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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January 19, 2013

Pros:

*You can see that it brings your black heads to the surface within the first week or so (purging period)
*It clears the black heads up relatively quickly, definitely quicker than they would clear up on their own (there's less inflamation)
*Your face gets a nice healthy glow
*Less irritation and greasiness so you don't look so red and bothered (if you have it bad like me)

Cons:

*The flakiness near your eyes and mouth and brow line
*That flakiness makes your face kind of itchy but DO NO itch, just brush your fingers on the spots that itch
*After using it for a while it burns and stings your face if you wash it and then put it on, but it's worth it. After using it for a little longer the burning goes away so just fight through.

This stuff works so far. and you have no idea how happy I am to say that. I'm one of those people who have tried everything. I've given up makeup, I only drink water. Here is my regimen, I wash with a scrub that prevents black heads, moisturize and at night I wash again, put cerave moisturizure on and then only put tazorac on my cheeks, temples, and brows, I have HORRIBLE acne, I hate it, but this has been pulling up black heads and clearing them in record time. It's definitely worth a try.
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January 12, 2013

Pros:

reduces oiliness considerably

Cons:

for the first month or so, skin is embarrassingly flaky followed by redness and severe irritation that makes putting on moisturizer painful

As someone with crazily oily skin, Tazorac has been a godsend. It's the only thing I've ever tried that actually works! Sure, the painful stinging and flakiness totally sucks but fades over time. I also use in conjunction with BP and prescription clindamycin so I can't really attest to Tazorac's acne-fighting abilities. But it's made a huuuge difference for me oil control-wise.
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September 14, 2012

Pros:

Works great

Cons:

takes 3 months to see results

Product works great!! You have to be patient with it. Your face will get worst before it gets better you will not see results right away. I would wash with Cereve morning and night. after washing my face in the morning i will use the acanya gel on the acne followed by the cereve am moisturizer and aveeno spf 15 or 30 even tone (cereve am moisturizer has spf 30 in it as well) At night wash with the cereve use the pm cereve moisturizer and spot check with tazorac...my face looks 100% better even the dark spots cleared up..i still continue to use tazorac on like 2 or 3 pimples that i feel under my skin..but when its time to pop the pimples they come out very easy. My insurance covered the prescription for the most part and my dermatologist gave me a coupon for it. i recommend tazorac and acanya gel.
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July 20, 2012

Pros:

-loosens blackheads

Cons:

-does not actually clear blackheads or acne, you must extract the blackheads with pore strips, comedone extractors, or facials
-does not keep pores clear without the aid of another product or facial, etc.

I've had acne since I was 12. I'm now 27 and for the last year have experienced hormonal breakouts and irritated, inflamed skin, almost rosacea-like with clogged pores(blackheads). After using this product at night combined with Aczone in the morning, my skin has improved significantly. I just saw my dermatologist for a 10 week followup and she said I should consider getting extractions/facials. My face looks 75% clearer. I can scratch my skin lightly with my fingernail and the blackheads come out.
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July 6, 2012

Pros:

Clears acne when combined w/ anti-inflammatory (i.e. antibiotic - topical or pill, or products like Aczone)

Cons:

Expensive
Potent - hence you must be very careful applying (tiny amount for whole face)
Doesn't do much for oilyness or blackheads
Sun sensitivity
Dryness, so moisturize (about 30 mins after applying) at night

Look, I've been wanting to write a review for this product for a while. I've been suffering from moderate acne for about 6 years (I'm 22) and have been through the ups and downs of MANY different products. I've researched extensively and I've seen 6 different dermatologists from 4 different facilities over the last 6 years. If you're a young person with moderate acne/oily skin, 90% of you should listen to me and do this: For starters, use Cetaphil Daily Face Wash 2x a day. Mornings - use either an antibiotic (clindamycin - topical worked great for me for 1 year) or Aczone 30 mins after washing your face. Evening - Tazorac .1% gel (pea sized amount) 30 mins after shower. Wait another 30 mins and apply moisturizer as needed (meaning chin, around mouth, near nose, maybe even upper cheeks), but don't apply to areas that are naturally greasy. Other useful and true tips: Avoid greasy foods, excessive sweets, and cheese. Change your pillow cases 2x a week (minimum). After sweating (working out, sun bathing, etc) shower ASAP. Most importantly, if you live in a sunny region, ENJOY THE SUN. So many derms advise against sun tanning because of skin damage; but trust me, if you have oily skin, the risk of burning, wrinkles, or even permanent scarring is minimal to nonexistent. Derms hate the sun - Why? Because it provides Vit. D, drys the skin, and blends blemishes for FREE!....They can't compete with that. The risks associated with drugs are FAR WORSE than skin damage from the sun. Case and point: Took minocycline and doxycyline on different occasions - both resulted in blue teeth/nails, migrains, and stomach pain. And we all know the numerous detrimental side effects of Isotretinoin/Accutane..... Eat healthy, keep your face clean, try topical products only (less systemic absorbtion of rx drugs), change pillow cases often (if you have oily skin), and enjoy the sun. Don't let derms fool you into believing th
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May 24, 2012

Pros:

Mostly free of milia, whiteheads, and blackheads after 4 months
Skin renews itself quickly

Cons:

