There are 262 ratings for the drug: TAZORAC in the Askapatient database.

Key to ratings for tazorac: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine.

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Rating	Reason	Side Effects	Comments	Sex	Age	Time Taken and Dosage		Date Added
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4	Moderate Cystic Acne	I started using the tazorac cream and it made my face look like an oil slick! Also, it dried out my face so bad (yep, at the same time making it super oily) and my face hurt to touch and was super bright red. It peeled so bad I was embarrased to leave the house. Not to mention, my acne was never worse in my life during the first 3 months!!! I looked like a joke!	The first 3 months were horrific! My skin was red, peeling, acne-ridden, and oily! I was so upset and depressed about my face the first 3 months, but was told that was the magic number of months to wait as far as results go. Since my face was still gross after 3 months, I asked my doctor to switch me to tazorac gel 0.1% and it started working better. I think it must have been the mineral oil in the cream that made me sooooo greasy. Anyway, tazorac gel is working fine now. I get a few deep cystic pimples now, but not as bad as before. I never touch my face, clean it with Mary Kay cleanser for oily skin, and clean my face 2 times per day. I occasionally use toner and use Mary Kay moisturizer for oily skin. I always apply the moisturizer 1 hour prior to using Taz at night to keep from horrible peeling. I don't recommend skipping the moisturizer, no matter how greasy you think your face is. I also use Duac cream each morning. This has been working for the past few months, but isn't super affordable. I've tried everything you can imagine Rx and OTC, except for Accutane. Not worth the side effects for me. I hope this blog was useful to others struggling with acne.	F	35	7 months 0.1% 1X D		7/6/2010 Email
5	acne	lots of peeling, acne was redder than normal	I've only been using taz for about a week and I already see an amazing improvment. Just before I started using taz I was on duac for about a year with no improvment and my acne was getting worse, so I'm hoping this works!!	F	14	1 weeks 1X D		6/21/2010
2	Acne	Before stumbling upon this site I used this product for 2-3 days, and stopped due to excessive peeling, itching and burning of my skin. Little did I know there was a solution to this problem.	I am 35 yo AA female and I've been cursed with acne for as long as I can remember. I've tried just about everything to help rid myself of acne, and the horrible blemishes left behind due to my picking. My initial experience with taz was not very good, I stopped using within 2-3 days. I am truly grateful for whoever created this website. It has been very helpful in providing useful information on how to prevent the excessive peeling, and burning of my skin. I re-started taz about a week ago after reading all of the postings. It seems as though everyone has experienced pretty much the same symptoms, which was good news to me b/c I thought it was just me. My daily regimen is wasing my face with Cetyphil at night, apply moisturizer, then the taz. In the morning, I just wash my face again and apply moisturizer. No more excessive peeling, minimal itching, and no burning. I will admit my acne hasn't gotten any better, as a matter of fact it's worse. I will continue to use taz given the fact just about every posting states their acne got worse before it got better. My biggest problem was the peeling, and the burning of my skin, which has been resolved. Hopefully, in the next 2-3 months I will have a wonderful success story to post about how wonderful my skin looks!	F	35	2 weeks 0.1 Gel 1X D		6/11/2010 Email
5	Acne	Slight redness, sun sensitivity, skin appears slightly thinner.	Tazorac has worked extremely well. It took about 6 weeks for my skin to get used to the medicine and about 3-months before my skin cleared up completely. I use the cream at night after washing my face with Cetyphil facewash and applying Cetyphil mosturizer. The medicine keeps my face clear of pimples, but I still have blackheads. My blackheads are really deep on my nose, so maybe they will just take more time. I do have a question...does anyone know if it is safe to continue to use Tazorac for an extended period? I love this medicine, and want to continue using it as long as it doesn't loose it effectiveness or build-up in my bloodsteam.	F	28	10 months .05 1X D		6/2/2010
5	Severe Acne	Extreme dry skin, peeling, extreme sensitivity, burning, redness.	Tazorac literally changed my life. I had severe acne in Junior High, and at that time, all of my other friends had perfect skin, so it was really embarrassing for me to look like that. I had no self esteem, and I just felt ugly. I would always wear make up to cover it up, and none of my other friends had to wear makeup! My dermotolagist prescribed Tazorac and for the first few weeks, my skin was dry, burning, red, and peeling, it made everything look worse. My acne began to clear up a little bit, but the side effects of Tazorac made things look 10 times worse. About 5 weeks later, the side affects dissapeared and my acne did too. It was literally a miracle, my skin looked amazing! Many times I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I felt great and I finally began to think I was actually pretty. It worked amazing for me for about a year, before I ran out again and I so from the on I just stopped using it, and surprisingly my acne didn't come back for a very long time. Now I find myself in highschool, and I've noticed my acne coming back so I've got a new presciption and I'm starting it again. The symptoms (redness, dryness, burning) are back but I can't wait to see my skin clear up again!	F	15	2 years 1X D		5/28/2010
3	Adult Acne	First 2-3 weeks i experience peeling, redness, dryness, also burning when i apply lotion, but 4weeks it seems to even get worst. I'm getting new breakouts in different spots. I have scars & red marks all over my face. I Did noticed that the pimples were drying up but the red marks are still there. I just can't wait for everything to go away.	I'm using Tazorac every night and also use 'clindamycin' twice a day. I'm not sure if it's my hormone related for cuz I'm overweight, It just doesn't seem to work for me just yet. has anybody know if being overweight can trigger to breakouts?	F	30	4 weeks 1 1X D		5/26/2010 Email
5	sun damage & fine lines	Redness & drying, some irritation. I have been using Tazorac for approximately 10 years. My dermatologist prescribed it to improve skin texture, tone, and color. He also prescribes Premarin Estrogen cream as a night moisturizer. I have been seeing this Dr. for 30 years now. I am now 60 years old and have the skin of much younger woman. Smooth and soft with very minimum fine lines. As a sun worshiper in my youth I was concerned about sun damage. Tazorac has removed it all, even on my neck and arms. The estrogen cream has kept my skin supple and does not have that thinning skin we ladies get after menopause. Girls, use this product & don't give up, you will have wonderful benefits.	If it is too strong for you to use everyday. Start out with 1-2 times a week mixed in with your moisturizer.	F	60	10 years .1% 1X D		5/10/2010
4	cysts on face	tightness, burning and peeling	I have always had acne... but it was in college when I started getting cysts on face. I was put on Accutane, which work well. Then after that was given a cream the following year after taken the last dose. I was told after the year was up, I could go back to the basis. Cleanser, Toner and Moisturizer... Now, I'm back to square one... I have been using Tazorac for a week now. Day 2, It started peeling and getting worst. Day 3, More peeling, burning and drying occurs. I'm at Day 7, most of my acne has dried up, leaving red marks and scars but I'm praying that I will see an improvement in a month. I won't lie... It is depressing but after reading everyone's post. I have hope...	F	26	7 days 1X D		5/7/2010
2	Acne	My skin became fairly dry and I began peeling on spots on my face	I was given the Tazorac cream by my dermatologist and, overall, I would say it didn't work. I have a combination of dry and oily skin and I'm using this prescription along with Minocycline pills. Since I've been using this cream I would say my acne has become significantly worse and now my zits seem to be scarring. In addition, my face has become drier so it's difficult to cover up the marks with make-up. It seems to work really well for some but not for others : (	F	16	8 weeks 30 g 1X D		4/25/2010
