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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April 21, 2013

Pros:

YES!! finally something that works

Cons:

a little drying, but would rather moisterize and get rid of the acne.

my son has severe acne, cystic, and blackheads, we have been using both Tria Blue light as well as spot treating new pimples with the tazorac gel. after 6 weeks i compared the before pics to now, and we are seeing improvement. DEFinitely take before pics in natural light, because he still has a lot of blemishes, so didn't think it was working, then i showed him before next to now pics so then he saw that indeed, it was improving.
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March 26, 2013

Pros:

There are a lot of positives, better thank Proactive! 1. It works very fast ( 48-72 hrs). 2. Glowing & bright skin 3. The 30 gram tube lasts a long time, when used as directed. 4. Fragrance Free. 5. Light and not sticky. 6. You can easily travel with it. 7. Clears the ACNE and SCARS. 8. Makes skin very very smooth (like baby's skin) my mom was amazed! 9. Does not create scabs like Benzamycin. 10. Great as a moisturizer under make-up.

Cons:

There are a few negatives. 1.You have to watch what you wash your face with, it may burn when combined. 2.Use Neutrogena Acne Stress Control or Cetaphil, works great together, they are kinda expensive together. 3.Don't get it close to your eyes or mouth,will burn ESPECIALLY EYES (in the corners). 4.It will dry out your skin a bit, but only initially when combating Acne, don't worry. I used Proactive & it ruined my complexion & had to unknowingly join their "membership". This fixed that disaster!

I have used many Acne treatments over the years. This Tazarac, by far, is the best for my skin. I started using it June 2012 and after 9 months of use it has completely cleared up my problem. I get compliments ALL the time about how smooth & flawless it is! Before I had a lot of Acne scars and dark marks. This product used consistently with a non-irritating and salicylic cleanser will do the trick. To combat dryness, apply this product and wait about 45 mins & use a light moisturizer. The best!
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March 16, 2013

Pros:

Clears up acne
Did not hurt for me
No side effects so far

Cons:

Takes a while to start clearing up
Gets worse before better.
Does not clear up in one day, takes weeks of tiny improvements

I switched off Benzoyl peroxide and needed a new solution. I was put on Differin and a antibiotic but it did not work after about 2 months. I then went on Tazorac for about 2 weeks and did not see improvement. That was a huge mistake. After assuming Tazorac would not work I gave Differin a second chance for another month before giving up again. I read reviews that said Tazorac took a while so I have been on it for about 7 weeks using at night Aczone in morning along with Bactrim. Clears up slowly but I am almost completely clear! Defiantly
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March 10, 2013

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.

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.
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October 29, 2012

Pros:

Clears Skin
soft skin

Cons:

very sensitive to the sun
leaves minor scars
didnt do too much for blackheads
skin is somewhat oily

the bottom line is this stuff works. I had moderate to moderately severe acne. I had first surfaced in 8th grade when i was 13. It wasn't too bad until I hit my sophomore year. I had it spread out on forehead, neck, cheeks, chin, and back. I also had a lot of blackheads all over my nose. For a while, the only treatment i used what over the counter topical medicines such as proactiv or clean and clear. None of them seemed to work and really tried out my skin. My junior year, my acne had gotten pretty bad, so my mom took me to a doctor and he prescribed tazorac cream 0.1 along with the antibiotic, doxycycline. This was last December when i started. I would wake up take a shower to open up my pores. Right after the shower i would apply cetaphil moisturizer all over my face, directly followed by an application of tazorac all over my face (whether there was acne there or not). My face would feel very greasy right after this. I would also take one pill in the morning and one at night of the doxycycline. For the first couple of months, my face severly burned and itched. This sensation was lessened due to the moisturizer. I went through a "purging period," where I would have new pimples everyday all over my face. Thankfully, they would never stay too long. I expected this to happen, having been a reader of a lot of reviews, so I was not discouraged and continued to use this medication daily. After about 3 or 4 months, I noticed a severe decrease in acne. I stopped using the moisturizer at this time also because my skin had become used to the properties of tazorac and would not burn or itch anymore. It has been almost a year now and my face has never looked better in these last couple of years. There are usually one or two very small little zits but I dont mind them and they are barely noticeable. The only downside is that my blackheads are still present on my nose. Also, my face is always somewhat red, so i decided to start using sunscreen.
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October 12, 2012

Pros:

cleared cystic acne
cleared scalp folliculitis
helps sun damage
helps overall appearance of skin, like even skin tone, etc...this drug is not meant for this...but i see some improvements in the skin tone....
oil control for oily/combination skin
way better than tretinoin, differin, etc

