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
18.8%
4
32.9%
3
25.3%
2
13.9%
1
9.2%

Used Tazarotene? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
April 9, 2010

Pros:

didn't dry my skin,
cleared my skin,
made it soft,
reduced pore / scar size.
I have normal skin now!

Cons:

terribly expensive! my insurance covers half the cost of all prescriptions making this item cost me 100$. it is nearly 200$ per tube retail at walgreens.

I use the .05% cream and it started working the first night. It reduced the redness, number of whiteheads, pore size, and smoothed out my skin. my new girlfriend actually commented on how soft my face was and had no idea how bad my acne was before she met me (before i used tazorac). Customers in my store even tell me how nice my skin is from when they saw me with acne. I'm allergic to gel retinoids which usually make my skin worse. the cream was magic and worth its weight in gold (literally)
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August 17, 2011

Pros:

Acne is basically gone
Reduced acne scarring

Cons:

Takes a long time to work
Dryness
Initial breakout

For the first 10 weeks of using Tazorac .1% I did'nt think the product worked, but then on the 11th week my face really started to clear up. I'm on my 14th week and now I have basically no acne. I occasionally get a pimple but it is very short lived. I would recommend this product, but make sure you stick with it. Regimen Morning- Cetaphil Facewash Cetaphil Moisturizer Topical Cleocin-T Night- Cetaphil Facewash Cetaphil Moisturizer Tazorac .1% Cream
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February 1, 2011

Pros:

clears all pimples and majority of small cysts
leaves skin clear as long as you keep up with regimen. I went about a month without a cyst with Tazorac it is AMAZING

Cons:

Dry flakes/redness (use aveeno ultra calming its amazing trust me)
Sensitive to sun
Takes a long time. Probably 12-14 weeks but its better then accutane.
Doesnt reduce redness in scarring

Its really awesome but once you stop i... it will come back. DONT BE LAZY WITH THIS MEDICATION. I stopped for a week because I thought it was all gone and it almost came all back. BTW with this medication I use cetaphil gentle skin cleanser/ aveeno ultra calming cream/ and monodox to reduce swelling and redness.
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September 12, 2009

Pros:

Skin looks better, better tone overall, seems to clear up new breakouts quickly

Cons:

Very harsh if you have sensitive skin. Doesn't seem as effective on current lesions before starting Tazorac. Redness, irritation, burning, some peeling, acne will get worse early on

I am a mature user (48) who has had acne off and on since age 15. Have periods of no breakouts, followed by random breakouts which get progressively more stubborn as I get older. I have used this 5 weeks now, which is probably not enough time to properly evaluate, but this medicine is not for the faint of heart and for users who do not follow instructions carefully. I was advised to start out at once per 3 days for 2 weeks, then every other day for 2 weeks, then every day. Dr. says a 50% improvement would be normal over a 2 month period. I think every persons case is different, dependent on age, type of skin, general health, and environmental factors such as stress, picking, etc. I do have faith this will work as I have seen improvement, but have gotten breakoutsm in areas that I haven't had in years and years. But my Derm. who is president of the Derm. Association of Tennessee says it is one of the most effective treatments he has seen for acne, including Accutane.
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October 16, 2010

Pros:

works fast
feels good-skin feels clean and fresh
brightens skin
clears up acne
if you miss a day, your acne doesn't come back full force
if you stop using it, the acne that comes back isn't nearly as bad.

Cons:

can make acne worse if not used properly
drying if not used properly
if used correctly, NONE! :)

Basically, make sure you use this right. I used a .05% gel. my dermatologist prescribed me the wash and gel and didn't tell me how to properly use it. I did my own research through medical journals (Hours and hours of research) I wash my face with a 3% benzoyl peroxide prescription cream wash, letting that touch my skin for about 10 sec. then i put on a HEAVY cream. Eucerin mosturizing cream. Right after i wash. its not oil free. YOU HAVE TO USE VERY HEAVY CREAMS!!! not that dandy oil-free stuff. no. I have INSANELY oily skin. but I use a heavy cream. because by the time your oil is produced, there's no water to lock in if you use prescription medication. it just lies on top of your skin doing nothing. letting your skin dry out only makes the acne worse. the way this works is by increasing cell turn over so that you have new fresh skin and your skin repairs its-self. the benzoyl peroxide wash helps create an enviornment (by oxidizing your face) in which bacteria can't live. that being said, most research shows that in order to minimize irritation and dryness, this is best used twice a day with short periods of contact. (this is called short contact therapy and you should work up to twice a day). between 30 sec. to 15 min. I do about 15 min. two times a day. after you wash your face and moisturize, apply the gel all over your face. (even the parts without acne). ONLY a PEA-sized amount. Leave on for 30 sec. to 15 min (when you start out go only about 30 sec. to a min). then RINSE off. with WATER only. pat dry. and apply a sunscreen moisturizer. Eucerin everyday facial moisturizer worked the best. the reason you can use a light moisturizer (instead of the heavy cream) in this step is that the cream won't really come off when you rinse. this will make your face bright and new looking. I've gotten SO MANY COMPLIMENTS on my skin. It looks Gorgeous. Its texture and color and the way it GLOWS. it doesn't take long for results to show. seriously. a week or two fo
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December 19, 2009