5	Amanda: Prescribed by Dermotologist	The first 6 weeks were hell. HELL! My skin got extremely worse basically right away, side effects including redness, itchiness, MAJOR peeling, burning, and adding redness to my already existing pimples and also creating new ones. But then, on the 6th week, everything changed. The redness was gone. All the pimples were healed and the dry skin has slowly but surely been moisturizing itself. I wake up in the morning worried that it was all just a dream. But it was not. My skin has not looked this good in over 2 years (around the time my pores started clogging up). I am so happy with this product now. My skin used to be terrible and I was literally depressed during the first 6 weeks when I thought I was doomed to bad skin for the rest of my life. That is far behind me. My skin is smooth and clear again. I am so happy I committed to this product. It works.		F	29	6 weeks 1X D		4/18/2010
2	Acne on my face	I have been on Tazorac for 4 weeks, and it made my face extremely worse. I have pimples everywhere and it is just very depressing and it makes me embarrassed to walk outside. I have not worn makeup since I've started tazorac. At first it made my face extremely dry and peely but it is not anymore, but I have had this patch of acne on my chin that has been there for weeks!!! It doesnt seem like it will ever go away! I'm about to give up on this :(		F	19	4 weeks .1% Gel 1X D		4/15/2010
5	to lighten skin hyperpigmentation	I have been using taz for about two weeks now. I am using it with the Obagi skin blender to lighten sun damage on my face. i am very fair with freckles, and after spending years in the tanning booth, my skin is really damaged. I have dark freckles covering my whole face, along with a few larger dark spots. I have never really had acne, accept for the occasional monthly pimple, so I was using it in order to allow the skin bleach to penetrate my skin better. I did break out initially (within the first week) and I got a few pimples...which completely freaked me out, but they went away very fast and I haven't had a zit again. overall I am very happy with the results. my hyperpigmentation is lightening a ton already, and my skin is very smooth and glowy. I did get a little dry, but I just took a few days off to let it calm down a little.		F	27	2 weeks 1X O		4/5/2010
4	Adult Acne, Scarring, Pore Size	I'm currently using Tazorac cream at night, Duac gel in the morning, taking Doxcycline, washing with M.D. Forte II glycolic acid cleanser, and using Purpose SPF 15 Moisturizer. During the first week I had more breakouts than before going to the Derm. I'm finally starting to see results in less than 2 weeks. I am getting really small bumps around my chin and neck area, but no dryness or peeling has occured (maybe because I'm African American?). I'm curious to see how it goes next week when I switch to every night.	Taken every other day, then will switch to every night next week	F	39	10 days .05 1X O		3/18/2010 Email
5	wrinkles, mild breakout	I started using tazorac for acne when it first came out in the 80's. I have been using it ever since. I am now in my 50's and my skin is almost wrinkle free. My dermotologist can't believe how great my skin looks. No crows feet, laugh lines etc. It did cause peeling when I first started using it, but I have developed a tolerance to it. I just started to use a face cream in addition to my tazorac. It is by a company called yonka and it is fabulous. I would say stick with the tazorac. You can combat the peeling by using aquafor...believe me this really works!! People always ask me why my skin looks so great and I have to say I owe it to tazorac.	If you are really peeling, use the cream form. I used the .5 for many years in the cream. I now use the 1.0 in the gel but use it sparingly and add the yonka cream.	F	53	20 years 1.0 gel 1X D		3/16/2010
4	acne	peeling, dryness, some redness	I have been on and off of Taz several times over the last few years. I do like how it will clear my skin and even get rid of the "smile line" on my face. I found that the moisterizer technique works well. WATER WATER WATER is another great way to cut down on dryness and peeling. Hydrated skin looks better and can handle the harsh effects of the medication. DRINK YOUR WATER!! Overall, I use it every other day for a little while then take a break then start up again if i start to notice more breakouts.	F	32	14 days ordered 1X D		3/13/2010
5	hyperpigmentation, light acne	Side effects were great! In the morning i wake up and my skin is flaking so i jump in the shower and gently rub my face and all that dry skin is removed and i am ready to start the day!	Its Amazing everyone i see wants to know what i did to my skin. I had very un even skin tone and texture. I used to hate looking at myself in the mirror in sunlight because it made my skin's rough texture so obvious. Now I love looking at myself in the sun and i wear my hair up, such freedom! I used to love the sun but now that i get this fresh start I want nothing more to do with frying my skin to temporary look good.	F	31	1 months 30mg .01% 1X D		3/2/2010
4	adult onset acne	redness, mild itching and irritation for the first week or so	my nightly regimen consists of 5.75% benzoyl peroxide wash, .05% tazorac cream, and doxycycline capsules (100 mg). the tazorac was irritating my skin and causing breakouts so i stopped and resumed using epiduo (.1% adapalene/2.5% benzoyl peroxide - gel) from a previous derm rx but continued with the bp wash and doxy. after 2 months my skin had improved and when i went for my follow up the derm told me to start on the taz. i did and my skin had none of the side effects. i think the epiduo, which is less potent, helped my skin adjust to any irritation. my skin is pretty oily so using the taz daily is actually great for controlling shine, etc... now it's been about 4 months, my skin is not breaking out anymore, not even during my period! still have residual discoloration - my skin seems to be prone to hyperpigmentation and takes a long time for dark spots to fade. am now on a regimen of bp wash, taz and now topical 1% clindamycin (antibiotic). so far so good. if you experience severe side effects from the taz, maybe your derm can start you on a lower intensity rx like adapalene (epiduo) and let your skin adjust gradually to the meds? (i wash my face morning/night with neutrogena face wash. also used the clarisonic brush but stopped bcuz thought skin was breaking out due to excess exfoliation) i gave taz 4 stars instead of 5 because i feel the combination of taz, bp wash and antibiotics is what helped my skin. just taz alone probably would not have been as effective.	F	37	45 days 30mg/.05% 1X D		3/2/2010
4	Acne	Dry skin, intense burning/itching	When I first started taking tazorac it took a long time for my face to clear up and get used to it. It burned really really badly until my skin finally got used to it. Its good for spot treatmnet. I wouldn't recomend putting a lot on especially on areas that don't have pimples because it will make that area red. So just a little on the pimple. It does dry out your face but you just have to get used to it. I still have breakouts every now and then but tazorac clears them up for the most part.	F	20	4 years 0.1% 2X D		2/16/2010
2	Prescription	I am only in my 1st week of using Tazorac, so my rating doesn't mean much, but I am having major flare-ups. I was told flare-ups were to be expected, but it is worse than before I started taking it. I'm going to stick with it and hope it actualy begins to work after the flare-up period is over.	Anyone know about how long the flare-ups will continue?	F	28	10 days		1/11/2010
5	Acne and Oily Skin	Clear skin, but at a price. It itches!!!!!!!!	Tazorac works really good. Its the best product I've ever used for my acne and I've had acne and oily skin since I was 12. Nothing else will clear up my skin. But it does itch really badly for like an hour after I use it. And the longer I go without using it, the more my face will itch when I use it next. I only use it once a day or every other day because it is so strong that it will dry out my face. I use it before I go to bed, after I wash my face and put on moisturizer. (I hope that the itching isn't an allergic reaction!) I love it, even though it makes me itch.	F	19	2 years		1/8/2010