Took 4 months to work
Skin was horrible during the IB period (never had skin as bad as it was in my whole life)
Had to play with different products to finally get results

I had light acne since high school, and always dreamed of totally clear skin. At the age of 34, I finally decided to try Taz for my acne and hyperpigmentation, after having tried minocycline, clindamycin lotion, benzoyl peroxide, hydroquinone and salicylic acid products. I learned that adjunctive products (cleansers and lotions/creams) make a big difference in how my skin reacts to Taz. I finally found a regimen that works for me after 3 months of trial and error. After washing my face, I apply clinda lotion and benzoyl peroxide lotion, then I use First Aid cream mixed in a 1:1 ratio with the Taz at night. I realized it made a huge difference once I started using a really moisturizing cream (not lotion, for my super oily skin). Otherwise my skin got really irritated from using Taz, and would start peeling off in sheets (really painful) or would not really have an effect- other than make my skin really oily. This was even after I waited the 30 minutes to apply it, or would use every 2-3 days. I always use lotion with sunscreen during the day. I also starting taking minocycline b/c the IB was so bad, I didn't even want to leave the house, but had to go to work. I had the worst acne of my life- so many whiteheads (hundreds!!) over parts of my face I never get acne like my forehead, jawline and chin. Finally, my face has a nice glow to it. I still wear make up mostly for the areas of hyperpigmentation, which have gotten lighter, but I'm still pretty self-conscious. Now my skin peels a little bit every day or 2, but not the the degree where other people can notice. I use a light scrub to help exfoliate every few days. I'm mostly clear now, but still have a few whiteheads and blackheads here and there, esp during that time of the month. The pimples seem closer to the skin surface, and tend to heal quickly. I just wanted to share my experience b/c reading about how other peoples dealt with Taz really helped me get through the hard times. I hope this hel
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April 18, 2012

Pros:

cleared my acne
free samples from derm

Cons:

leaves skin oily
takes two months to start clearing
doesn't remove blackheads or oil
doesn't minimize pores
pricey

I am 21 years old.most of us can say we have all tried everything! this was the first product to clear my face out of 8 years suffering from acne.This is the clearest my face has been since I've started having acne. I have been using tazorac for about 8 months now. The only problem is I believe my skin is becoming immune to it which is making me nervous. I never want to go back to my old skin and I read another review saying it works for 6 months so now i am worried. My skin looks good now but it did not help minimize my huge pores or help with my excess oil issue. The tazorac cleared my back, chest and bum though, which made me more than happy. TRY THIS! I am not sure if I have become immune to it or if I am just stressed from school. This product made me the happiest I've been in a long time. Even if it only clears us for 6 months or so, hey, that's 6 months of clear skin!!!!!! I've been so happy!!
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April 13, 2012

Pros:

*Decreases oiliness, blackheads, and milia
*Strongest topical acne treatment out there
*FDA approved to reduce the appearance of wrinkles

Cons:

*Amount of time it takes to show a significant difference
*Skin eventually builds up an immunity to tazortene

I've read a lot of reviews on this website and I think the majority of them are unfair and irrelevant. I have been on Tazorac on and off since I was 13 years old, I am now 19. I have EXTREMELY oily skin that can take a lot harsh products with little to no sensitivity. Basically, I have been on Accutane and experienced no facial dryness (just perfection)! I am here to defend Tazorac because I'm getting the feeling that Tazorac was the wrong topical prescription for them. First of all, Tazorac is a very harsh treatment but if you actually took the time to do research on it, you would know that it is best to dilute it with a moisturizer. Also, if you are on the sensitive side, don't take it everyday! Every other day or every two days is fine! Tazorac has also worked wonders for my eye milia. My dermatologist recommended that I dilute my Tazorac with a rich eye cream, this has saved me money from buying a separate retinol eye treatment. Yes, Tazorac is an intense treatment. If you don't have oily skin, do not use it. If you do, it could be the right product for you. My only complaint is that the skin can eventually become immune to the effects of tazorac (after about 8-12 months). The solution with my skin was to integrate other medicated products into my regimen while on Tazorac. One time out of the 6 years I've been on Tazorac, I only used Tazorac and face wash as my regimen (after about 9 months I had quite a bit cystic breakouts). It's always good to take a break from Tazorac and use something else, once you go back on it everything will be good again after 1-2 months!
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February 19, 2012

Pros:

Makes skin smooth, clears up existing acne, shrinks pores,gives skin a healthy glow

Cons:

Drys skin, inital breakout is horrible!

Ive had acne since the age of 14, i am now 41, ive tried everything and have even been on accutane twice in my lifetime. 12 years ago my derm perscribed me Retin-a 01% gel and it worked wonders but unfortunetly it stopped working, my derm has now given me Tazorac .05% cream which i have been using for 6 weeks and its working!!!! The inital break out in week 3 was aweful but knew i had to stick with it to see results and so far im happy with the results! Now into my 6th week my acne is calming down and my skin has a nice healthy glow. Tazorac will bring all the acne to the surface but i find that the pimples heal much faster. I use it at night only and havent used any moisturizer before applying it but i do however moisturize my face before applying my makeup in the morning. Seriously i never imagined having acne at my age and believe me when i say acne has taken its toll on me emotionally so im hoping that tazorac will keep working for me years to come. Good luck to everyone!
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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.
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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