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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5
20.2%
4
33.6%
3
24.2%
2
13.5%
1
8.5%

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December 1, 2008

Pros:

Big red pimples that hurt

Cons:

My face seems to be smoother

I have been on Tazorac for two weeks now. I have big red pimples which seems to be put on a fast ack with Tazorac. I have tried Proactiv, Differin which gave me no results whatsoever. My Derm. had allowed me to try samples of Retin A which worked very well by my insurance wouldn't cover it so she put me on Tazorac. It worries me that a medicine like this will caus my face to worsen before it gets better. I need to have her explain that one to me. I have yet to see any major results with Tazorac.
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November 28, 2008

Pros:

Smoothed out my skin a great deal, got rid of most of my pimples.

Cons:

It seems to have done nothing for my blackheads, although I wasn't sure if I should have expected it to. It caused my mouth area to peel.

I had uber acne. It didn't look very bad on the surface, but it was resistant to pretty much every topical medication on the market. I had tried Differn, Duac, Proactiv, Evoclin, every single type of over the counter face wash... nothing worked. I went to a new dermatologist this year, and she prescribed me Tazorac. At first it just made me look like a pizza face and it made my mouth really peely and flaky. It burned so badly, sometimes I couldn't sleep until I eventually had to wash it off my face. It turns out I had been using a moisturizer with alcohol in it, and when I switched to a different one, that problem subsided. It worked very well on my acne, but I also have problems with blackheads on my chin and nose that haven't gone away.
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November 27, 2008

Pros:

Helps prevent/treat scarring, shortens the lifespan of pimples.

Cons:

OILY. Keeps bringing up the acne. Does next to nothing for blemishes.

I've used this for about 5 months now and I have seen a slight difference in the consistency of my acne. I noticed that Tazorac is only speeding up the rate at which my pimples form and dry on my face. My blemishes, on the other hand, keep forming due to the constant renewing of my skin. Therefore, I would recommend using an antibiotic along with the Taz in order to prevent any new pimples from forming.
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November 21, 2008

Pros:

First weak, face cleared up, pores got smaller, and cleared out my pores and black heads.

Cons:

LOTS!
made skin dry, itchy, red, and flaky, not to mention very oily, and stung so bad, i almost cried.
it was like beeing burned alive.

IT WORKS. besides all the horrid side effects, it just stopped the acne dead in its tracks. my skin used to be oily, but its not anymore, its smooth and pores are tiny now, im 15 btw it doesnt cause breakouts like other products ive tried when i first use them, with this one, it stops the breakouts, and leaves clear beutifull skin, BUT it also leaves your skin very dry, flaky and red and burning, but skin was pretty much flawless after i used it and side effects went away.
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November 19, 2008

Pros:

So far clearing acne!!

Cons:

Peels a good bit at first but will eventually go away.

I've been on Tazorac before and it does work! My skin looked the absolutely best when on this medication but I got off and it eventually turned worse due to several different factors, stress, hormones, etc.. but I am now back on Tazorac. I have been on it two weeks and have already seen a difference. I put it on every other day because i don't want a bad bad intial reaction again. So far its just been peeling and my skin has been getting clearer and smoother!! I'll update again in a few weeks!!
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November 18, 2008

Pros:

Works well, used once daily over entire face right before bedtime. Have been using for just under 2 months now and results are already quite visible.

Cons:

Will dry out skin pretty badly if a moisturizer is not used prior.

My nightly regime which seems to be working great! 1.) Shower about 20 minutes before you are planning on going to bed. 2.) dry face and then apply moisturizer (i use Cerave) 3.) apply tazorac over entire face... avoid area right about lips and eyes as they are very sensitive. 4.) wake up...wash face gently * avoid using any sort of face wash with scrubbing bubbles or beads...it will only irritate the skin and make your skin flake.
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November 14, 2008

Pros:

Has worked enough for me to notice a difference, my skin hasn't become worse since using it. Helps minimize the scarring and makes skin smoother

Cons:

It makes you skin peel, makeup doesn't work so well when using this product.

I have hormonal acne, so my only problem is the chin--my dermatologist kept trying to get me to go on antibiotics, which I don't want to do because I feel you shouldn't be on them for long periods of time and every time I did go on them, as soon as I came off my acne became much worse. So I wanted to go the topical route...I found that tazorac worked pretty immediately with me, but I am also using a 15% glycolic pad every night which seems to help too. But before I put on tazorac, I put on moisturizer, which seems to help out with the peeling. I only put it on my chin and/or spot treat with it. In addition to the topical cream, I have also changed my diet, cutting out sugar, most dairy, yeast and gluten--which I think is making a big difference.
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November 13, 2008

Pros:

NONE

Cons:

This product really made it worse.

They say it takes 3 months to see full effects. I used this product for almost 3 and a half months, my acne is still the same, barely any difference. Maybe a few pimples went away, but the scarring this product left is horrendous! I'm so frustrated! It may work for others, but for me, this ruined my life.
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November 12, 2008

Pros:

1st week pores were minimized, 2nd week breaks out dont last but 2 days and pimpes flake off

Cons:

itching really bad, dry lips and skin more pimples 3rd week skin feels like its burning off and sore red more pimples deeper in the skin along the jawline im really dissapointed proactiv didnt have this bad of side affects.will update later

i used differin gel in the past and now im trying taz 0.1 i really want this to work so im going to suffer for 3 months. im hopefull but all the comment say that one u get use to the product side effects and bring all the underlying acne youll see results so ill just cross my fingers,
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November 12, 2008

Pros:

It worked really well and relatively quickly. It also seemed to make my skin more healthy overall

Cons:

In the beginning, and sometimes now, my face was very red and had a heated feeling. It was also very dry, however, not as bad as some other people described, but it depends on the person

it worked well on most of the acne. It was well worth the couple weeks of red and dryness. I still have some, but expect the majority of this should be gone within the next month or so, and nothing can prevent the occasional breakout. It also works on wrinkles. Over the summer, my facial skin had an allergic reaction, resulting in wrinkles in my forehead even though I'm only 13. The tazorac really improved this condition and now I have almost none. I am very pleased with this so far and hope for even more improvement in the near future. The total price for me was about $20, but without insurance it would have been over $100, so it is pricy but I believe well worth it in the long run.
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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