1	mild/mod. acne, occassional cysts	dry, peeling skin, drastic increase in amount of acne as compared to prior tazorac use, pustular acne and acne that looks almost like a rash (lots of little red bumps in one area)	Starting using tazorac with hope that I would have similar positive results as many of the posts have described. But after 15 weeks, I am losing hope! I continue to get 5 or more new pustular breakouts daily along with many smaller red bumps. I can hardly recognize myself anymore! Make up won't cover the many breakouts sufficiently and there are also many red spots from the acne experienced over the past 15 weeks. From the onset, I experienced increase breakouts as described above and have continued to througout the past 15 weeks with no reprieve whatsoever. As I stated, I am giving up! How depressing the last 15 weeks have been! I have learned to live looking really gross and will be happy to have my old pattern of breakouts back! Do not consider this med if you cannot stand a long period of horrific breakouts with the possibility it may not even work after all that time looking horrible!	F	39	15 weeks		1/8/2010
5	Cystic acne, oily skin, huge pores	Redness, sensitivity, peeling	I had the oiliest skin around - you could see your reflection in my face :( Anyway, tazorac has GREATLY improved this. I recommend pairing this with the clarisonic for cleansing day and night - it will totally help with any flaking you have because it sloughs it all off. Ive been using clarisonic for about 5 months so I didnt experience a heavy breakout period when I first started taz, I think cause my pores were basically cleaned out (just huge). So I use clarisonic in the morning with a mario badescu glycolic cleanser, benzaclin, la mer moisterizer, makeup. At night I wash and moisterize with the same regimen, then wait about 30-60 mins, then use the taz, and wash off in the morning. So far I REALLY LOVE the results. I still break out a little, but its MUCH less severe. I cant wait to see how much more it improves - already my pores have shrunk and the oil production is way less, making a more even tone. Be patient.	F	33	4 weeks		1/5/2010
5	1st signs of hyperpigmentation	very light flaking, which subsided within 10 days after continued use.	I have generally very good, clear skin for my age, but have noticed hyperpigmentation from years of sun exposure becoming more prevalent. I was also concerned about fine lines around my eyes and early signs of aging. My doctor gave me samples of this cream (0.1%), instructing me to begin with only 1 nightly application every 3 days (pea sized amount mixed with my moisturizer). I began this regimen over the spring/summer so I was extra careful due to my outdoor activities. After about 3 months I increased frequency and now I am using it every night. My skin has NEVER been better. This cream has clearly faded my hyperpigmented areas. I have a huge decrease in any fine lines (they are virtually eliminated), my skin tone is pretty perfectly even, I have fewer breakouts, the overall quality of my skin is significantly better. I used to use mineral make-up to cover spots and even skin tone, but now I can go with no makeup as I could in my earlier years. I cannot say enough good things about the success I've had. Because of it, I may go back to only using it every other night for maintenance.	F	38	6 months		1/1/2010 Email
2		I am experiencing red spots and dryness and it burns and itches at night when i am going to sleep. I have been reading other comments about how this happens and then it gets better and your complexion is clear and perfect, but I just don't seem to see those results. Should I just be patient?		F	18			12/25/2009
5	Acne	Slight peeling and redness	I started to break out in my T-zone a year ago. I was really oily with a ton of black and white heads. I tried everything from over-the-counter cleansers to U-Blue therapy. My dermatoligst (private practice and expensive) swore that if I stayed on Tazorac it would work. It took a while but after using it every 2nd night for 7 months (with moisturizer)I really started to see a difference. Now I use it every night and my skin is near flawless. Amazing stuff... All I have to say is stick with it even if you have to start by using it once a week. It's worth it!	M	31	9 months		12/10/2009
5	fine lines and skin discoloration	I have brief peeling and flaking. I use a daily moisturizer with SPF 30 but it doesn't help until the old layer of skin has been sloughed. Kind of like a lizard. Freckles have really lightened.	I first tried Retin A but it did absolutely nothing. I was later prescribed Tazorac and I love it. I use it to brighten up my skin about 4 times a year (each season). I apply a pea size amount to my face nightly for about 4 weeks. I always avoid the under eye area, corners of the nose, and mouth. My skin is bright and youthful.	F	39	4 years		10/23/2009
5	Cystic acne	none	I use this medicine every other night coupled with benzaclin in the morning and I haven't had one single breakout in months. Although tazorac can cause a lot of drying, the trick is to use a pea sized amount a couple of times a week but not daily and this is enough to work. Also, it's a good idea to wash your face and apply a non-comodogenic moisturizer about 5 minutes before application as this prevents dryness. Their website recommends this and it WILL NOT lessen the effectiveness of the meds. I am extremely happy with this treatment.	F	26	4 months		10/6/2009
3	mild acne	Severe peeling and dry skin.	I don't really know why I am taking this, my acne is pretty mild, as in I can mostly cover it up with make-up, except for a few problem spots. The main problem with my skin is that it is so extremely dry and flaking non stop, often to the point where it hurts to move my face at all and in doing so it makes it crack and bleed. I got prescribed tazorac though, the lower 0.1 concentration, being told it would help the problems with my skin. But oh my god, I look like a freaking lizard. I'm not really sure why I would get prescribed this? If I even move my face like so much dead skin comes off. More than I've ever seen before. It doesn't hurt though, and the skin underdeath all the numerous layers of peeling skin, it feels like practically perfect. It makes your skin feel wonderful at first. That's just going to dry out again too right? So I think I should stop using this, even though it's only been 3 days? It's too harsh? Or just use it on the REALLY really bad places when that happens.	F	17	3 days		10/5/2009
5	Fine lines, sun damage, very minor	Slight peeling and burning, skin feels tender and sensitive to moisturisers and sun (even minimal exposure as in going outside for a few minutes)	So far I really like it. I had very minor acne and some fine lines. I am only 34 but I've spent a lot of time in tanning beds and worshiping the sun over the years and while people think I am much younger, I feel like I've lost the "glow" I had a few years ago. I've only been using it for a week but within days my skin felt extremelly smooth and a few people commented on how I was glowing (I hadn't mentioned use of a new product to anyone), I've also noticed my skin looks brighter and healthier. I can't say much for the fine lines but like I said its only been a week, I'm eager to see how the skin will look in a month or even several months. I tried Retin-a as well for a few years and the results were not as good as with the Tazorac and certainly not this soon. I did not experience breakouts but then again that wasn't really my problem to begin with, what did happen is I had 3 small blemishes which dried up within a day of using the cream. I am using 0.05% every night (very small amount all over face) before bed (30 minutes after washing my face), I am cleansing with Cetaphil and also using a Cetaphil Moisturiser 15 spf during the day (no moisturiser at night). So far its worth it, I will report back in a few months.	F	34	7 days		10/1/2009
5	Bad Acne	Burning, redness, itching	Ohh my god TAZORCA is the best best thing that they ever put on this earth i love i look so much better my skin look healthy and my dermatologic i thank him so so much every month i go i thank him and plus i really had to buy him a gift lol yes but it works everyone skin is not the same but u should give it a try please	F	22	1 months		9/17/2009
