Topical Retinoid
Reviews
3.4
969 Reviews
Topical Retinoid
Efficacy
51%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Topical Retinoid
Side Effects
Low-Medium
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.
Read All About Tazarotene
Compare To Other Treatments
5
18.7%
4
32.9%
3
25.3%
2
13.9%
1
9.2%

Used Tazarotene? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
August 11, 2012

Pros:

stopped my acne from getting inflamed

Cons:

made me feel oily, irritated my skin and made it peeling and red. really expensive

it made my pimples kinda scab over, but it didnt prevent new ones. didnt work for me.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 9, 2012

Pros:

Gets rid of acne, leaves skin soft and helps to reduce acne scars

Cons:

VERY EXPENSIVE if not covered by your insurance, dry skin, stings, takes a while to work

I started using tazorac with benzaclyn and it's the first time since I got pregnant that I don't have a breakout for more than 4 weeks. The first couple of weeks were hard, my skin was very sensitive to the tratment and was red like a tomato. I felt like my face was burning. After 2 weeks feeling terrible, my face started to clear out. I got less breakouts every time and now I feel pretty. It takes time (I'm in month 4) but it works. Be patient
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 8, 2012

Pros:

CLEARS BLACKHEADS
helps with pore size!

Cons:

drying !!!

I used Tazorac gel 0.05 for 1 month and my really SEVERE blackheads were almost all gone and my enlarged pores were also significantly reduced. However, my skin was really really dry and peeling. It even cracked because of all the dryness!!! Just juse a good cream with it to combat the flakes (like CeraVe).
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 23, 2011

Pros:

-results?

Cons:

-Expensive
- Dry out skin
-Bleeds skin
- stings when you put sunscreen or moisturizer on

I haven't been using this too long but when I thought they said "it may get worse before it gets better" I thought it would be peeling more or increased redness. But right now my face is painful, and it feels like I just put super glue all over it. I can barely open my mouth without pain. My face peels but mostly just scaly. I still have 5 more weeks to go. Maybe I just have to be more patient. But my face is so bad that I left school early because of my face pain and how it looked. It stings when I put moisturizer of it, wash it, touch it, move my face, or even put sunscreen on. and it definitely doesnt help that I live in a hot and dry climate.. PRO: This will help and my face will have super soft skin in a while, but it just takes a long while.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 19, 2009

Pros:

Makes skin feel smooth. Clears blemishes fast

Cons:

Little Drying

If you are breaking out in places that you never break out in then your applying to your whole face. Only apply to areas that you have acne not clear areas.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 17, 2009

Pros:

Strong medicine

Cons:

Peeling and burning. plus initial breakout sucks

I've used so much sh*t i'm 15 and started tazorac and sodium sulfacetamide 7 days ago. The past 5 days i've been breaking out bad mostly around my lips it's weird. i think it's just purging. anyone know if my skin will be more tolerate and stop breaking out hardcore?
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 14, 2009

Pros:

This clears up acne very well

Cons:

Takes about a month or so to actually start working, Very very expensive if you don't have healthcare, Flakey skin in the morning, Very dry skin

Tazorac is great but will cause your acne to get severe for the first month and a half. But after that it will start working like magic. everynow and then my acne might get worse but it dosn't usually last for long.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 22, 2009

Pros:

cleared my hormonal acne when nothing else worked. smooth skin!

Cons:

drying, takes 12 weeks to really see a difference

I'm 25 years old and had a serious case of hormonal acne. I was on acne meds and BC pills for years with perfect skin and decided to go off of them. My face broke out with giant cysts on my cheeks, forehead, and chin like no other. I tried Differin, Benzoclyn, antiobiotics, and NOTHING worked. If you saw my skin now as opposed to 12 weeks ago, you wouldn't know I was the same person. You have to be PATIENT, though. It really does take 12 weeks to see very significant change. I started using it 2 times a week (I didn't want gross peeling and redness on top of my acne!) and worked my way up. Now, i use it every single night with no irritation. It really pays to start small and work your way up. Also, follow the doctor's instruction of using a moisturizer BEFORE you apply the Tazorac. Trust me, it will not get in the way of results! This is a great drug, you just have to be patient with it. I didn't think a topical could ever work for hormonal acne, but this one did! Use it!
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 4, 2009

Pros:

The strongest topical medicine for treatment of Acne.

Cons:

Might be too strong for some people.

I tried Tazorac for about 2 months before I quit and went back to Differin. My dermatologist was still trying to perfect my skin and went with the strongest thing other than Accutane. Sadly Tazorac was way too strong for my skin. My skin would improve after a week but my face was so dry and peeling that new blemishes would pop up where there was irritation. I would go off the medication for a week letting my face recover and moisturizing. I did this routine 3 times but the same thing happened each time. I am sure it is a great product as I have seen it work but I suppose it is not for everybody. Remember Acne treatments is trial and error; what may work for one person may not work for another.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 26, 2009

Pros:

Clearing up of the acne that the TAXORAC caused itself

Cons:

Literally, the peeling of your skin while your going about your day, burn marks on your skin, the itchy breakouts it causes and the the redness

I have used this product for 3 months now. I have researched myself to death about my symptons. The peeling of the skin that I read from several reviews is SOOO true as is the burning and scarring of the skin. It does cause severe breakouts in the beginning. I went back to my doctor for my 6 week check-up and my face was actually worse. He said that is common. My acne was no where near this bad when i started but he keeps telling me to hang in there because it will give the results i want. He says right now it the only product that can minimize your pores. He also prescribed DORYX (which was ridiculously expensive).
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report

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.

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.