Acne.org Products
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
July 16, 2011
Cons:
HUGE PORES
>:[
itched when I applied it
Man, this worked so well. BUT it made my pores HUGE. They are still large and gross now, although I am using benzoyl peroxide which shrinks them a little. It gave me clear skin, but now I have huge gross pores, which is so much worse D: I did some research on the boards and other people have had this issue.
December 7, 2016
Hey did the pores ever resolve for you?
I'm experiencing the same thing and it's scaring me half to death.
May 29, 2011
Pros:
Gets rid of acne.
Helps with hyperpigmentation and acne scars.
Helps PREVENT new breakouts! :)
Cons:
Does take a while to work - about 5 months for me.
Will make skin break out and become very flaky.
This product is AMAZING! I started using it in January 2011 after I began using birth control to help with my acne. The birth control made me break out incredibly bad at first! My gyno then prescribed me Tazorac because I had used it while in High School. It works wonders for spot treating! You will have to moisturize like crazy! If you read what the paper says that comes in the box, this product is rejuvenating the skin underneath the acne, basically causing it to, eventually, peel off. For my skin, I use a Neutrogena transparent facial bar. Just the normal one, not the one for acne prone skin. I, then, moisturize with Eucerin Calming Cream and apply Taz to individual pimples. For when my skin gets really dry, I apply Eucerin's Aquaphor to my skin to protect it from becoming dry to the point that my face feels like it's going to crack or if it's going to peel. It is also important to keep a gentle scrub on hand as well. I have used Neutrogena's Pink Grapefruit facial scrub about once every two weeks to get the dead skin off that was left over. Too many people think that you don't have to moisturize your skin when you have acne, when in fact, you do! Tazorac is great stuff, but like any acne medication, you have to let it work before you jump to conclusions. I'm glad it worked because my doctor said if it didn't, I would have to try Accutane! :( Good luck to everyone with their "journey" with Tazorac! It's yielded great results for me!
September 24, 2009
Pros:
works great, clears up acne, pore size appears smaller, less oiler
Cons:
does dry out skin, but nothing a bit of moisturiser wont first
great product, nothing ever worked for my face this was the first product to work, affordable yet effective sure it does dry skin out.. however dry skin seems like a bad thing but when you think about the acne you've had you'd much prefer some dry skin because you can always wear moisturiser! after years of creams, face washes, pills nothing ever seemed to work, but this was the first cream to change the way i look and feel. definately recommend!!
March 22, 2017
GAVE ME GIANT CYSTS
I started this medication with about 8 pimples on my face at any given time. I've been on this medication for 3 months now. Today I counted my pimples and I have 61 of them along with a golf ball sized cyst on my chin and a marble sized cyst in between my eyebrows. I look like a monster. I will be left with the permanent scarring from this medication for the rest of my life. Do not use this horrible stuff. I only hope I can get back to where I started. My face is so painful and this medication has ruined my skin forever. Please don't use this.
September 9, 2014
didn't work for me
Tazorac was prescribed to me by my dermatologist back in June, and oh how I wish that this stuff never touched my face!! My dermatologist never warned me about the initial breakout, but I discovered that it was common through doing my own research about the medication. Well, the initial breakout lasted about two months and worsened everyday! My skin had became much worse and there were a couple days, I didn't want to leave the house because my skin was so horrific. One awful morning I woke up and my skin was bleeding and peeling. I immediately stopped taking the Tazorac and contacted my dermatologist. Tazorac may work wonders for some teenage acne but not for cystic adult acne. I have since than found a new dermatologist who has me on Aczone and Niacin. So far so good! My skin immediately cleared up(some) but enough improvement for me to feel confident again! If you have hormonal acne like I do chances are Tazorac won't work for you.
May 2, 2011
Pros:
Does a great job of clearing skin.
Not Greasy to use.
Does not burn/irritate skin
Cons:
Does cause slight peeling to start with, but goes away after about a week.
