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
July 14, 2009

Pros:

reduces redness for a while!\

Cons:

MORE REDNESS WHEN APPLIED! FREEE!!!!!

ITS WORKING BETTER AND BETTER EVERY TIME! I HOPE MY ACNE IS FREEE!
July 8, 2009

Pros:

not yet

Cons:

burning

My dermatologist prescribed it for some brown spots that appeared in my cheeckbones during my pregnancy but all I am reading is that is for acne! My skin feels very sensible and a little burning. I think is beginning to peel and I have just used for two nights. Does anybody knows if it works for spots? By the way, I am using the cream.. not the gel..
March 21, 2009

Pros:

Skin appears healthier, smoother, more even toned, mild acne appears to be fading, no cystic breakouts

Cons:

Definitely experienced an initial breakout with some mild peeling, slight increase in redness of acne

I was already registered to begin Accutane treatment due to mild cycstic breakouts. As a female they make you go on 2 forms of bc 1month before, and my gyn recomended Yaz. After 3 weeks on YAZ, I had my next appointment to begin Accutane. By the time I went to the derm, my acne had practically cleared up completely! My derm decided to put me on TAZ instead of the tane, so after using it about 2 weeks I can definitely say the remaining marks from old breakouts have faded dramatically, but I did seem to break out more with new pimples, however they are much smaller and go away much faster now. I am happy with the results but the IB was annoying. I think the less severe your acne is to begin with the better results you will see in the short term, and it is probably a good idea to use another med like antibiotic or bcp to help control the breakouts. I am on .05% so I did not experience any burning or severe peeling. ONLY USE A PEA SIZE AMOUNT PEOPLE!! This stuff is strong, but it works...
December 20, 2008

Pros:

None.

Cons:

Turned what was a few minor blemishes into acne war zones.
Made skin dry, red, and oily.

If you have normal/combination skin, DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT. Worsens acne in every way possible, causes psychological grief, makes small blackheads and whiteheads into LARGE blackheads and whiteheads that eventually become cystic.
October 28, 2008

Pros:

tend not to break out on massive scale

Cons:

dry skin flaky..

MAKE SURE YOU BUY A MOISTURIZER! wash your face at night with an cleanser that does NOT have anything in it that will dry out your face, no salcylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Once your face is DRY put on moisturizer (lubriderm is wonderful) when that dries then put on tazorac. Exfoiliate in the morning then put on an moisturizer with a sunblock (neutragena is great). Tazorac makes ypur skin freak out in the sun so sunblock is important!!!!!
January 9, 2008

Pros:

something new to try, maybe it will work for someone else

Cons:

hasn't helped much, but who knows, maybe if i didnt use it every night my face would be worse, im still not impressed even slightly with it

the only thing that has any affect whatsoever is pills, built tolerance to doxy, and then mino, spend more time breaking out in between then i do cleared up because they take so damn long to work
December 9, 2006

Pros:

Cleared my pimples up alittle but only on forehead and nose/cheeks area

Cons:

face gets very red, itchy and painful

i am 14 and i only used tazorac for about a month because my face was so red and uncomfortable. maybe i just didnt stick with it long enough? i just started using proactiv but after reading other reviews on it im not going to use it anymore since i just started using it last night.. i used it last night and this morning but after reading these i washed it off right away i dont want to be tied down to a treatment that makes skin worse. Since i only get a pimple or two on my chin and my forehead but only during that time of the month ladies. But hey give tazorac a try you wont know by reading these if it will work for you.. im going to make an appt. with my dermatologist some time this week for something new then i will let ya guys know what he gives me
January 10, 2012

Pros:

smoother, softer skin
acne scars and fine lines fading
acne cleared
Free samples from my derm

Cons:

horrible peeling
initial mass of breakouts
redness
burns
Very expensive

I had developed lots of cluster acne on my cheeks and a moderate amount on my chin as well as tiny little bumps all over my face after having a facial with dermaplaning. Apparently it caused the bacteria from some of the pimples I had to spread to the rest of my face. I tried peels and facials to try to get rid of the problems but it all made it worse. I finally went to the derm. I was placed on a pretty hardcore regimin. Tazorac, Doryx and Spironolactone. I started at the end of Oct 2011. I am in absolute shock with how well I've responded. Prior to the facial I had been getting more breakouts than usual and blackheads which I never had before. Most likely hormonal changes since hitting my 30's. The first month on the Tazorac was so awful. My face peeled terribly and my breakouts were so bad that I didn't even want to leave the house. I'd smile and my face would crack by my mouth and start bleeding. After about 5-6wks I started seeing some improvement. I decided to make an adjustment to my regimin. Again, I started peeling and breaking out but I stuck with it. I'm about to go on my 11th week of treatment and I can't even begin to describe how happy I am. I have to admit that I picked at them which of course led to scars but the med is helping to fade them and my skin is so incredibly smooth and soft. Yay! In case you'd like to know here is my regimin: am: Wash with Panoxyl with my Clairisonic brush (ok'd by derm to use) Moisturize with Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Soothing Lotion SPF 15. pm: Wash with CeraVe foaming face wash. Very important: Be sure to dry your face completely before applying Tazorac. If you do not wait then you apply it will burn your skin which will cause terrible peeling for at least a week on top of the regular peeling. After the Tazorac I used the Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Soothing Cream. Patience is the key!. Good luck to you all and thank you for all the posts. This really helped me to continue the med when all I wanted to do
December 30, 2011

Pros:

Clears scars Non sticky Clears existing pimples

Cons:

Makes skin peel. And burns

I started to use this with benzefoam and yea it makes your face peel but beauty cost! It fades scars and you get new skin! Also clear existing pimples and doesn't irritate with makeup! I have free bottles thanks to my dermatologist !
July 25, 2009

Pros:

This has a 60% efficacy which is the highest in the industry for treatment of acne compared to Clindamycin which is at 30%.

Cons:

Very Expensive especially for those without insurance.

I've tried many topical treatments, anything from Proactiv, to Murad, to Acne Free, and all of the drugstore brands. All have proven to be ineffective. I even tried birthcontrol pills, but that only made my breaking out sessions more erratic. I finally seeked advice from my family doctor and she put me on Doxycycline (antibiotics), and Clindamycin (topical). Almost after two months of using them, my acne has started to spread and gotten worst. So Tazorac is my last effort in dealing with my acne before I seek a derm. They're just ridiculously unaffordable. And so...lets just knock on wood. I'll keep you up to date.

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.