Tazarotene
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Tazarotene is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation in...

Tazarotene is a vitamin A derivative called a topical retinoid. It helps clear acne by promoting skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation in the skin.

Tazarotene is usually applied once a day around bedtime.

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August 28, 2010

Pros:

-makes skin peel like crazy
-sloughs away PIH
-evens skintone
-gets rid of acne
-reduces pore size

Cons:

-dry, scaly skin (especially when used in conjunction with other drying agents)
-sensitive skin, esp. when just starting the medication
-very expensive, even with insurance

I love this stuff! I started off on tretinoin 0.025%, then graduated to tazorac 0.05%. It has done wonders for my skin. My post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is 95% gone (and it was really bad); I am African-American, and we are more prone to PIH because we have more melanin in our skin. I use this in conjunction with Dan's BP in the morning. I did experience a bad purging in the beginning with tretinoin, but that's pretty common with retinoids. I still gets whiteheads every now and then, but they are tiny and resolve quickly. Here is my skincare routine: AM - wet face, rub off scaly skin, wash with PanOxyl 10% BP (with a drop of pure tea tree oil mixed in), apply Neutrogena alcohol-free toner on a cotton ball, apply Purpose moisturizer to eyelids and undereye area, apply Dan's BP, let it dry then apply Neutrogena Healthy Face lotion to the rest of my face (you cannot apply the Purpose moisturizer on top of Dan's BP beause it piles), apply Bare Minerals foundation PM - remove makeup with extra virgin olive oil, wash with PanOxyl facewash (with a drop of tea tree oil), tone with Neutrogena, apply tazorac (no moisturizer) Ladies, I can say that I am just about comfortable without any makeup on. In the next few weeks, all the PIH will disappear, and I will ditch the foundation (reserving it for special occasions); this is something I never could have said before taz! Phew, this is a long review, but I hope it helps someone in the fight against acne :) Questions? Email me at theillestfemale@[link removed]
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August 22, 2010

Pros:

Clears up 99% of acne!

Cons:

You have to frequently use moisturizer because it dries your skin out.

I had very persistent acne and this worked for me when no other product did.
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August 16, 2010

Pros:

- Heals Acne
- Overtime (many months or so >.>) it also helps fade away acne scars

Cons:

- leaves weird filmly residue on face
- freakin expensive

I've been using tazorac in conjunction with the antibiotic minocycline for a solid 4 months at least Every Night..Ugh Mildly mind numbing routine? Yes. Worth it? Hell Yes. I had moderately severe acne in gr. 9 - 11. I had mostly huge cysts that couldnt go away...I got called Rudolph several times when I had a giant one on my nose, I couldve sworn it was a boil instead >.> But after several months have passed, I have nearly no acne at all (i still get acne here and there, usually gone by the next day though) . Just the post-pigmentation that was left behind, but luckily that's starting to fade away too =) I've heard people say that their own skin peeled and have experienced pain while using tazorac. Personally, I've had no terrible experiences myself and I have pretty sensitive skin. Also I recommend those who want a faster healing process for post pigmentation to try an aspirin mask at least once a week, I find that it helps a Whole lot =D you can find many different recipes online if you just google "aspirin mask". Also, for people with oily skin and can't seem to find the correct cleanser (trust me, i know how THAT's Like >.>) I also HIGHLY recommend using OCM "Oil cleansing Method" You can also Google that up for recipes and information. it may sound disgusting but you really can't say anything until you try it right? =)
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August 13, 2010

Pros:

none

Cons:

left me with oily skin
oily skin led to whiteheads

I thought this cream was supposed to dry out your skin and clear up your acne. All it does for me is give me really oily skin and leaves my face feeling greasy. I was told by my derm to apply it to the red bumps every night but I can't take it any more. Every morning I wake up with new bumps and whiteheads on the area where the cream was applied. I've been using tazoraz for 4 months now and it only makes my skin break out even more.
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July 28, 2010

Pros:

-reduces acne over the period of about 2-3 months
-reduces scars like no other product i used
-tightens pores
-reduces pigmentation and any other imperfections

Cons:

-causes lots of redness and irritation if USED INCORRECTLLY!!!
-you will brake out and purge A LOT in the beggining months
-peeling (until skin adjusts to cream)

I'm an aesthetician who was suffering with acne and acne scarring for bout 3 years now. It is horrible to have acne overall but imagine giving people advices about their skin when your own looks like complete crap :) I tried everything, and when i say everything i mean EVERYTHING, all the over the counter products, proffesional-expensive products, microdermabrasion (for my scars when my acne was not active), chemical peels (glycolic, PCA, salycilic...) antibiotics which helped for the months that i was using and after stopping i went back to my "normal" face + the added problems with my stomach. This product is trully AMAZING!!! You will purge like crazy for the first couple of months, and to me, personally, thats better than stuffing everything back in with Proactiv and its just a matter of time when it all will come out. You have to use this cream/gel with moisturizer thats a must! You either need to dilute the product or apply moist. and apply tazorac after 15-30min, increase dossage sparinglly! I know, i know when you see something working you wanna bathe in that cream, but this product works in steps. Just when your skin starts to get used to dossage, increase it. Thats how you exfoliate the top layers of your skin revieling babys butt skin underneath. Use SPF, otherwise you will get pigmentation and be patiente, you will peel, you will brake out, you will probablly hate your skin during the first couple of months but it will be worth it in the long run :) use mild cleansers, because your skin will get more sensitive and DO NOT spot treat your pimples with this! My skin is looking about 80% better already , i have been useing it for about 3 months and i looove how wonderful my skin is looking! Listen to your DERMATOLOGIST, educated ones will tell you to not use it everyday, and how to do right dossage and after how many weeks to increase it. good luck!
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July 2, 2010