This product is a great tool in helping to fight acne. My dermatologist put me on this drug after many trial and errors of other topical retinoids including Retin-a, Differin, Epiduo, which did not seem to be very effective. My dermatologist was adamant that I be on a topical retinoid because she feels that they are one of the most effective medications to treat, and prevent acne.
July 30, 2009
Pros:
My skin is much softer, my breakouts are decreasing, and the scars are fading.
Cons:
Pretty bad initial breakout. It happened around week 3-4. I broke out in places I never do. Expensive, even with insurance. I experienced sensitivity to the sun. Mild flaking and burning.
My face isn't completely clear, however my breakouts have decreased a lot since the first initial breakout. Now I have only a few pimples, which is a bit less than when I began. I am only on week 7, so I am going to go through with the 12 weeks before I make any harsh judgments. Moisturizer before a pea-sized amount is crucial. I am using it nightly, while taking Doxyl (antibiotics) once a day, and wearing Aczone daily. I am also on birth control: Loestrin Fe 24. Good luck to everyone else who is using this. Don't stop using it unless you haven't seen results after 12 weeks!
July 8, 2009
Pros:
Great product, Not pricey, One tube lasts 4-6 months, Clears up acne, Improves skin tone, May help with scarring in long term
Cons:
Redness, Itchiness, Flakiness, Initial breakout
Started this product in February. Broke out on it for 2-4 weeks. Acne was moderate to a couple more severe cysts. Used .1% Gel which was recommended because helps more with scarring. Overall acne is much better, however I also used benzaclin in the mornings followed by Olay oil Free moisturizer with spf 15. In the beginnign I used the moisturizer also prior to Taz at nights. Deal with the harsness for 4-6 weeks of the product and you will see improvement. Easy to get discouraged. Apparently you need to use it 1-2 years to help with scar remodeling/photodamage. We'll see how that goes. Good product overall if you can deal with the initial side effects. Just smooth it out nicely over the entire skin and be tough for a couple months even though you'll look crappy and you should be okay down the line.
August 8, 2008
Pros:
Increases cellular turnover, no additional exfolliation necessary. Diminishes fine lines and wrinkles. Evens out coloration, fading dark spots over time,
Cons:
Leaves face extremely oily, at the same time you will notice dry, peeling patches. Almost impossible to wear foundation over shiny "new' skin. Stinging, itching, and extreme redness and irritation for first month or more.
Okay, I've been using this medication for close to six weeks now and I am beginning to see some improvement. Acne wasn't the reason I tried this product, rather fine lines and freckling. Therefore I won't comment on its ability to lessen acne. The tiniest amount of this product should be used at bed time. I started with 0.5% concentration and worked my way up to 1% strength, both in a cream base. You must be dedicated to using this product as it is not for short term use. Your skin will take time to adjust to Tazorac. Don't expect to apply it and see immediate results. You will be disappointed. You will look like an oil slick for weeks. No exaggeration. And your skin will feel sticky and stingy and itchy. It feels similar to applying heavy sunscreen to your face. Thay tacky feel that you just hate, even though you know you its good for you. Change your pillowcase every night and don't rub your skin and then touch your eyes. Ouch! Keep away from your lips. Double ouch!
September 14, 2012
Pros:
Works great
Cons:
takes 3 months to see results
Product works great!! You have to be patient with it. Your face will get worst before it gets better you will not see results right away. I would wash with Cereve morning and night. after washing my face in the morning i will use the acanya gel on the acne followed by the cereve am moisturizer and aveeno spf 15 or 30 even tone (cereve am moisturizer has spf 30 in it as well) At night wash with the cereve use the pm cereve moisturizer and spot check with tazorac...my face looks 100% better even the dark spots cleared up..i still continue to use tazorac on like 2 or 3 pimples that i feel under my skin..but when its time to pop the pimples they come out very easy. My insurance covered the prescription for the most part and my dermatologist gave me a coupon for it. i recommend tazorac and acanya gel.
Pros:
cleared skin
apparently slows aging