Pros:

Hoping it will work

Cons:

it made my skin red, itchy and peel.

I have been using the product for almost 2 months now and I still breaks out. the initial break out was horrible-I did not want to go out or see my boyfriend but now the redness is getting better. MAKE SURE YOU ARE LEAVING THE MOISTURIZER ACTING FOR 2O MIN BEFORE YOU APPLY TAZORAC. I was not doing this at the beginning and my face was extremely dry. I do not know why i keep breaking out around the same areas over and over. I have seen very mild results. I am also using another acne cream doing the day to prevent acne + getting facials+ birth control pills but i still do not see results...I keep you inform of my improvement. I really hope this works
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July 6, 2016
Stick with it
Currently on week 9 1/2 of Tazorac. 05 at night with Aczone 5% of morning and my skin is just now showing the big improvement I've been waiting for and my skin has never looked better since before puberty. Before last year I would get random zits here and there, but they would always clear up with Clearasil or some other over the counter spot treatment, but last summer I broke out horribly, and after almost a year of trying every OTC acne treatment out there, as well as Dermalogica, which is very expensive and didn't even work, I went to the dermatologist and was put on Taz and Aczone. Honestly I was about to give up about two weeks ago after reading about people seeing miracles after a month, and there I was 7 weeks in and still not improving, but I stuck with it after reading enough success stories, and finally I'm starting to see a huge improvement in my skin so I decided to share my story. Some things to keep in mind are that moisturizing and applying sunscreen are critical when on these products. Your skin will be a dry and burnt mess without. Without sunscreen my skin burned as soon as I stepped outside. Also be very gentle when washing your face, let the medicine to the work not the facewash. Over washing your face will further damage your skin and prolong treatment. Be patient, very, very patient. Some people see results in a month, others it's taken months, it really depends on your situation. But the wait is very much worth it.
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October 14, 2016
Can 15 year old teen use it ? And when can we , day or night??
December 7, 2016
I would say talk to your derm first but its usually a nightime product for overnight
May 23, 2016
wow
i have been battling cystic acne for many years now and it is completely gone!! i've been using this stuff for 2 month with duac now, and all of my pimples have come to a halt. yes, my face is peeling like crazy, but that is a good thing! that means the dead skin cells and top layer is shedding off and my scars are less visible. My derm said the more i use it overtime, my acne scars will be gone and my face will be much smoother...it's ALREADY getting smoother after 2 weeks of using this product. highly recommend it!
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February 27, 2019

When did you use duac? 

December 26, 2011

Pros:

Works very well, and fast
No initial breakout period
Helps heal scars
Fades wrinkles
Not only clears acne, makes skin look radiant

Cons:

Causes very sensitive skin
Redness
Peeling
Painful for the first month or so
Expensive

I've been on tazorac and benzoyl peroxide for about 7 months and my skin has never looked better. Because tazorac works by peeling the top layers of the skin, your skin will be red and flaky when you first start using it. When your skin is peeling it can be hard to cover with makeup. I use a gentle sugar scrub on my face before applying moisturizer and makeup, and that usually works great.
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June 28, 2011

Pros:

Made skin clear really fast
Made my dry skin less flaky

Cons:

can get greasy at times
expensive if you dont have a good medical plan

I had light acne since i was 11 but it has been getting really bad lately (im 15 now). My doctor had put me on a bunch of other medications but they werent strong enough.The day after i got the Tazorac I saw it make a difference. Because my skin is naturally dry it made it smooth and not flaky. I've been on it for about a month now and i havent seen one pimple. the only thing that might be a problem is the cost for some people, for me it was only $5.00 cause of my medical plan
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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.