pretty hardcore regimin. Tazorac, Doryx and Spironolactone. I started at the end of Oct 2011. I am in absolute shock with how well I've responded. Prior to the facial I had been getting more breakouts than usual and blackheads which I never had before. Most likely hormonal changes since hitting my 30's. The first month on the Tazorac was so awful. My face peeled terribly and my breakouts were so bad that I didn't even want to leave the house. I'd smile and my face would crack by my mouth and start bleeding. After about 5-6wks I started seeing some improvement. I decided to make an adjustment to my regimin. Again, I started peeling and breaking out but I stuck with it. I'm about to go on my 11th week of treatment and I can't even begin to describe how happy I am. I have to admit that I picked at them which of course led to scars but the med is helping to fade them and my skin is so incredibly smooth and soft. Yay! In case you'd like to know here is my regimin:
am: Wash with Panoxyl with my Clairisonic brush (ok'd by derm to use) Moisturize with Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Soothing Lotion SPF 15.
pm: Wash with CeraVe foaming face wash. Very important: Be sure to dry your face completely before applying Tazorac. If you do not wait then you apply it will burn your skin which will cause terrible peeling for at least a week on top of the regular peeling. After the Tazorac I used the Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Soothing Cream. Patience is the key!. Good luck to you all and thank you for all the posts. This really helped me to continue the med when all I wanted to do
January 7, 2012
Pros:
Clears up acne faster
Smooths out skin
Fades acne marks
Helps wrinkles
Cons:
Bad IB
Very slightly burning/itching
Peeling
Redness (short lived)
Takes at least 12 weeks to see results
I haven't used it the full 12 weeks but I'm on week nine and seeing results. I do feel as though my skin is softer and more even toned. The breakout started a little over a week and it was pretty bad. But if you suffer from moderate to severe acne you may not even notice. I had always been prone to cystic acne and with the IB I did get a few but the cleared up much faster than they normally would have. It has taken me a little longer to see results but I think that's just because my pores were so clogged. The redness and burning was mild and only lasted a few weeks 2 at the most. The odd thing about this medication is that my derm had been prescribing it to me for years on and off so I pretty much always had a tube in the cabinet. But what they never told me was how to use it. I always thought I had to lather it on and when it Burned or irritated my skin I always stopped bc I thought. It was just too strong. No one ever said start slow or use a pea size amount. No one ever said moisturizer or even GIVE IT TIME!!! It wasnt until i say an esthitician that i knew the propper way to use it. This medication does take at least 12 weeks to work and at nine weeks i have almost no new acne just clearing up the IB. When I tell you I have used everything and spend a DISGUSTING AMOUNT OF MONEY AND TIME OBSESSING OVER HOW TO GET CLEAR I'm not kidding. If I wasn't spending money and time looking for a cure it was spent looking for a way to cover it up (tinted moisturizers makeup etc)
Just know that this medication is very possibly going to make you look worse before better.If you are using this or even consider it know that acne does effect most of us emotionally as well as physically and you have to prepare urself for both. Be ready for the IB and think "patience" also I have been on every antibiotic for acne and have gained a tolererance so I didn't have the option of using one to help with the IB. BEST OF LUCK TO ALL. THIS FORUM WAS THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT ME A
January 2, 2012
Pros:
At first faded hyper pigmentation
Feels lightweight on skin
Cons:
Dryness
Peeling
New/reoccuring hyper pigmentation
Still have new acne forming after using for a month
I think I'm just going to go on accutane like my dermatologist reccomended. I have a lot of pussy acne and some under the skin cystic acne. This isn't working. Ive been on solodyn 80mg for three months, epiduo for two but switched to tazorac. I had a bad breakout initially and I still have new acne every day :( I'm 16 and have had acne for years. Ive tried everything topical and have given up.
December 30, 2011
Pros:
Very effective
Relatively fast acting
Only needed to be used once per day
Cons:
VERY expensive
Causes a lot of peeling for the first few weeks
Causes a lot of redness for the first few weeks
After trying many different medications, this is by far my favourite. If you don't have excellent insurance, you'll have to deal with a massive co-pay, but take it from me, it is quite worth it. I have been taking this medication for four months now, and it's simply a miracle drug. One should expect to see some results after about three weeks, and completely clear skin after three months. I've been taking this medication along with Aczone, and Neosalus as a moisturizer. I don't reccomend this drug as a first try, simply because it's so powerful, but for those of you that have tried many others, with unsatisfactory results, this may be the right medication for you.
December 30, 2011
Pros:
Clears scars Non sticky Clears existing pimples
Cons:
Makes skin peel. And burns
I started to use this with benzefoam and yea it makes your face peel but beauty cost! It fades scars and you get new skin! Also clear existing pimples and doesn't irritate with makeup! I have free bottles thanks to my dermatologist !
December 29, 2011
So I don't know? I've been using this for about four months now. i had HORRIBLE BOTTOM line horrible acne . my face peeled burned and still and looked red. around the 3 month it cleared my face for about a day and then about three weeks ago my face broke out EVERYWHERE even my neck where i had never broken out before. but starting three days ago i started using clean and clear spot treatment along with tazorac.(THIS is not for people who can't tolerate burning/pain higher than 6) because it burns SOOO BADD. but in these 3 days my face AND NECK are completely clear now. idk what to give the credit to but I'm not about to stop one of the and break out again. cause its just embarrassing i can finally put my hair up again!! yayy.
December 26, 2011
Pros:
AMAZING at fading hyperpigmentation (brown, red marks)
Destroys pimples and prevents them.
Recreates your skin
Cons:
Absolute HELL for the first 2-4 weeks of using it. Will cause intense peeling, burning, stinging, and itching. I'm not exaggerating, it really is hell.
Does nothing for deep pitted ice pick scars.
Amazing topical. It is no wonder this is the strongest retinoid available, it really does an awesome job of destroying acne, preventing it, and plus removing any acne marks you might have. Notice I said marks, not SCARS. This does not at all work on those ice pick ones that look like holes on your face, nope just red and brown marks. I've been using it for 1 month and it's been doing great things for my skin. Not going to lie though, the first few weeks were terrible. I would wake up in the morning to wash my face and want to cry due to looking like a peeling monster. There were also a few nights, where I could barely sleep due to the itching on my face. But see, that's how it works since it's literally peeling away all those marks and pimples and stuff from your skin...it's like a constant exfoliation or something I don't know. Applying moisturizer BURNS too during the first few days so that does suck too. ONLY USE A PEA AMOUNT, for christ sakes listen to them. Using anymore might seriously damage your skin. Anyway, STICK WITH IT. I can't even imagine what my skin will look like after a year on this stuff to be honest. Flawless, I'm hoping.
December 26, 2011
Pros:
Works very well, and fast
No initial breakout period
Helps heal scars
Fades wrinkles
Not only clears acne, makes skin look radiant
Cons:
Causes very sensitive skin
Redness
Peeling
Painful for the first month or so
Expensive
I've been on tazorac and benzoyl peroxide for about 7 months and my skin has never looked better. Because tazorac works by peeling the top layers of the skin, your skin will be red and flaky when you first start using it. When your skin is peeling it can be hard to cover with makeup. I use a gentle sugar scrub on my face before applying moisturizer and makeup, and that usually works great.
Pros:
Teaches you patience, haha
It will work, trust in the Taz
Pimples go away quickly
Evens out your skin tone, fades post-acne marks
Gives you back freedom
Taz Effect, aka glow
Shrinks pores
Anti-aging over the long run