5	Acne, Cystic Acne	None	When I read about patient experiences with Tazorac online I was very scared of what would happen when I began using it. I have very oily skin and have been using Tazorac every other day along with clyndamiacin 2x's a day for 2 weeks now. I had clearer skin and no noticable new blemishes forming right away (in 2 days!!). I have battled cystic acne for YEARS and this is the first medicine that has worked so fast and so well. I still have some that are healing up and maybe one new one has appeared in the last two weeks but I WAS getting 1-2 new ones every DAY before begining this regimine. Just wanted to post my experience since people are more likely to want to vent and share when they have serious negative reactions - I am someone that has had no dryness, flaking, peeling or burning and no flare up whatsoever. So if you've been prescribed it and have serious acne I would not be scared - you may be like me and have no problem at all =) Love it so far!	F	25	12 days		9/15/2009
4	Acne/Cystic Acne	Peeling, SEVERE sensitivity	It took me a solid 3 months to see great results! So don't give up! My skin got IMMENSELY WORSE before it got MUCH BETTER! My doctor is an idiot I believe, he gave me an antibiotic but said to start using it if I didn't see results in a week! A WEEK! But I searched online and found it took some time so I waited and it PAID OFF!	F	26	4 months		9/8/2009 Email
2	Cystic Acne/Oil	Inflamed, Burning & Itching, Redness and Dry/Flaky Skin	I'm not sure if I'm using it correctly, but for the past 2 weeks of using this product I have not had any positive results. Since my skin is extremely oily, my dermatologist suggested that I stopped using a daily moisturizer. I still don't feel 100% confident in taking it out of my regimen. How much longer should I wait to incorporate moisturizer?	F	24	14 days		8/31/2009
4	Adult acne	Burning, redness, itching	I have had acne since I was 14 years old. Used accutane at age 23 and was virtually clear until age 38, then bad, stubborn breakouts since. Went on another round of Accutane in 2000 and cleared me up until a couple of years ago. Derm started me on this 2 weeks ago, and I have had additional breakouts, worsening of the existing areas, along with burning, stin ging, itching, and redness. At the end of 2 weeks, I have begun to notice my skin tone is better, more of a healthy glow to it, and the worst areas are healing up. Derm says to give a full eight weeks, use moisturizer before applying, and expect around a 50-70% improvement over 8 weeks. Then as you acclimate to the therapy, gradual improvement thereafter.	M	48	2 weeks		8/23/2009
3	acne, acne scarring, discoloration	increased sensitivity, flakiness, flushed appearance	I have suffered with acne and a multitude of other skin problems (oily, blotchy, freckling, huge pores, redness, scarring etc...) since i was 12. Just a few months ago (march 2009) I had laser resurfacing ($4,500 yikes!) done in order to help my skin look more normal. Well, now as I'm trying to heal from that, my skin decided to go on a breakout spree, and i developed dime-sized cysts along my neck/jawline. I know it wasn't b/c of the laser, b/c my actual face is just breaking out like normal. Derm says its hormonal,(exact words were, "I cannot believe it!") :( I'm so depressed by this, and I just stare at my skin, with disgust. Anyway, he put me on spironolactone, doryx, and of course tazorac. so far, its been about 2 weeks, and my skin doesn't really peel as much, and i put it on my entire face every night. He also has me on a special salicylic/glycolic acid regimen. My skin looks cleaner and more glowing already...on my face ONLY. My evil neck however, has gotten worse! :( It seems like one bump goes away to make room for another. But, it seems to get worse for a lot of ppl... I just pray that this works for me, too! I'm just trying to be patient. :\ I will be sure to keep you informed on the results.	F	25	2 weeks		8/7/2009
4	Acne	Dryness, burning, peeling	I really do like this med, its the first that I've used to show results so swiftly! I've only been on it a week and I am seeing noticeable results! It made my skin peal almost immediately but I went out and found a great moisturizer that helps the dryness and burning.	F	30	1 weeks		7/31/2009 Email
4	adult acne	None so far	I had been using differn with some good results. My derm wanted to be more agressive and put me on Tazorac at night and clindamycin 1% lotion in the morning. After reading many posts here about the Tazorac, I was scared to use it. I am being very careful weith both meds. I wash my face w/ Cetaphil, dry and use Neutrogena oil-free moisture for sensitive skin. I wait 10 minutes, then use a very, very little of the Tazorac. I'm using the Tazorac only 2x a week to start and the clindamycin every other morning. I'm also using SPF 30+ every day (since it's summer) to make sure I don't burn. So far, no dryness and even though I do notice a few blemishes coming to the surface, my face looks better! I even think some wrinkles are disappearing! So far so good. I will increase the Tazorac to 3x a week in 2 weeks once I get used to it. Hopefully this will prevent the side effects others have had.	F	38	1 weeks		7/22/2009
3	Acne	Acne on face, back, chest, and shoulders, neck and darkened jawline.	I just chose any rating so I can give my opinion for the first week of trying TAZORAC. It is what everyone says it is. I have extreme redness, flaking of the skin, itching, and my jaw line is darkened. I am so embarassed to be at work like that. I try to hide my acne with my hair, and I do not use any foundation to try to hide the acne. My acne is so exaggerated. I have to let my co-workers know that I am using a medication for my acne, and that is why it is why my skin is so red....I plan to stick with it and see what happens in a month or so. Also, my Dr. as well wasn't very helpful as to information on how to use the gel. I still am clueless. Am I suppose to be using a moisturizer along with it? Because I haven't. Am I suppose to wash my face before use of this medicinie? The Dr. did not explain anything about it. I had tried another cream prior to this, a year ago with another Dr. it was called Retinae. I think that is how its spelled. That did work on my face, and it had the same side effects that TAZORAC is giving me now. I would say the cream did work, and I loved the way my face looked after 3weeks. I stopped use of that cream because I mentioned it to my gynecologist about my use of it, and she told me I had to be careful because it was such a risky medication. I could have no sun exposure what so ever, and if so I can develop cancer or something like that.That scared me, therefore, I stopped, and my acne is back, and that is how I started TAZORAC	F	28	1 weeks		7/16/2009 Email
5	acne, scarring	I really like this med. I have used just about everything under the sun to clear up my acne. I was using benzaclin for yrs with great results but had recently become ineffective so I had to go back the derm. She prescirbed taz and aczone to combat my moderate acne. I have to say that I have not had some of the severe side effects that some have posted. I did initially experience a slight burning and irritation from it but only when I would wash my face, this was probably due to the fact that at first I would use the cream and no moisturizer! I also think I tend to have a higher tolerance for meds. I did break out bad for the first 3 weeks and thought about stopping the treatment but started to alternate with aczone. I have now been using taz for 7 weeks (nightly) and I love it, my skin looks really good. I know it will just keep getting better. This is one of those "gets worse before it gets better" meds. It has cleared up my acne and hyperpigmentation, as well as plumped up	Love it	F	29	2 months		7/15/2009
5	Mild acne on my face	Severe worsening of acne, some dryness.	A warning: this drug is not for the faint of heart. My skin had always been decent, and I went on tazorac after a brief bout of more intense acne. Well, for a good two months, my skin was worse than it had ever been; layers of makeup couldn't cover the pimples and I was embarrassed to be photographed. After two months of atrocious skin, though, my acne has entirely cleared up. I don't even wear makeup anymore-I feel like my face is perpetually glowing. For me, the frustration was worth it for near-perfect skin, but if it's going to be to tough for you, opt for a less intense brand.	F	18	6 months		7/1/2009
3	acne	severe burning,extremely dry skin		M	15	3 weeks		7/1/2009
