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.
Used Tazarotene? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
May 30, 2013
Hopeful optimism?!
Cons:
Acnes worsens first (purge)
I am 45 and have been dealing with moderate to severe cystic acne since I was a teenager. :( I believe I have tried it all - OTC and prescription treatments. Accutane twice (once in my younger years and again last year at age 44), cleansers, topical ointments, antibiotics, and on and on. Doctor started me on Tazorac cream over two months ago. Acne definitely has gotten worse, but I have continued application I haven't experience any major problems with dryness or irritation. Doctor instructed me to NOT wash my face in the evening as I don't use makeup, apply CeraVe PM moisturizer and wait at least one hour before applying Tazorac. This is the first night I believe I see some improvement. I SOOOO want this to work.
May 15, 2013
Pros:
the tube will last a long time
Cons:
expensive
been 4 weeks and havent yet seen any amazing results
I am currently on my 4th week (middle of 4th week) of my Taz (.1 cream) journey. Im not quite sure what I think of the medication just yet. I have rated it 3 stars and have indicated that I recommend it, but simply because I want to remain hopeful. I dont believe I have had a particularly large increase in acne, but I dont think Im seeing any major improvement either. I dont think I've gone through the purging period either. I've read that some people have experienced the purging period around the 5th-6th week (and sometimes later), so Im a little scared of what the next couple of weeks may bring. I am committed to stick with this product for the 12 weeks given that many posts Ive read encourage you to stick with it. I have used retin-A in the past and perhaps thats the reason that my skin has not reacted as badly (thus far) to this medication as other posts Ive read. I have not experienced heavy itchiness, redness, flakiness and Im wondering whether that's due to my skin's prior experience with retin-A. I am hoping that by week 6 I can see something I can rave about. My goal is to be able to walk out of my house sans makeup and feel totally comfortable doing so.
April 22, 2016
I actually had a lot of improvement until this week. I don't know if it's stress from finals or what but I am at that 5th week period and my skin is getting a lot worse. I am starting back on the antibiotics to hopefully get the swelling down. I'm glad I'm not the only one that has seen this "purging" happen around the 5th-6th week...I just gotta tough it out
May 5, 2013
Pros:
none what so ever
Cons:
doesn't work
cause large acne cysts
drys out skin
DONT USE THIS! omg worse product ever invented i normally used epiduo but that plus summer had my skin to oily so my derma prescribe this with my insurance cost about 70 dollars it did dry out my skin, did not help with acne, it actually caused large acne cysts on my face the one was under my eye and actually swelled my eye shut. I used for about 8 months no sign of improvement the entire time dont think i went one day without multiple pimples. ugh so disappointed
May 3, 2013
Pros:
fades acne marks
clears clogged pores
prevents new acne
Cons:
dryness
redness
price
Honestly, this stuff is a miracle cream. I more so use it for fading acne marks and clearing clogged pores and it works extremely well. I've used peels and nothing works as well as this stuff. I use the .05% and still can't really tolerate it every night or it will make my skin a bit flaky, but that's only temporary and pros definitely outweigh the cons. It is pricy, the tube I used to buy was $40 with insurance but now they've made a smaller tube and it costs $20, lasts a long time though.
April 28, 2013
Pros:
Effective
Improves scarring
Improves skin texture
Cons:
Expensive
I am shocked to see the relatively low average rating for Tazorac, as this is the ONLY product that has helped my acne. I am 23 and have had moderate to severe acne since I was 12. I have tried the following products: Over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide (from 2.5 to 10%)
Over-the-counter salicylic acid products Prescription products:
Ortho tri-cyclen
Benzaclin
Retin-A (Tretinoin - highest strength available in USA)
Differin (Adapalene - highest strength available in USA)
Clindamycin
Doxycycline
Tetracycline Tazorac is the ONLY product that has made a SIGNIFICANT improvement in my skin. Other products controlled it, but only Tazorac has really improved it. After about a month I noticed that I was no longer getting whiteheads or cysts. I also noticed that the overall quality of my skin improved and my scars were beginning to (slowly) fade. I am really surprised to see that it has low reviews but perhaps people are not waiting long enough to see an effect. In any case, if your dermatologist recommends it, I would strongly suggest this product.
April 26, 2013
Pros:
smooth skin
clears acne
clears everything wrong..blackheads etc..
Cons:
gives you oily skin
takes a VERY long time
expensive
I have had acne ever since the age of 13. I am not 21 years old! my skin is VERY oily. the first time i ever got prescribed something was my senior year of highschool and i was given Epiduo. It worked but i got used to it and suddenly stopped working. I went to my dermo a month ago and she gave me Tazorac cream for the night and cylndamycin phosphate for the morning. Thankfully i had NO side effects what so ever (peeling,redness,drying,flaking) I guess its because i have oily skin. I did get really bad breakouts, and i felt like the medication wasnt working. i still stuck in for the 4 week mark, because thats what the website said to do. and now im finally seeing improvement. I had mild acne and now i only ave one active breakout. Unfortunately because of the purging period, you will get more breakouts and more scars. but i have seen a significant amount of change in my scars as well.
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.
April 9, 2013
Pros:
Nothing
Cons:
dry's our skin bad!
breaks you out
itchy
makes face red and sensitive
The bottomline is this. This did NOT work for me. I am 27 and have been dealing with adult acne for the past few years. I have tried everything you can think of. I understand this is a 12 week course and after that you skin should be amazing. That was not the case for me. In fact my skin has never looked so bad. I have been on this medicine for about 14 weeks. I just stopped it, did my research and have been using tea tree oil. TRY THIS STUFF. my skin has cleared up so fast and it has only been a week of using it on my face. Tazorc brings everything out in your face, it doesn't do much to clear it up, or stop it. Tea tree oil cleans out your pores and kills acne.
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!
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
Pros:
Decreased acne
Lighten acne scars/brown spots