Cons:

drying of skin around lips
my derm claims to help sebaceous hyperplasia...not so far...i have been on this for almost 10 weeks now...may be i am not patient...i dont know...
sensitivity to sunlight, skin more susceptible to UV damage...
reduced alcohol tolerance...may be i am just getting old...lol...
eczema...very mild...i see one small spot on my left arm...i put a lotion on it...it goes away...so this is not really a con...just wanted you to know..

it worked...took some time...may be like 2 weeks to see results....i use it with bactrim-generic...i think tazorac(0.1%) is the drug that is really doing the magic....but since tazorac could take upto 12 weeks to see results...this combination would like kick start the results i guess.... before this combo, i tried minocycline(2x100mg)/day with benzaclin in the am, tretinoin/differin before bed.....i have oily skin with moderately severe cystic acne on face...there would be like couple of them on face, when they settle down, another 2/3 in a different area of face would slowly show-up, also severe scalp acne, aka folliculitis...if you are an athlete like me, you know what i am talking about..caused by all the sweat..anyways...this would leave bad scars with big dark spots...mino with all these topicals never worked for me...i would work only when i am taking them...then my derm would tell me reduce the mino doasge...then within next 2 days..the acne would come back...so this was really not working for a long term basis...i took them for like 4/5 years...lost patience like million times during these years...changed 4 derms....they all kept prescribing the same combo and asked me to be patient.....eventually i changed derm...the new doctor immediately changed to bactrim(generic..too long name to type-in..lol) with tazorac....it is working because i started lowering my dose...and the acne has not come back yet...which wasnt the case with mino and its combo topicals....big relief.....i am scarred to go into accutane-generic b'cos of all the article i read....esp. the joint pains...joint pain are a big NO NO for weight lifters... bottom line, this is a good drug to try out before accutane....please ask doctor for tazorac....tazorac is like the topical accutane...it works the same way as accutane with almost no serious side effects other than drying of skin...which skin gets used to in like a month..and drying is good foe people with oily skin...i hope this
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June 28, 2012

Pros:

Clears acne
Smooths face
Reduces redness from scars

Cons:

Initial breakout
Takes a long time to see improvement
Peeling & itchiness if not used correctly

THIS STUFF WORKS. At first it's hell and seems as though it's not working but once you get to around 8 or 9 weeks everything will be worth it. Please continue to use this even after the initial breakout which occurs within the first 3 to 4 weeks. I've been using this for 13 weeks (12 weeks is the estimated amount of time for your face to be cleared) and my face went from cystic craziness to smooth and clear. I only get one or two pimples usually around my menstrual cycle. I still have red marks and ice pick scars but they are becoming less noticeable. My confidence is beginning to grow again, something I thought would never happen to me. I'm even getting noticed by guys again! Trust me when I say this works. Goodluck everyone.
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May 4, 2012

Pros:

Dramatically clears up your whole face

Cons:

purging period
redness
skin tightness
dryness
face becomes painful for a whille

I started using this product when I was 15 years old, I am now 24 and still use it every night. This is the only rx that has worked for me. I originally had horrible severe breakouts with very extreme hyperpigmentation all over my face. When I started using this rx I can remember my skin being very red, irritated and dry. After about 3-4 months I realized 90% of my acne and hyperpigmentation was gone. After 9 years of using it I still have 100% flawless skin. People have complimented my skin saying it's so clear and that it has a healthy glow to it. I would recommend that you stick with the medication for up to 4-5 months before giving up. The medication is also used for wrinkles so its a 2 in one!
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April 9, 2012

Pros:

Gets rid of acne, leaves skin soft and helps to reduce acne scars

Cons:

VERY EXPENSIVE if not covered by your insurance, dry skin, stings, takes a while to work

I started using tazorac with benzaclyn and it's the first time since I got pregnant that I don't have a breakout for more than 4 weeks. The first couple of weeks were hard, my skin was very sensitive to the tratment and was red like a tomato. I felt like my face was burning. After 2 weeks feeling terrible, my face started to clear out. I got less breakouts every time and now I feel pretty. It takes time (I'm in month 4) but it works. Be patient
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March 17, 2012

Pros:

Acne clears up fast and usually stays away for a month.

Cons:

Peeling, itching, and dryness

I've been using this stuff for years and out of everything I've tried, tazorac was the only thing that helped. Since I've been using it for so long that after a while I can go a month without touching the stuff. My skin does peel at times and I know that's something a lot of people have a problem with but my docter said that your skin is suppose to do that. Bottom line-tazorac works.
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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