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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January 21, 2008

Pros:

Works well - cleared up my acne!
Healed most of my scars
Makes my skin smooth and even-toned

Cons:

Does not "cure" acne

I don't know if I just got lucky - but I have never experienced peeling, redness, or severe irritation. My derm. told me to mix the cream with a lotion (in your hands before you apply), and I use Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing lotion. For a cheaper facial lotion, Cetaphil works well too. Be sure to moisturize in the morning after washing your face as well!
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January 14, 2008

Pros:

Used this about a year ago like for a week and it worked. Left some tiny scars behind though which is wierd cuz i thought it was supposed to prevent it...but yeah it did kill the whiteheads and pimples.

Cons:

I was a total wuss and stopped because of the sensitivity and soreness. Also made my sensitive parts around my face very shiny and it looked really wierd when the sun shone on it.

Don't cop out like me and stop after a week or two. Use it as much as you can. It kills off whatever you have on your face Blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. Just have a good moisturizer handy cuz this thing drys the hell out of your skin.
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January 10, 2008

Pros:

it cleared up my blackheads immediately
haven't seen any white heads

Cons:

started to see some peeling, but nothing a little scrubbing can't fix.

dermatologist gave me a sample that's supposed to last me a month (using a pea size dot or less) i've only been on tazorac (used at night) for a week (along with clenia cream during the day), and i haven't seen any new white heads or black heads. I typically get at least 1-2 break outs a day, and none in a week!! i've started to peel a little bit, but i just use a scrub in the afternoon to take care of it, and a hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic moisturizer. doctor also prescribed solodyn, but i did some research and i don't know if it's worth the side effects. I'm going to stick to tazorac and the clenia... i typically get a cyst or two every month, so hopefully tazorac will stop those so I don't have to get on solodyn.
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January 9, 2008

Pros:

can lessen the appearance of scars
can get free samples from dermo

Cons:

peeling, itching, lots of medical side effects.
it made my hair fall out and made me have excessive thirst.
makes skin worse, makes acne worse

I was using this product for 2 1/2 months and all it did was make everything worse. It made me break out like crazy, even after the said 4 weeks that you're skin is supposed to get better. It's taking me forever to recover from the damage this medicine caused. Skin, hair, and thirst. Do not use.
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BrokenPorEcelain
December 7, 2016
How long about did it take for your skin to go back to normal?
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January 4, 2008

Pros:

cream seems to clear the face from severe acne, but won't help much with mild break outs, which in my case haven't stopped after 3 years on Tazorak (used 0.5% and 1% creams)

Cons:

during the first few weeks of use, Tazorak causes severe peeling, not as must dryness though. my skin was peeling while shining with oil at the same time. Mild acne persisted even after 3 years of use, but I don't have large break outs anymore.

I have mixed feeling about Tazorak, since it seems to somewhat work, but doesn't deliver perfect results. Aware of the severe peeling it causes, I always used it very carefully - once every 3-2 days, at night only, while alternating Proactive or Duac during the day. After 3 years of use, I don't think it was really worth it. Large pimples might be gone, but constant peeling and at the same time having oily skin looks hardly attractive. My derm explained that the cream causes rapid turn-over of the skin cells, so skin will be peeling constantly while on Tazorak but less with time; it also causes oil glands work faster, so oil comes out and doesn't build up in the pores. I hated the constant oily skin feeling (used Clear Skin oil absorbing sheets 2-3 time a day to make face look better). Expensive.
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January 3, 2008

Pros:

it eventually clears your skin pretty well

Cons:

it took WAY too long to see results. your face will constantly be dry even after 3 years of using it. your face will also become extremely sensitive to everything.

it took a good 2 years to actually see good results- i'm not even sure why i stuck with it for that long. i hate how dry my skin always was-- it was very combination skin though; i would have shiny skin but my skin would be peeling off at the same time-- winter is a nightmare. i stopped using tazorac because it didn't give good enough results for me and my skin was dry for 3 years. i did see big results though
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January 2, 2008

Pros:

I am using the Tazorac Cream 0.05% and it is clearing up my skin. The cream prevents future breakouts while getting rid of those nasty cysts/pimples.

Cons:

The cream causes your face to peel. The cream causes severe redness too. I can compare it to a minor chemical peel. Not bad at all if you use the right moisturizor.

I have tried almost every acne medication on the shelf and this cream is working miracles. I cleanse my face on a daily basis with Proactiv and apply the cream in the evenings. To get rid of the dryness, I use Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizor! It is the ONLY moisturizor that doesn't cause me to break out. I highly recommend you purchase the Tea moisturizor with this medication otherwise your face will look dry.
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December 27, 2007

Pros:

Does work, but takes a while. It hasn't completely cleared it away, but has definately helped

Cons:

Dry, and red face.

It's definately worth trying. Out of all the things i tried this has by far been the best. It's worth the money. Don't even give it a second thought, if you havent tried it.
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December 19, 2007

Pros:

It works if you give it time
Affordable if you have insurance

Cons:

Skin gets worse before it gets better

The medicine is sensitive to the sun. To eliminate burning and peeling, only use it at night and go with something like proactive during the day.
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December 16, 2007

Pros:

It exfoliates the skin to unclog pores. It is helping unclog all those tiny little whiteheads and blackheads that have been stuck in my face forever. My skin is soft and smooth.

Cons:

Pink skin, some peeling, gets worse first, takes months to work.

I am new to this cream but have used Retin A (which is similar). If you stick with it, it will work beautifully to clear up what you have, and prevent future breakouts. My doctor gave me a lesson about application which has helped with peeling. He suggested using it every other day and only a pea sized amount. If that is still too much, he recommends applying it for an hour then wash it off, the next day do two hours, etc. until your skin tolerates it. You CANNOT apply large amounts of this cream day after day because skin will literally HANG off your face. If it has gotten to that point, then stop and let it rest, then apply smaller amounts for less time. I'm excited that after long term use, my skin will be clear, and that is my focus. It is difficult for me because right now it has gotten worse but I just keep focusing on the end result.
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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