5	Acne	Some temporary peeling and dry skin.	Since I was 10 I've suffered from Cystic Acne. I've tried everything from antibiotics to gels to accutane. None of those really worked. Then in my 20's my skin got slightly better, but I suddenly broke out with the worst case of acne ever on my cheeks. The doctor prescribed weaker tretonin creams and over a period of 8 weeks brought me up to the Tazorac .1% strength. After a few weeks of some peeling my skin is now extremely clear, and it almost glows. I get constant compliments on my skin. I don't even bother with foundation makeup anymore! If you can tolerate this drug it is HIGHLY effective. If you get bad dryness and peeling I recommend exfoliating a few hours before application, with some baking soda mixed with a little water, then use a heavier facial moisturizer before putting on the cream. I also started out using Cetaphil cleanser but I'm back to my regular cleanser now. Worked great for me and I don't have any dryness.	F	25	1 years		6/29/2009
5	not for acne; smoother complexion	red skin	actually I really like the product, however I've been using it for over a year in lieu of chemical peels. I apply a pea-size amount to clean skin, leave it on for about 3 minutes and wash it off. Then I apply face cream to sleep in.	F	58			6/22/2009
5	Truncal Acne-chest, shoulders, back	redness, itching, slight peeling	Although I never had facial acne, I sought treatment for my "truncal" acne that I developed at age 22 from a dermatologist for the first time. I was prescribed tazorac and was given several trial sizes. It truly worked like magic for me. However, in reviewing the comments on this site posted by users who reported poor results and experiences w/tazorac, I noticed a pattern among those who reported such experiences and whom initially described their acne condition(s) as being "slight" or "mild". I am not entirely sure what "slight" or "mild" acne consists of, since it would seem as though one either has an acne condtion or they do not and acne is not slight. The occasional and normal occurrance of blemishes and blackheads should not be characterized as acne with a "slight" or "mild" designation. My dermatologist told me that tazorac is designed to work very well for truncal acne, which is notoriously difficult to treat, due to the skin on these regions being thicker, more oily and slower to exfoliate than facial skin. My doctor warned that this medicine could even be too strong for "moderate" facial acne. I believe this was done to discourage me from using tazorac on my face to treat the occasional breakout or keep my skin perfect after seeing how effective taz was on my truncal acne..(good thinking doc!) Although this is only one dermatologist's opinion I would keep it in mind to avoid	F	26	4 years		5/14/2009
5	horrible acne and hyperpigmentation	bad peeling, tightening, stinging, and more breakouts. The 1st time i used it it darkened my skin around my jawline.	People need to realize this isint a magic drug and it wont cure your acne in a few days or a month. Yes your acne will get worse, it will get more red, your going to peel and most people probably stop using it. You must realize that this happens because the med. is going deep into the pores and moving everything up to the surface which is why you break out. If you can get over this period which lasts about a month, month n a half i recommend just sticking with it. I've been using tazorac .05 cream since i was 15 years old and i am now 21. I had dark brown hyperpigmentation spots all over my face along with horrible acne..let me tell you it was gross. My skin now is beyond perfect. I dont breakout and have absolutely no acne or hyper-pigmentation at all. When I first started using tazoarc it was horrible. It burned, made my skin red and my skin was very dry and peeling no matter how ch oisturizer i used. I remember eating and having the skin around my mouth just crack and peel off, i couldn't even eat in public. After about 3-4 months os using it before bed my skin was great. the only time i stopped using it was last year for about 8 months. After those 8 months i started breaking out again so i started the regimen again. Ever since my skin has been nothing but perfect. This is the only med. that has ever worked on my face.	M	21	5 years		5/9/2009 Email
5	psoriasis	slight irritation on normal skin	Stubborn elbow patches cured within ~6weeks	M	42	6 weeks		4/22/2009
4	Acne	At first - extreme redness, extreme dryness/flaking After a year and a half - none	At first my experience was really, really rough with all of the horrible redness and flaking- it was so bad that I considered stopping my use of the medication. However, I stuck with it and after about 2 months, those bad effects went away and it really did clear up my skin. I had had really severe acne since middle school and Tazorac is the only product that has ever worked to clear it up. My skin still isn't perfect, but it is a definite, vast improvement. Acne really ruined my life for a long time, and now I hardly think about it anymore. My skin is the best it has ever looked, and I would recommend that anyone using this for acne stick with it.	F	19	1.5 years		4/14/2009
3	Acne Moderate to Severe	More breakouts(I assume this is normal at first) Some dryness, peeling that has now subsided, some tightness. I rated at level 3, because even though I ahve yet to see any real improvement, I am very hopeful over time it will really work!	This is the second time I have been perscribed TAZ. The first time my derm wasn't very helpful with directions or how to deal with side effects, so I used WAY TOO MUCH and wasn't diligent enough with moustirizing/sunscreen and my face was extremely red and peeling in large areas. Now (about a year later) I still have acne and I talked to a new derm who was much more helpful and encouraged me to try it again because it is considered one of the best (If not THE best) topical treatments out there. My frist week or so, I experienced drying/peeling, but now I am in my 3rd week and I have very little drying and peeling, but not much improvement in my acne. I am using 0.05%. My acne may have even worsened, which I hear is normal and will subside. I have heard that after the fourth week, that is generally when people see improvement. As I am nearing this time I am praying to the universe that it will work for me, because I would like to not have to go the Accutane route. I wonder though, since my skin seems to be tolerating 0.05 if I should perhaps try the 1%. Any thoughts on percentages?	F	22	3 weeks		4/3/2009
3	Acne	Itchiness, a little bit of burning.	I've been using Tazorac for two months now. I feel like my acne on my cheecks has gotten even more concentrated and red, but the areas surrounding it look good. I'm starting to get frustrated! I also use Duac for spot treatment and I'm taking 100mg of Spirono daily. I feel like I'm paralyzed and don't even want to leave the house without my foundation on (a problem that I haven't had to deal with until a year ago). Speaking of foundation, I use Prescriptives custom blend foundation, and it is truly a god send. Definitely pricey, but so worth it. People are always amazed when I say that my skin is so bad, because the foundation does such a good job of covering it up. Take the time and go to a Prescriptives counter and have them blend it for you. While I love using it right now, I'm hoping that one day I'll be able to ditch the foundation!	F	31	2 months		4/1/2009
3	Hormonal acne	Nothing yet, worried to use it!	I have been using Differn Gel at night (for a while now) and Benzaclyn in the morning. Although I do see some difference, its not perfect. About a yr and half ago, I started to break out BAD along my cheeks. Right now, I have 3 large pimples on the right side of my face that hurt. UGH! I truly think its because I sleep on that side of my face. About 2 weeks ago, my derm gave me Tazorac. He told me it wouldnt get worse as far as the breaking out but yes, I may peel. I am sooo worried to use it! I want to, but I am scared. Everyone on here is saying to use it for 10 minutes and then wash it off. Are you suppose to do that? My derm told me to rub it on my face at night and thats it. Well for now, I am going to go put my Differn on and wait for some helpful advice! Thanks everyone! Help! *please ignore my rating, I havent tried it yet but I had to pick one*	F	28			3/28/2009 Email
