Topical Retinoid
Reviews
3.4
969 Reviews
Topical Retinoid
Efficacy
51%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Topical Retinoid
Side Effects
Low-Medium
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.
Read All About Tazarotene
Compare To Other Treatments
5
18.7%
4
32.9%
3
25.3%
2
13.9%
1
9.2%

Used Tazarotene? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
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.
October 31, 2008

Pros:

skin gets a bit clearer...

Cons:

skin dries up majorly, almost to the point of painful

i'm 15 and have terrible skin and ive been using tazorac for over a year now and I know the cardinal rule of skin care is "it's always going to get worse before it gets better", but my skin gets ridiculously dry and I peel practically sheets of skin off and sometimes it hurts and gets red. i'm going to quit tazorac and try an oral treatment maybe. i don't really know if it's because i'm younger, but i really don't think tazorac is working for me.
October 26, 2008

Pros:

-treating my acne pretty quickly
-diminished redness in just a week

Cons:

-fourth day i had skin dryer than a desert and it flaking and i couldnt even wear make-up
-apply non-comodegenic moistureizer before tazorac,

it works well, i think it will be worth the side effects, and its cheap!
October 25, 2008

Pros:

shrinks pores

Cons:

very drying

i used this along w/antibiotics for 4 months leading up to my wedding. after the initial HORRIBLE break out the cysts and white heads on my chin and upper lip never got better and there was no other product that i used that worked well enough w/taz to help those break outs. i kept getting compliments on my skin but i didn't understand why w/still so many zits. only after i stopped using it did i realize that, apart from chin/lip area, my skin really did look good, smooth and virtually no pores. i stopped using it in anticipation of becoming pregnant and i probably wouldn't use it again because it was a painful process using it despite what it did do, it didn't do enough to make it worth it for me to try again. ins. covered cost
September 6, 2008

Pros:

Gets rid of stubborn pimples, smoothes skin. USE MOISTURIZER - go to your health-food store and get some (gasp) OIL - like jojobam or squaline or sweet almond and use a tiny bit on wet skin.

Cons:

None - but you MUST wash your face and put moisturizer on BEFORE the Tazorac. I know moisturizer seems like the enemy, but you need it to protect from the excess burning. I recommend a tiny bit of jojoba oil - right onto wet, freshly washed skin.

I am 41,was on antibiotics as a young adult, then Accutane - which was great BTW - worked for 10 years or so. Then over the years I have used Retin-A creme, Proactiv (the cleanser is the only good part of that program), Differen, tea tree oli, sulphur and other preparations to kill my (hormone-stress-poor diet related) mild acne. Recently, nothing has worked, and I am faced with the dreaded wrinkles and dehydration crows-feet. Not a pretty sight: pimples and wrinkles. So I had some Tazorac samples from my Dermo - had never used them - until now. The first morning, zits that I had been fighting with for two weeks had vanished AND my skin was smooth and gorgeous. My skin looked shiny in the am - but I would rather have that than red-flaky mess. It was fine after cleanser & moisturizer. HOW I USED IT:I had first washed with a Dr.B's babymild castile soap, then applied a tiny bit of dqualine oil, then the Tazorac. Viola!
September 2, 2008

Pros:

Got rid of my acne, shrunk my sebaceous glands, lightened scaring, got rid of most of my excess oil. A con is that it is expensive, but the pro is that it's worth the money.

Cons:

Very bad peeling, constantly flaking, skin felt dry during treatment (when used every night). Was very embarrassed to go anywhere due to the extremity of the peeling and flaking. Approximately $70 for a 100 gram tube of Tazorac Gel.

This was my last resort. I felt like I had tried everything and my dermatologist didn't want to give me Accutane but instead prescribed me Tazorac. It had some pretty ferocious and embarrassing side effects, but they were very well worth it. I stayed on Tazorac for 1-2 years in middle school. I am now in college and even though it's been a very long time since using this, the results are still there. After going off of Tazorac my skin was just amazing compared to what it was before treatment. And now that I'm a bit older and on birth control I feel that it's just improved even more and my skin is just about perfect. I still use Tazorac as a scar spot treatment and blemish spot treatment, as well as to keep the pores on my back clear from breakouts due to conditioner becoming trapped within them.
August 6, 2008

Pros:

Dries oily skin

This stuff is amazing!! I've been on it for about a month and a half now and all of the darks spots have disappeared. I wash my face twice daily with Neutrogena Oily Skin Free Wash and let it completely dry, then apply small amounts of Tazorac followed by Eucerin cream to moisturize. My skin looks so much better now and I've received many compliments from family and friends. Now they want to try it too!
July 29, 2008

Pros:

Not really any....it was cheap since I got it free from my dermatologist, though.

Cons:

Made my skin incredibly sensitive, red, oily, and I think it clogged my pores.

I think this is a hit-or-miss product. My skin certainly doesn't like it. It worked very nicely for a few weeks, but after that my skin started to get very oily, red, and sensitive to just about anything. Also, I think it may have clogged the pores on my cheeks. I tried just putting it on where I had whiteheads, but my skin didn't go back to how it was before. I skipped putting it on completely for a few days, and my pores seemed to be smaller. I mean, they were huge for a bit and it was only when I had been putting the Tazorac on my face.
July 11, 2008

Pros:

none that I know of

Cons:

made face oilier which caused break outs

Originally, I was using Retina Micro...that was working really well, but my dermatologist still noticed my skin was really oily, so she said start using Tazorac, it will take away all of the oil and dry your skin up...she also mentioned to make sure my face was COMPLETELY dry before I put it on because if not it would become so dry it irritated my skin. I followed directions and my face has been oily still after having it for the past month...even oilier than it was on Retina Micro. Which means I break out more now. I even tried making sure my face wasn't water free and it was still oily!! :( I will be going back to my doctor before school's start I suppose!
June 2, 2008

Pros:

I did notice a slight difference overnight, and now after using it for over a year, my acne has improved dramatically. I used it in the evening with BenzaClin in the morning.

Cons:

I have very oily skin, and for about the first six months it made it more oily. Then in winter it dried my skin out so bad I had to use a lot of moisturizer in the morning so that I could put makeup on, then later in the day the dryness would go away

I recommend this highly. It has indeed worked wonders. This is especially good if you don't already have dry or oily skin. With insurance, one rather large tube only cost me about $20, but without insurance it would have cost almost $300. A tube lasts for about 6 months, or longer depending on how much and how often you use it.

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.

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.