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 7, 2012

Pros:

Clears up acne faster
Smooths out skin
Fades acne marks
Helps wrinkles

Cons:

Bad IB
Very slightly burning/itching
Peeling
Redness (short lived)
Takes at least 12 weeks to see results

I haven't used it the full 12 weeks but I'm on week nine and seeing results. I do feel as though my skin is softer and more even toned. The breakout started a little over a week and it was pretty bad. But if you suffer from moderate to severe acne you may not even notice. I had always been prone to cystic acne and with the IB I did get a few but the cleared up much faster than they normally would have. It has taken me a little longer to see results but I think that's just because my pores were so clogged. The redness and burning was mild and only lasted a few weeks 2 at the most. The odd thing about this medication is that my derm had been prescribing it to me for years on and off so I pretty much always had a tube in the cabinet. But what they never told me was how to use it. I always thought I had to lather it on and when it Burned or irritated my skin I always stopped bc I thought. It was just too strong. No one ever said start slow or use a pea size amount. No one ever said moisturizer or even GIVE IT TIME!!! It wasnt until i say an esthitician that i knew the propper way to use it. This medication does take at least 12 weeks to work and at nine weeks i have almost no new acne just clearing up the IB. When I tell you I have used everything and spend a DISGUSTING AMOUNT OF MONEY AND TIME OBSESSING OVER HOW TO GET CLEAR I'm not kidding. If I wasn't spending money and time looking for a cure it was spent looking for a way to cover it up (tinted moisturizers makeup etc) Just know that this medication is very possibly going to make you look worse before better.If you are using this or even consider it know that acne does effect most of us emotionally as well as physically and you have to prepare urself for both. Be ready for the IB and think "patience" also I have been on every antibiotic for acne and have gained a tolererance so I didn't have the option of using one to help with the IB. BEST OF LUCK TO ALL. THIS FORUM WAS THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT ME A
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December 29, 2011
So I don't know? I've been using this for about four months now. i had HORRIBLE BOTTOM line horrible acne . my face peeled burned and still and looked red. around the 3 month it cleared my face for about a day and then about three weeks ago my face broke out EVERYWHERE even my neck where i had never broken out before. but starting three days ago i started using clean and clear spot treatment along with tazorac.(THIS is not for people who can't tolerate burning/pain higher than 6) because it burns SOOO BADD. but in these 3 days my face AND NECK are completely clear now. idk what to give the credit to but I'm not about to stop one of the and break out again. cause its just embarrassing i can finally put my hair up again!! yayy.
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December 17, 2011

Pros:

Clears up acne Over time
easy to apply

Cons:

Takes a long time
Gets worse before it gets better
DRIES OUT FACE
your skin will peel
makes skin red

I've been using this for about 7 months and so far have not seen any improvements.I apply lotion with this and my face is sitll dry, flaky, and peeling no matterhow much lotion i will use.
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November 19, 2011

Pros:

fades acne scars
makes skin softer
makes a blemish/pimple go away in 2 nights (2 uses)

Cons:

skin peels
causes an occassional pimple but that will go away when tazorac is used for another day or two
costly if insurance doesnt cover

its a very good product, my skin really cleared up and my acne scars are fading however i do still peel and get an occassional pimple or two
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September 26, 2011

Pros:

-Reduces oiliness
-Prevents future break-outs.

Cons:

-May cause dry and itchy skin

I've been using this product for years at night (although I would alternate due to weather change). Never had a complaint about this product other than causing dryness when the cold weather kicks in. If you have moderate-severe acne, I would definitely recommend you ask your doctor about this!
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September 19, 2011

Pros:

Clears acne quickly
Reduces scars
Works good
Smooth skin

Cons:

Dries skin
Can be expensive

This product is not made to prevent future acne, it is dealing with the current acne you have. That is mainly how topical products work. I have had horrible acne since I was 14 and I am 25 now. STILL an ongoing battle.. Birth control (Ortho Tri-Cyclon Lo) works wonderfully. Although, I finally got off of it because I quit breaking out and sure enough it came back, so I got back on..and now it has not worked. Also the Doxycycline is great. Unfortunetly I'm very worn down on this issue, the scars and acne have taken a toll on my once gorgeous face. I wish I had the money for Accutane but more so I wish it would go away forever!!!! I'm too old for this. Lol.
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August 17, 2011

Pros:

Acne is basically gone
Reduced acne scarring

Cons:

Takes a long time to work
Dryness
Initial breakout

For the first 10 weeks of using Tazorac .1% I did'nt think the product worked, but then on the 11th week my face really started to clear up. I'm on my 14th week and now I have basically no acne. I occasionally get a pimple but it is very short lived. I would recommend this product, but make sure you stick with it. Regimen Morning- Cetaphil Facewash Cetaphil Moisturizer Topical Cleocin-T Night- Cetaphil Facewash Cetaphil Moisturizer Tazorac .1% Cream
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August 11, 2011

Pros:

Really addresses under-the-skin acne
Evened skin tone

Cons:

Slightly drying

I started off on Taz .1% cream and just recently bumped it up to .1% gel. I know several people have problems with dryness, redness, or peeling, but honestly, I haven't had any of those issues. I started off by doing short-contact therapy, and gradually moved to overnight application. I use Cerave moisturizing lotion and wait 20 minutes before applying Taz. It's the first product that has ever worked for my acne in 10 years. I did experience the purging process, which lasted about 2 weeks. It really brought out all the acne underneath the skin. My forehead and cheeks were really bumpy. It was frustrating, but it's so worth it to see what my skin looks like now. If this product doesn't dry you out too much, I would definitely recommend it. I've used it for about 6 weeks, and can't wait to see the results after 12! I put the cost as nothing because I'm still using the generous amount of samples my derm gave me. Without insurance, or at least a decent plan, it's quite expensive.
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July 11, 2011

Pros:

-cleared up most acne
-skin soft
-improves skin over time
-acne scars fading

Cons:

-takes a very long time to work(3months)
-bad initial breakout
-breakouts kept coming
-very dry skin
-sensitive to the sun

finally my 3 month trial of .1% tazorac is done and i can actually look in the mirror again!! I started back in april and within a week my acne got worse and it kept getting worse for 2 months. but when the last month came my acne started to decrease (but i still had a bunch of breakouts including new acne scars). so basically in 12 weeks my acne is almost gone:) i do have like 1 new active pimple but its small and my acne scars are fading now and i am pretty sure by August my acne and scars will fade. I was also taking solodyn 88mg and aczone. i used solodyn everyday and i seriously don't think it worked or helped at all. i don't like the side effects of this pill because if you don't take it for 3 days your face gets all this red swollen bumps and those pimples hurt and lasts for a whole week!. so basically i do not recommend solodyn because your acne becomes dependent on this. I also used aczone like for a month and off and on. i dont think this worked much either. So basically i just woke up in the morning and washed my face with a dove soap and moisturize my skin with aveeno ultra calming lotion (great lotion it help a lot with the dried out skin). and at night washed my face again and put some more lotion then after 15 min. i used tazorac every night. My overall experience with this medicine is that you have to be really patient and accept the bad breakouts. For 3 months i ran away from pictures and had to listen to random people telling me how to treat my skin. it was embarrassing and annoying! but dont worry just let time pass. But don't let acne ruin your life!!!!! it is so much easier to say this now that my acne is almost gone but just hang in there:) and good luck!!!!
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June 20, 2011

Pros:

Made skin much smoother
Greatly reduced amount of pimples
Only need a pea-sized amount for whole face

Cons:

Takes a long time to work
Somewhat greasy
Got worse before it got better
Pricey

I've had mild acne since I was 14, but this year it turned severe for some odd reason (I'm 25). It was terrible--big white postules all over my face and neck. I was desperate so I told my dermatologist to be aggressive with treatment without resorting to Accutane. Here is my regimen: Morning-- Wash face with Cetaphil mild cleansing bar Wait 10 minutes for face to dry Apply CeraVe moisturizer (important to prep your skin with lotion before Tazorac) Apply Tazorac Apply Neutrogena coverup and mineral foundation (which lessens the greasiness/redness) Evening-- Wash face with Cetaphil bar Wait 10 minutes for face to dry Apply Acanya gel Apply CeraVe I also take Solodyn (antibiotic) and Spironolactone. Things stayed the same for the first three weeks of treatment. By the fourth week, my acne became much worse. I was very embarrassed, but I knew that I needed to stick with the treatment. I began to notice improvement by about 7 weeks. It has now been 12 weeks and my skin feels much smoother and most of the acne has subsided (I just have a few pimples around my mouth). I am also left with red scars, but my doc said they would fade eventually. You will probably become discouraged with this medicine because it makes your face much worse after a few weeks. But don't give up--you will eventually see results!
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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