5	scars from IPL, dark spots	redness, peeling and scaling, itching, dryness	Tazorac is my best friend. I'm so glad I stumbled onto this forum, it helped a great deal as I have learned from other's trials of Taz. I went really slowly over the last month with the .1% cream. Only applied it once every 5 nights after putting on moisturizer and waiting 1 hour, then applying moisturizer after the Taz also. Gradually have worked up to once every 3 nights, and will continue until can tolerate nightly. Scars have faded tremendously and texture really smooth. Have patience and be sure to wear sunscreen!!! I like the Olay Complete spf 30 for sensitive skin. I only use a very tiny amount of Tazorac, and only on the areas I am trying to improve, not my whole face. Still seems to even everything out.	F	47	4 weeks		3/12/2009
5	Adult Acne, Sun Spots and Wrinkles	Mild Side Effects - Closely read patient reviews and learned by others mistakes. Cleansed with Cetaphil, dried face and applied Oil of Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Moisturizing Cream. After waiting about 10 minutes for cream to sink in, applied a very thin layer of Tazorac gel over the Oil of Olay cream. Sensitivity decreased over time, without any major redness or peeling.	At 45 years old, I have VERY OILY SKIN, always have. Tazorac has thankfully dried up my oil! 3 weeks in, and I've had some slight redness, some itching and light flaking. I use Oil of Olay Regenerist Nightly Moisturing cream first, and then blend in a thin film of Tazorac. I believe this has been the key, and I use it religiously. I tried Aveeno Daily Calming Moisturizer as some have suggested during the day, but it actually made my face burn and turn red - weird, I know. I use the night cream during the day now.	F	45	3 weeks		3/10/2009
5	acne	dryness, flaking , dark spots	had to start taking it for my acne it hit me very bad at 26, always had clear skin.I was on retin A for a while but it was not helping so I changed dermatologist so i started using Tazorac in combination with Erythromycin-Benzoyl gel and in about a month and a half my skin was wonderful!!! it even got rid of my black heads on the side of my face! BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW if any one has had this side effect I seem to be getting more dark spots like sun spots on my face manly on my cheeks. My doc says that It helps with dark spots but it seems to be getting worse PLEASE HELP I use a sun block 15 every day most of the time I don't even put on make because I think it will remove the sunblock. Also my skin is so dry I wear Bare Minerals make up but with my dry skin it looks soooooo bad dose any one know what make up would be best? I have no more acne but whats the point with dark spots and dryness :( please email me if you can help THANK YOU	F	28	1 years		3/9/2009 Email
5	Cystic Acne	Temporary redness and areas of dryness	I have been struggling with acne since I was 11 or 12. I've tried clean and clear regimen, Proactiv, prescription cleansers, and Retinamicro, but nothing worked. It took me 7 years to find a dermatologist who finally changed things by putting me on Tazorac. My face got better within three weeks. At 3 months I hit a rough patch (which seems to be standard for Tazorac) and had more breakouts and dryness then normal, but it went away within a week or two. I have been on it for 6 months and recently went to my doctor. He showed me the pictures he took of my face the first time I came into his office and handed me a mirror. I almost cried!! The difference was so drastic!! Acne scars take a year and a half to go away and I have the lightest porcelin skin...but the old scars are all thats left! My doctor said not to expect my black heads to go away...but they're gone. My horrible cysts have gone from originally occuring 2ce a month to once every 3 months (and they're a fraction of	F	19	6 months		3/3/2009
2	Acne and Cysts	At first dryness, then increased acne	2 weeks, acne has increased, disappointed, how long do i wait till it improves?	F	16	2 weeks		2/23/2009
5	breakouts, moderate acne	more breakouts at the beginning	It took a long time to clear up my face, but now my complextion looks GREAT! Time is the key, I guess it just depends on the person as to how long it takes to start working, but once it does, the results are worth the initial breakouts. Just be sure to use only a 'pea' size, anything more will dry and redden your skin.	F	13	2 years		2/10/2009
5	acne, photodamage. fine lines	none	works very well, my skin looks younger and healthier	M		4 weeks		1/29/2009
3	Adult Acne, scarring, wrinkles	itching, burning	I have tried it all, and was still using Ret A, and Sprironlactone (cream) for years until I started TAZ. I have medium skin tone and tan easily, however, I do not plan to sun while using this. I am desperate to get rid of the dark scars on my chin and around my mouth, as well as get current acne (chin and mouth) under control. I am hoping this works and does not contribute to scarring, which is what some older posters on this site have experienced. Anyone that has had prior scarring before using this, please post your results. It is very much appreciated.	F	42	3 days		1/25/2009
5	Acne	Peeling, burning, redness	I believe I am the oldest poster on this board so far (53). Have battled acne since age 12 and have been through the gamut: accutane, light therapy, so many antibiotics cannot remember them all, overy OTC you can name. A new derm took me off 10 years of bactrim and put me on stronger topicals several years ago. I have been on retinoids since the late '90's, starting with Retin A, on to differin and finally to Taz .05% then Taz 0.1% for the past 5 years and nothing but nothing has improved my skin the way Taz has. Once you get past the initial peeling and redness (it takes awhile, probably 6-8 months for me), the acne cleared up substantially. People actually ask me what I do to get such "smooth skin". Yes I still break out occasionally, but the nightly taz takes care of the problem. Taz, with a good moisturizer & sunscreen, is nothing short of a miracle for me. Stick with it, the peeling and redness will go away over time and you will be SOOO glad, especiall	F	53	5 years		1/17/2009
4	Fine lines/wrinkles, pores	Drying, flaking, mild burning	Great for fine lines around the eyes when combined with a great eye moisturizing product!!!! And for treating enlarged pores and uneven skin tone. If you are sensitive, use moisturizer before and after application. This will help with the dryness, etc. Very pleased and will continue to use!	M	44	1 years		1/17/2009
4	Acne	Dryness	The first couple weeks I didn't see much results, but by the third week, I could tell my face was getting better. It was about 50% better than from before using Tazorac. I've been using it for a total of six weeks now and my face isn't perfect, but it is significantly better ... about 90% clear. I also have scars from my acne and the dermatologist said Tazorac should make the scars fade, but I haven't really been able to tell. I didn't have to pay anything for Tazorac since my dermatologist gave me a bunch of samples. To not dry as much as others complained, after washing my face, I use Olay moisturizer, wait at least one hour, and then put Tazorac on. I only use a pea-size amount for my whole face. My face is a little dry, but it's not as bad as when I used benzoyl peroxide.	F	23	6 weeks		1/11/2009
1	acne on chin, cheeks, & forehead	redness, severe itching, burning, severe peeling	I was really excited to finally get rid of my acne. However, I think tazorac screwed it up even worse. I kept using it - and kept waiting for it to run its course and clear up my face and it never did. Such awful side effects to never get the true result you'd hoped for. I actually kept getting acne and even more concentrated in the areas I applied it. And for the price!! Definitely a huge waste... :(	F	19	1 months		1/9/2009
5	Lines and dark spots	At the beginning I had a lot of peeling. Then burning and redness. The longer I have used it the better all has gotten. My dark spots are gone and lines MUCH better!!	Hang in there to all. The older you get the more you will appreciate this. I am not kidding. My doctor told me I would kill for this once I started using it. I don't know if I would go that far, but I will always use it - forever hopefully!!!!!!	F	43	18 months		1/2/2009