Pros:

no smell, light weight, working so far

Cons:

none yet

I've been using this product for a little over a week and so far it is working. Seeing how bad my face was breaking out before, I haven't had an increase in breakouts as some have. I naturally have very very oily skin (I use blotting paper about 2-3 times a day) and have had no problems with drying out. I use Purpose for a my cleanser in the morning and night, and Aveeno with sunscreen in the morning for a moisturizer. The few pimples I have had so far are going away within 2 days instead of taking a week and aren't nearly as big and painful (regular and cystic acne). I have only had 1 cystic pimple vs 4 before using the cream, and only a 2 other small pimples. I will report back after a few weeks of use.
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June 25, 2010

Pros:

It clears up acne quickly and doesn't have a harsh odor. Plus it's inexpensive and a tube of it lasts for a few months.

Cons:

Skin becomes red and irritated during the first week of application. Also, it makes your skin sensitive to winter conditions and sun exposure.

When I entered high school, I had moderate acne. To clear up the few blemishes I had, I went to my dermatologist and was prescribed Differin. In a few weeks my skin went from okay to horrid. I suddenly had cystic acne and painful zits all over my face. Entering my sophomore year of high school, my skin was awful! My self confidence went down the drain. I felt hideous and hopeless. During my junior year, with nothing left to lose, I visited my dermatologist again and was prescribed Tazorac Gel. In a matter of days, my skin cleared up in a snap! I stopped wearing make up and I started going out more. People started coming up to me in the halls and telling me how beautiful my skin looked. I love my skin! Tazorac has opened up a whole new world of confidence and hope for me. It might not work for everyone, but talk to your dermatologist and give it a try! Don't let your acne control your life.
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June 2, 2010

Pros:

easy to usze,no harszh szmell

Cons:

irritated szkin,peeling,drying itchy

well i had about moderate acne but wasz desperate for something that might work so i used proactive,juzt made it worse den wat i had,so from being moderate to now severe' i was recently in a acne study using some kind of foam it workd better then anything i use so far just to get my face back on track where i left off before proactive,as of my study ended they gave me a prescription of tazorac & epiduo i havnt used epiduo yet but tazorac omg''' wtf it made my face break out like no other its worse then i ever had it i now have cysts like crazy my face itches and im like in pain juzt touching it when i apply moisture &wash my face, my face is really red szo im thinkn i may juzt quit this routine and try epiduo..now that i got the worse acne ever im like szo done with all these acne products and how to get rid of these painful cysts,not onli that it brings my acne to the heads of looking like they need to pop but ouch they hurt to the touch
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May 24, 2010

Pros:

Beautiful Skin, helps with wrinkles, reduces severity of acne

Cons:

Expensive, takes a long time to see good results, when first taking it the cream can be very drying to skin

I've had severe acne since I was 13. I'm 26 now and it's still a daily battle. After trying everything under the sun my dermo decided tazorac would be the way to go. He gave me several samples of retinol products that progressively got stronger, I used one for a week before moving up to the next strength, after six weeks he had me on tazorac .05% then on the seventh week I was on .1%. This helped reduce the drying effects as my skin got used to it gradually. Granted my acne was so bad at the time even flaking peeling skin wouldn't have made much of a difference. Once I was on the tazorac my skin gradually improved. My skin had never looked so good! Now a year later I'm starting to develop cysts again. It's like my skin has built up a tolerance to it. But I started the BP during the day and the tazorac at night (don't use at the same time! They do not go well together). I am also exfoliating a couple times a week with an aspirin mask the moisturizing with either almond or jojoba oil. The combination is working really well for me. I have very insensitive skin, so if that could be why the heavy duty stuff seems to work for me and not cause problems. Tazorac can be tricky to apply, try dotting it over your face and gently rubbing it, then apply a heavy moisturizer over top. Or if that doesn't work, apply the moisturizer first, let it sit for an hour then apply the tazorac. And with tazorac less is more. A pea sized amount is all you need, any more and it's a waste and doesn't seem to work as well for some reason.
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May 6, 2010

Pros:

clears skin,
works in a couple of days.
easy to apply,

Cons:

Peeling,Burning,Redness In first week of use

I've been using Tazorac with Doxycycline and i have seen results in a matter of days. the first week there was some burning and peeling that made me want to stop using it but i kept on with it. overall I'm happy with this product
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website