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
May 15, 2008

Pros:

Definitely seeing an improvement in my acne

Cons:

Peeling, redness, still have cystic acne around the corners of my mouth

Hi all...this is the same Stephanie who wrote a couple weeks ago about how amazing Tazorac was, after using it only one day. I realize now I probably shouldn't have written that review, seeing as how there is no "miracle" product that cures acne over night. But I wanted to let you all know that Tazorac might be your answer! I have been using it for about four weeks now, and experienced some pretty dreadful acne. I noticed this morning my face is headed towards improvement though. There is hope!!!!! You can handle the peeling and extra bad acnce for a couple weeks...good luck!
April 25, 2008

Pros:

Eventually gets rid of acne, leaves your skin smooth and less pimply.

Cons:

Takes a long a@# time to work, burnt my skin at first, and very pricy but Ihave two medium sized tubes and i still have alot left from the first one after 2 months!

I have sensitive skin so it took a whole two months and a week for my skin to clear up! (I only have 3 small pimples now)I'm brown skinned and my face felt a little burnt after i used it for three weeks. I also used duac but switched to finacea for scars. I've been using finacea for a little longer than a month. And doryx 100mg a day. The combo is great. I have no pimples on my cheek near my nose, JUST SCARS ERRR. I alternate brevoxyl wash 4%, cetaphil, and dove soap for a cleanser. I love dove (frangrance free)! Oh yeah, if you have moderate acne and don't have a lot of money just use the Brevoxyl wash 4% twice a day, it WILL CLEAR YOU UP COMPLETELY!(NO PIMPLES)& a good a@# moisturizer.
February 22, 2008

Pros:

seems to be lightening post-acne spots; in conjunction with MD Skincare daily face peels, appears to have eliminated or at least reduced in size a couple cysts that had developed under my skin afer I had popped their corresponding zits on the surface

Cons:

very drying, use in moderation...DON'T GET ON THE CORNERS OF YOUR MOUTH (not fun, hurts to open mouth when eating, etc)...

if you have cystic acne in a couple areas of your face, I recommend applying this prescription topical cream on the skin above them for several weeks (or as long as it takes to see results if improvement is possible)...Along with MD Skincare Alpha-Beta Daily Face Peels, Tazorac seems to have eliminated two cysts below the surface of my skin (one had been there for at least two and a half months)...This was amazing to me considering I was told I would have to have a plastic surgeon remove them!
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.
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.
December 11, 2007

Pros:

Does help get rid of acne

Cons:

Dries out skin like no other. Some mornings i would wake up feeling like a reptile from how scaly my dry skin was.

Did help rid my skin of acne, but the dryness made me look almost as bad. I don't think it's worth using a product where the side effect is almost as bad as the disease its treating. Used in conjunction with Cleacin pads. Switched to clenia and finacea.
November 10, 2007

Pros:

Cheap if your insurance covers it ... not so much if it doesnt .. but I got like a whole box of samples from my derm

Cons:

crazy dryness ... seriusly and it burns like hell ... Thats what she said .. top drawer

well I have been on this for about a week now and it not doing much but breaking out my skin.But after reading all these comments im pretty positive thats expected.I went to my derm first time ive ever even been to one. and I got three medications tazorac 0.05% gel,zoderm 8.5% benzoyl peroxide clenser, and Doxycycline 100mg ... and damn that stuff all together drys out my skin but this is still my first week and im hoping it gets better...Ill keep you posted peace out homies word up!
November 8, 2007

Pros:

Works
Stops scarring
Stops outbreaks

Cons:

Causes me to PEEL SEVERELY. Don't know what to do to stop me from peeling, but about once a week I peel ALOT on my face.

You must stick with it every night, not some nights.

Great product, insurance covers 100%, peeling sucks but i'm sure there are some washes to cure it - ive used this for 3yrs
August 30, 2007

Pros:

Does work extremely well with time

Cons:

may over-dry skin, and takes at least a month to see results

Tazorac applied every night has done a great job of purging my skin and getting rid of those small bumps everywhere under the skin. It broke my face out really bad at first, but with benzaclin used every day to clear them up fast, it wasnt that big of a problem. Once all the acne is gone, its gone, i use it nightly to stay clear!
August 9, 2007

Pros:

Prevents new breakouts. Gets rid of acne.

Cons:

Somehow made my skin feel dry and really oily at the same time. Got really bad the first month of use.

Stick to it! Results in 2 months.

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.