3	acne	breaking out in places I never have, peeling, redness	It's really frustrating being a professional woman & dealing w/ constant breakouts... I'm at week 4: let me tell you thefirst 3 weeks were horrific in terms of breaking out. I spent this weekend in bed crying b/c my skin has never been so ravaged. I rarely had breakouts until I hit 30 - clearly hormones have a big role, but I've been on spirinolactone for almost 5 months & haven't seen results. Thx to all the encouraging reviewers, I'm going to stick it out for 12 weeks. I have noticed really pretty, smooth skin where I'm not broken out. I'm praying I'll be one of those ppl who got 'flawless' skin from using tazorac. I would love to throw my foundation away!!! In the meantime, any suggestions for good liquid foundation while on taz?? Can't use bare minerals cuz it seems to dry my skin moe and the peeling is VERY visible when I've tried it.	F	32	4 weeks		12/27/2008
3	molluscum contagiosum	Very red in the area where treated. Dry cracking skin.	Used on my 2 year old son to treat molluscum contagiosum. Seems to be helping. Dermatologist recommended aquaphor to relieve the dry skin where he is being treated	F	2	14 days		12/10/2008
3	adult hormonal acne	Dryness, peeling, stinging, burning, darkened skin on cheeks	I had some sample packs because the pharmacy said my insurance would not pay for the prescription because I was over 18 years old. I am African-American with acne on the cheeks and jawline. I believe my breakouts are hormonal. I also get hair on my chin. I loved the peeling and smoothness, but I don't understand why my face has darkened on my cheeks and jawline. There is a dark mask that was not there. I've run out of the samples now. I would like to fix this problem and possibly continue using the product.	F	43	3 weeks		11/30/2008 Email
4	moderate-severe teenage acne	redness, slight stinging after initial application, dry mouth & eyes, skin peeling	I'm taking this in conjunction with Solodyn, an oral antibiotic. So far, my skin has gotten a little better. I've only been taking it for about a week, though. Some of my scars have faded and my complexion is a bit smoother. After the 12 week course I hope my skin is completely clear!	F	14	6 days		11/23/2008
4	Acne	Dried out the area applied.	A little goes a long way! Food is a major contributing factor in acne. If you eat carbs, it will weaken you immune system by 75%. If you avoid carbs & supplement with Vitamin C, You will see a dramatic improvement on your acne. Research for your self what elevated glucose on you immune system has & how sugar defeats any anti oxidant has on your body.	M	39	2 years		11/22/2008 Email
4	Acne on my cheeks and chin	Extreme dryness of skin	I have been using Tazorac 0.05% for about 2 weeks. Previously I have tried ProActiv, Benzamycin (which only worked for a few months), and many many over the counter products including ones with slyic acid and they did not work. Tazorac has been pretty amazing so far. My family and I have already seen a noticable difference in just 2 weeks. The con about Taz, as everyone else has previously mentioned is the dryness, but its totally worth it. I think the dryness is also due to the cleanser I'm using which dries out the skin in itself, so I am going to switch cleansers. Excited to see what's to come! I would suggest be careful what cleansers/soaps you use along with Tazorac	F	26	2 weeks		11/21/2008
4	Cystic acne on my upper cheeks	peeling,light burning	when I first started using tazorac conbined with tetracycline. i did see a big inprovement. After about 6 months I was clear so I stopped the medication. after 3 months had gone by i stated to break out again.. So now i'am back to using it hoping that it would work like it did the first time.	F	31	6 months		11/6/2008
5	adult acne, large pores, fine lines	Some dryness and flaky skin	Cleared out the gunk in the pores and made the pores appear smaller. For those with acne that persists, try the "Blue Light" series at your Derm which destroys the bacteria in the skin. Took Accutane, had 2 lazer peels (cost was no object), saw the best derms in the U.S. and in Europe, but the "Blue Light" with Levulan really "cured" the bad cysts and breakouts. Also, don't believe the diet stuff; acne is hereditary and hormonal for most. I eat no meat or junk food at all (am an athlete and at my ideal weight, never one pound overweight), and have little stress, but had terrible acne; friends ate junk food and had perfect skin--never a breakout. It's bacteria in the skin, genetics, age, hormones. Benzaclin also great, and 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide all day (but not with Tazorac, too drying). Your skin will clear up--be patient.	F	29	4 months		10/30/2008
5	acne, fine lines	very slight peeling	I love this stuff. I've had breakouts and lots of blackheads since having my two daughters. Have been on this for almost 2 weeks and my skin has never looked better. I have very sensitive skin but I think the reason for no side effects is that I have only been putting a small blob of 0.1% gel on at night and washing it off after only one minute. then follow with cetaphil. i plan to gradually increase the time I leave it on, but just this small amount has really cleared my skin. my blackheads are fading and my skin just feels a lot smoother. thank goodness. not fun having wrinkles AND acne at 37.	M	37	2 weeks		6/4/2008
4	mild acne, red spots from old acne	dry, itchy skin, redness	I've been using Tazorac Gel for almost 3 months. I saw results pretty quickly and my skin has gotten even better since. Occasionally my skin does get really dry or red, but I think thats because I use too much of it at times. When it works well you just want to use more, but I think thats a bad idea.. My dermatologist recommended Aveeno Ultra Calming Moisturizer ( SPF 15) and after about a week or so of using the moisturizer my redness got better as well as the dry skin.	M	20	3 months		6/4/2008
2	Acne on face	peeling, increased breakouts, dryness, sensitivity.	I was first prescribed Tazorac .05% in 2004 and it worked wonderfully. I then stopped using it for a while because I moved and I had to take some time to find a dermatologist and I also had a baby. I began using Tazorac .05 again early last year and again it worked well. I stopped using it once more because I switched insurance plans. I just began using it again 7 weeks ago and it is not working the same as the last 2 times. The last to times I used Tazorac I saw significant improvements at this point which is mid-way to the 12 week point. This time I am getting more frequent and bigger pimples, which is causing more scarring. I am going to try applying a moisturizer to my face at night before applying the Tazorac to see if there is any difference.	F	28	7 weeks		5/12/2008
4	hyperpigmentation	drying/flaking/burning	My dermatologist told me to follow these directions to prevent the adverse side effects mentioned here: Use it at least 30 minutes after washing your skin so you have some time to build up some oil. When starting use it for 5 minutes then wash it off. Do that for a week then the next week do 10 minutes on. Work up to being able to use it overnight and moisturize during the day. Hope this helps!	F	22	1 years		5/11/2008
4	moderate ance	burning, tightness around the mouth, peeling, and reddness	I've been using tazorac for about 3 and a half weeks now. The derm put me on .1% and bactrim. After about the 2nd week of using them, the bactrim started to give me a rash (because i was allergic to this). So, now I'm only using the tazorac at night and a face wash in both in the morning and night. I don't really see any improvement at all. I'm still breaking out around my mouth and a little on the cheeks. I'm very dissappointed right now but i know that it take time. So, I'll hang in there and hopefully it will start to improve. But when does it start to get better?	F	14	3 weeks		5/10/2008
5	moderate acne with scarring	severe irritation, burning, flaking and peeling, itching,	I am a 34 year old african american female and am on benzaclin in the morning and tazorac 0.05% at night. The first two weeks were unbelievable, my face broke out badly during the first week, then by day 10, it appeared as if I had been severely sunburned. Everything burned and irritated my skin except cool water. I used pure 100% cocoa butter stick as a moisturizer with the benzaclin. Once the first major peeling occured, I noticed a remarkable improvement. After only 4 weeks, people have asked if I am wearing makeup, and I'm not. Not anymore!! :)The discomfort had me in tears but it was worth it. It does seem that about once a week I continue to experience some mild irritation and peeling the next morning after.	F	34	4 weeks		5/1/2008
