Acne.org Products
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.
Used Tazarotene? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
January 13, 2016
Very drying!!!
I am an 18 year old female & I've had pretty moderate acne since I was about 13. I feel like I've tried so many things but I haven't gotten on an actual skincare regime until about a month and a half ago. I cleanse my face with Murad Clarifying Cleanser, tone with witch hazel in the morning (at night I use Mario Badescau glycolic acid toner) follow with aczone, and then apply CeraVe moisturizer. I am also on Solodyn. This combination of things has kept the acne at bay, but I still occasionally got breakouts and I have very bad hyper pigmentation that was not fading. I went to the dermatologist and she gave me this to use at night. Within three nights it managed to wreck complete havoc on my skin!! It is extremely dry, painful, and red. I can't cover it with makeup and I'm embarrassed to even leave the house. My skin has never felt this awful. I've heard good things about Taz, and I want to give it another shot once my face heals, however I will use a very very small amount next time. To anyone looking to use this, be careful with how much you use! A little goes a long way, DO NOT just slather it on your face, especially if you have dry skin to begin with like I did.
February 6, 2016
I had the same expirience I am noes string coconut oil on my dry-ass, red face. I was so try I couldn't even move my face, it looked like I aged 50 years! My mother should have given my more instructions when she suggested it for me, she just said "just put it on there!!!!" And I got to much gel
July 8, 2016
Did you try .1 gel /cream or 0.05 gel /cream? I've tried the .1 gel and Lord have mercy the side effects were awful..skin burn, severe dryness..and I was using it for 6 months without any improvement. However, when I switched to 0.05, my skin cleared up within a good 2 weeks. I was very surprised. Try the 0.05 gel or cream if you haven't. My skin glows now ! The gel is for oily skin( it'll dry out your skin whereas the cream is for dry skin, it won't be as drying. Good luck!
March 10, 2013
Cons:
May be too drying for some people. Weirdly, it is less irritating to me than Differin. Expensive with no RX plan.
Try it if your derm offers it and you have an RX plan.
November 3, 2011
Pros:
-nothing (unfortunately)
Cons:
-dry skin
-sensitive skin
-bad breakout for 3 whole months
-more acne scars
-acne does not improve if taken alone
im taking this med for about 7 months now (tazorac 01%) not working well for me at all. Three full months of depression and acne and still to this day i have acne. i already went to the derm and she gave me birth control 3 weeks ago (gianvi=generic form of yaz) and so far i have no breakouts thanks too gianvi:) overall tazorac did nothing to help me, so in 2 weeks i am going to start accutane!! (u guys pray for me). hope u have a better experience with taz, than i did and if this med still does not work after 3 months, it is NEVER gona work. (i was optimistic once apon a time). Good luck!!!!
October 31, 2009
Pros:
Great product, check out my experience at [link removed]
Cons:
Insurance has to verify with the prescribing dr. that Tazorac will indeed be used for acne treatment. That is because they fear people use it for cosmetic reasons, and of course insurance companies don't pay for cosmetic products.
Give it a try. I did an was very happy with the results. [link removed]>
Ruby
October 22, 2009
I continued to peel at my skin for the first couple of weeks. (clearly, I'm an idiot). Also, I didn't use moisturizer because my derm didn't mention it and it wasn't on the direction I had. So, now my acne is getting better but I have these red splotches on my face from the skin that was peeled away. Does anyone else have any experience with this? Any suggestions on speeding the healing process?
September 22, 2009
Pros:
I'm sure it works for many and might work if you stick it out but first you have to witness your entire face burning off. Not willing to give it a chance given the results after two days. Luckily I didn't have to pay much with insurance.
Cons:
I look like a lizard that survived a horrible fire. Obvious emotional distress. Severe burning and pain, peeling, blistering, extreme drying, redness. Face peeling off. Prefer the acne.
I only used it for two days - my face got so dry and tight that I woke up bleeding from the sides of my mouth where the skin had cracked, and basically my whole face is peeling off where i applied the gel - but only where i applied the gel (.05%) The places where I didn't put the gel weren't affected - so basically some of my skin is white and some of it is burned off crusty and red and peeling like crazy. Now there are what looks like blisters appearing around my mouth. My skin is now leathery and I look like a burn victim. My doctor didn't warn me of this - he said "you might have dry skin for a month". He should have said - make sure you don't have to socialize or work or leave your house if you use this stuff because its going to burn your face off. I called out from work today but looks like i'll just have to go out in public like this because the show must go on. This is the most horrible horrible horrible thing i've ever experienced with my skin.
September 15, 2009
Pros:
I had horrible adult acne along my jawline, forehead, chin, and around my mouth. This cleared it up within 5 weeks!
Cons:
Broke out even worse the first few weeks of using the product.
The only product I have found in the last two years that has worked, including birth control pills. Would highly recommend this. I feel confident again.
August 19, 2009
Pros:
Really helps achieve clearer skin
Cons:
Horrible flaking, dryness, and redness
I've been on tazorac for a little over a week now, and I've noticed a great difference in my skin. The dryness was really bad at first and I was really self conscious, but by now it's almost entirely gone and I'm glad I stuck it out. Don't be discouraged by others saying it takes up to 12 weeks to get better, because that is not the case for everyone. Overall, this was the best skin medication I've ever been on.
August 7, 2009
Pros:
Break outs seem to heal over night, coming to the surface or flaking off daily. Pores seem to be smaller
Cons:
inital breakout, lots of white heads and redness
Iam now in week 4 things are getting better each day, your really do have to wait through the intial breakout things will get better.
I recomment waiting the full 12 weeks, for some ppl it may take longer to work. But if you give up you will never know.
And one more thing do not use more than a pea size!! put all over face for evenness.
June 29, 2009
I've just started to use this medication 4 days ago and my skin is peeling off, and it's starting to hurt a lot...Is that suppose to happen? will the pain go away later if I continue this medication?
Pros:
A small amount takes the sticky skin cells off my face which contribute to acne... seems to work for my skin which is prone to hard tiny cysts. I've found that the alternative products, like differin gel, irritated my skin much more than Tazorac. Can be used for Keratosis Pilaris as well.