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:

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June 19, 2009

Pros:

Really does help keep skin pretty clear.

Cons:

Does not help with oil or pores (which my derm said it would); can cause redness or irritability.

I've used this stuff for about 2 years, but I'm trying to wean myself off...i hate being so dependent on a medication. It does help, but I have to apply a thin layer to my entire face, it doesn't work as a spot-treatment. Because of this, my face often appears red (especially in pictures!). Also, I was really hoping it would help with oilyness and big pores, b/c that's my biggest issue...it didn't. My dermatologist couldn't believe how oily my skin still was...she said most people experience major dryness. Sigh.
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May 18, 2009

Pros:

reduces redness, makes skin smooth

Cons:

for the first week it stung really badly and made my face extremely dry! it also gave me a horrible breakout at first with even more painful acne than i had before

In about the first week, it made my skin really bad. I'm on my 3rd week now and it seems to be finally working. I still look broken-out, but I can tell it's slowly working. My skin is a lot less red, and it's looking smoother. I really hope this stuff works... I've tried other things like stievamycin and tetracycline which did not work. Now I'm using tazorac with minocycline and I really really really really hope it gives me results :( to reduce dryness I also use Neutrogena Moisture oil-free and it works pretty well.
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May 15, 2009

Pros:

Worked very well for the first 3 weeks. Started to get worse. By week 5 I was seeing more improvement. Easy to get from dermatologist. Easy to apply.

Cons:

Itchy and dry skin at first. Feels slimy after application.

An ok product. Works better on face acne, altough it reduced the amount of nodules on my back by about 75%. May take months to kick in and works better when used in combination with other treatments.
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May 5, 2009

Pros:

Begining to see clearer skin after about 6 months. Nothing left on my cheeks and not nearly as red as before.

Cons:

Begining was intense irritation. Flaky skin did NOT want to leave the house. that was done within a week. made skin a little more oily for a couple months. made skin irritable and sensative for the first few weeks

Useful product if you have the patience to wait for results and have no big events occuring within the first few weeks of treatment. Its starting to clear my skin and you to could have the same results! :D
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May 3, 2009
in my opinion if you can put up with the dry skinwhen you first start tazrac then I highly recommend the gel...I swear even if it is the same percentage as the cream the gel works better and I have used both the gel and cream and prefer the gel however if you dont want to endure drying at first then use the cream because it work too but I gues it all depends on your skin type
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April 14, 2009

Pros:

works well after a about 2 weeks of consistent use

Cons:

did anybody else have to pay 457 dollars for this stuf?!

it's good but only worth it if you can get it cheap or your insurance pays for it.
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April 14, 2009

Pros:

Absolutly nothing.

Cons:

Peeling breakouts red skin the whole shabang.

Okay its almost my 5th month on tazorac. er was. i have been usuing for a long time. my skin wasnt too bad to start with honestly. but feeling bad about my back. whitch is bad so i got perscribed taz and toxycycline. it tottally ruined my life. but all of a sudden about a week ago my skin all cleard up! i was sick a week before so i didnt use any products. and i thought it was the taz finally working so i put some more on when i felt better. and i broke out soooooo bad every where with in hours. it was crazy. :/ so im almost a week without it hope i go back to where i was before i started. this product didnt work for me. and it wont so be carefull
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March 19, 2009

Pros:

i dont breakout much anymore, and my skin is getting smoother

Cons:

it dried my face up a little and a slight initial breakout but nothing to bad.

i was scared at first to use this product because everyone says that it makes your skin much worse before it gets better but i tried it anyways, i had moderate skin. my doctor put me on the 0.05% gel, and i have been mosturiseing with this neutrogena lotion and my face peels a little but its really not as bad as everyone says.. i would recomend this if you have moderate acne ... good luck!(:
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February 4, 2009

Pros:

makes skin smoother, more youthful appearance as it dimishes look of lines and wrinkles

Cons:

makes face look red

i have been on this stuff for almost 4 months now. i can honestly say that in the beginning i was skeptical...and even impatient. i saw my skin getting worse and worse when i first started using it. that lasted about 2 months. now, i love what it has done for my skin. i dont know what i would have done without it!!! i have those bumps UNDER my skin...that no makup in the world could cover. now, they are almost all smoothed out. ofcourse i still have some scarring but far less than what i used to have. i used to get huge cystic acne...but this stuff really does work in getting rid of them and preventing them if you use it often. I use Cetaphil face wash, then put Cetaphil unscented face lotion, then after letting the lotion sink into my skin (about 20 mins) i take a VERY SMALL amount (about the size of a pea or smaller) and dab it all over my face...ofcourse concentrating more on the areas affected the most. THANK YOU TAZORAC!!!!!
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January 31, 2009

Pros:

Amazing results, diminished red marks

Cons:

Severely drying, can be irritating if used in excess

Overall, this product has saved my face. This is basically Accutane in liquid form. I was on .05% and couldn't use anything more than a pea sized amount on my entire face once a week for 10 minutes at a time or else it was entirely too drying..that should give some sort of indication as to how powerful this stuff is. Whenever I feel a new zit coming on, I put a tiny dab on and it's gone without a trace the next morning. I could never imagine using this product daily or even every other day as it is VERY powerful. I never experienced an initial breakout but that's only because I never used it daily...i'd caution anyone who does. I highly recommend this product but moisturizing is key.
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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.

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.