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Side Effects
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.
Used Tazarotene? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
July 6, 2016
Probably made things worse
I used tazorac as a spot treatment (it was too powerful to use all over) for about a year and a half. I think I liked the idea of just zapping my zits away by drying them out, but I don't think it really made them heal any faster. If anything, I was noticing that the blemishes I used it on would be the most red and inflammed, and I would often get more breakouts in the the same areas that I was using the tazorac on. On a hunch, I decided to stop using tazorac. Sure enough, I stopped having multiple breakouts in concentrated areas and the new zits rarely became as problematic as the ones that I used tazorac for. I do know some people personally who use tazorac and they are almost clear, but for me, I honestly just think it upset my skin and made things worse.
August 14, 2013
Improvement after 4 days.
Cons:
can sting if you don't wait the 10 minutes after washing skin to apply
makes skin a tiny bit flaky but you can wash it off
it didn't turn me into a supermodel ....yet
I just started using Tazorac .1% a few days ago and already see a noticeable difference in my skin. It's smoother, pores are tighter, and it looks younger. Some of the fine lines around my eyes have gotten a lot less noticeable and my skin just looks moist and more plump. I hear that Retin-A and Renova are also great wrinkle reducers. I may try them next but so far so good.
February 28, 2013
This product is the source of all my acne related problems. I had very mild acne when I was prescribed this product by my dermatologist, and after two months my skin was moderate and no matter what I do now, nothing will clear it up. The "purging process" lasted way more than the few weeks that the doctor said. I have cried way too many times over this stupid crap. DO NOT BUY IF YOU HAVE MILD ACNE.
January 19, 2013
Pros:
Reduces cell overgrowth and clogging of pores
Cons:
Very drying: skin would peel off
Very irritating to the skin
Not very effective for hormonal acne
This is not the choice for hormonal acne, and not my choice for topicals because it is so drying. My face would be dry and oily at the same time. Epiduo works better as a retinoid and is much less drying.
November 29, 2012
Pros:
none!!!
Cons:
broke me out alot worse
this is my first review on this site, but figured this med is worth it. i used accutane a few times, with the last course being 8 yrs ago...i'm now 28. started to break out so wanted to nip it in the bud before it got worse. dr prescribed Tazorac...gave it 11 weeks, and with each week my face got worse and worse and worse...esp my chin. i know it works for some, but not me. i thought i was just going thru the "purging" pd, but i couldnt take it any more and after 2 months my derm told me to stop using it. now i'm dealing with all the marks this left on my face! I went from using conclear very rarley to cover the 1 or 2 zits I had, to now using it every day :( this med is awful. i would give this med a "zero", but 1 little happy face is the least you can rate. I'm now back to BP every night and trying zinc and B5 after reading some reviews on here.. i
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
August 15, 2011
Pros:
*softer skin
*some acne scars fading
Cons:
*still have acne
*very sensitive to the sun
*initial breakout lasts forever
*causes more breakouts
i have some mixed emotions about this medicine. I still breakout even though i have been on this 1% cream for about 4 months now! I feel like if you get on this medicine you will still have breakouts no matter what. maybe i just need a stronger dose but that means i have to go through another bad initial breakout that wont go away until the last 3 months are gone:( so i hate that this medicine isnt working and im going to keep taking this until october. Hopefully by then i wont have to be worried about a pimple. so if your thinking about taking this medicine look into the side effects because some is more worse to others and basically you will get a side effect!
November 22, 2009
Pros:
Gets rid of acne pretty well
Cons:
peeling and burning
I've been prescribed Tazorac for about a year now, but I've used it on and off mostly, because whenever I use it, it makes my skin peel and burns my face so much. I usually just use it if I have pimples on my neck or torso and it does a pretty good job of getting rid of those without burning or peeling.
October 26, 2009
Pros:
Clears skin, smoother skin, reduces oiliness, helps prevent milia
Cons:
itchiness when on skin (severe at first), burning sensation, increased sun sensitivity, mild peeling, initial breakout
I am 22 years old and developed mild acne, oily skin, and milia about 3 years ago. I have been on Tazorac for 7 weeks and all side effects are gone. My skin is almost completely clear and no new milia have formed. My skin is now less oily. It is also supposed to prevent fine lines which is fantastic. This treatment is excellent and I plan to use Tazorac for the rest of my life. It is important to keep using and to get through the initial breakout (for me it was at its worst weeks 3-5 (my mild acne became moderate and I broke out worse than I ever had) but kept using the product and am so glad I did. How I use it: Wash in the PM with cetaphil cleansing bar for dry skin. Apply cetaphil moisturizing cream. Let it dry for 30 min and apply a pea sized amount to areas of my face that I are prone to blemishes. In the AM, exfoliate with St. Ives apricot scrub, wash with cetaphil, and use bare escentuals mineral moisturizer. My dr. said to use bare escentuals mineral make up to keep skin
October 6, 2009
Pros:
It clears the skin and prevents acne. it also fades post-inflammatory marks
Cons:
it dries the skin
The product works well. It can dry the skin but you can put on moisturizer before applying the cream.
Pros:
smoother skin
tighter pores
reduced appearance of wrinkles & fine lines