5	Moderate acne	Day 1-tingly/itchy Day 3-6 really red(tomato), dry skin (snake like, sheets of skin peeling off...crazy!!), burning Day 6-13 (present) still red but tolerable and moving back to normal skin colour for me, flaking skin	I was so scared to start using this stuff, but figured why not it's better than acne. So after almost 2 weeks I am finally feeling like I am not emabrassed in public. The red and super dry skin was a bit tough to get through, but it is worth sticking to the product. I am only into 2 weeks of what I think will be at least 12 of using this medication and other than the red (which is a small price to pay.) My acne has not gotten worse and in fact it has cleared my skin already. I still have some work to go but I think I am on my way to getting this acne cleared up. I cannot stress enough that you HAVE TO MOISTURIZE an hour before using this product. As soon as I clued into moisturizing before applying, my redness and the burning started to subside and is almost gone. And remember to USE ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT...like the size of a pea for your entire face. This stuff works. You just have to stick to it.	F	32	13 days		4/30/2008
5	mild to moderate acne	severe dry skin, flaky skin, major increase in breakout after 3 weeks of use, redness, burning upon application initially	I have been using tazorac for almost 3 months and I must say that I have had a very positive experience. Initially my skin looked horrible and red and I broke out in places that I never had before which has caused some mild scarring. However, I used to get cystic acne which has completely gone away and I now get a few mild white heads in place of those. Also, the scarring has majorly decreased over the last month so is not as much apparent anymore. I recommend that you stick with Tazorac as much as possible because even though it may seem as though it's not working, in time you will see positive results. I also recommend using Eucerin Spf 15 moisturizer with it as it has decreased the burning, redness and dryness. My best advice for anyone is to be patient and give it a try before giving up!	F	26	3 months		4/28/2008
2	acne, whiteheads	serious burning, redness, itchiness, minor peeling	I've been suffering from adult acne for 5 years now, since out of college and started working. I've had acne since around age 16, but my first visit to the dermatologist healed me completely after couple years of a prescribed BP cream. My 5 years of adult acne I have been prescribed Accutane, Tretinoin and Differin .....etc. They seem to work for a while but eventually my skin develops irritation again. So I went back to using simple BP wash and toner but my acne persist....so I give a new derm a chance and she prescribed me wtih Tazorac. I was only using 1/4 of the recommand dosage nightly, it was ok at the beginning, tolorable irritation...but right at the 7th week all of a sudden I developed a allergic reaction, i skin got really tight and dry, very red and itchy i had to stop the Tazorac. It takes me a week now i'm slightly better. I'm just surprise that being told to my derm my pass not very good experience with Retinol, she end up prescribing me the strongest of all Retinol, Tazo	F	31			4/16/2008 Email
1	mild-moderate acne	horrible acne that increased daily over 3.5 months of use. skin flaking off. now that i am off it, i have many many acne scars because of it.	i hated my tazorac experience. i totally realized that i was supposed to break out at first, but this was basically a steady increase of acne for 3 months straight, far worse than i've ever had in my life. i kept thinking if i stuck with it, i'd get nice clear skin like the people in some of the reviews. i really just did not see it doing anything positive for me even after several months of using. after i quit, my acne started to go away and my skin got back to normal. however, i'm left with many scars. i am going to try for a more holistic approach to see if any foods trigger my acne as well as take some vitamins. it's not worth using such a strong chemical for something that you can possibly fix with some eating and lifestyle changes (which would be better for you in the long run anyway).	F	24	3 months		4/9/2008
5		slight peeling and mild burning	Works great saw results after 4 days of use!	F	24	1 weeks		4/7/2008
5	Acne	How to beat the side effects	Hey guys i work for a dermatologist and i see here that there are several people having problems with the side effect of tazorac whether its 0.05% cream to 0.1% gel tazorac should be applyed to face after a moisturizer ( cetaphil does the job ). Honestly you should truly appreciate your doctor put you on tazorac its the best thing ever!! Retin-a for both woman and men is a must for you entire life ( should be stopped if you are trying or are pregnant, or nursing)	F		3 years		4/6/2008
3	acne	Severe worsening of acne	I was on the verge of giving up on Tazorac, but after reading all these comments, I've decided to persevere. I've had acne for 15 years, and now, as an adult, I have little patience left. Since I've been using Tazorac, I've seen a worsening of acne on my cheeks and chin, but I'm going to stick with it and hope for long-term improvement.	F	25	6 weeks		4/3/2008
3	Scarring from acne	lots of redness and blotchy skin, and a ton of peeling, stings a little, and iches too	My dermatologist put me on Tazorac o.1% gel, antibiotics, and a cream to treat my acne. he told me to use the acne cream in the mornings, and tazorac at night, and to take two minocycline pills a day. the minocycline really helped, and then when the tazorac started showing, my skin looked so horrible, but i decided to stick with it. And now after 2 weeks, ive noticed a change in how smoothness of my skin, so i cant wait till i finish the tube	F	16	3 months		3/28/2008
5	Acne	Peeling, flaking, and occasional burning of the face	I've been using Tazorac for about 2 months now and my skin looks the best its looked in years. I never post on boards like this, but just wanted to let others know that even if you feel like nothing will work..try this! I have tried: Proactiv, Differin, Evoclin, Omnicef, and countless other OTC acne treatments with NO luck. I just thought my skin would suck forever, but this stuff really is awesome. Give it a try for sure!	F	27	2 months		3/27/2008 Email
4	Moderate Adult Acne	Peeling, redness, and burning	It seems like patience really is the key. I've only been using the drug for 2 weeks, but I have already noticed major improvements in my skin texture. Yes, it has made me break out, but the pimples that have been brought to the surface usually only last for 2 days, while my pimples used to last for up to a week and a half.	F	27	2 weeks		3/27/2008
5	Adult Acne - Fine Lines	A little dryness. I was instructed to put Tazorac on right after cleansing with a buff puff and lightly patting my face dry with a towel.	I was already on retin-a and I think this prevented the initial break out that everyone else has had. My skin is smooth and clear. I have mild scarring that is improving and I have only been on this for about 7 weeks. I am thrilled with the results.	F	33	7 weeks		3/26/2008
4	acne/wrinkles/sun spots	Dryness/Slight Peeling/tightness	I can't pinpoint it yet, but my skin looks younger; it looks like its almost glowing I'm disappointed though that I'm having some red blotchiness, but MOST IMPORTANTLY DON'T USE MORE THAN A PEA SIZE FOR YOUR WHOLE FACE! SERIOUSLY!	F	31	1 months		3/26/2008 Email
5	Acne	Severe itchiness during first week.	This is the first thing I've tried that works. What a relief. My face looks great. The first time I applied it, I itched so much I wanted scrape my face off. However, following with a mild moisturizer cured that and after about a week the itchiness all but went away.	M	21	2 months		3/6/2008
4	Acne	Redness, Dry Skin, Peeling, Itching	I started using Tazorac 0.05. At first, I only experienced a bit of dryness and lots of redness (surprisingly no peeling). I used that for a little more than 6 months. It worked great and my skin went completely even-toned and clear. I decided to try the full strength after my bottle emptied because I still had some bumps on my forehead. It then got pretty bad. There were lots of itching and peeling. So I've been on/off the full strength Taz for almost 6 months. I'm determined to continue using it. If in another few months my skin is still not tolerating the full strength, I'll switch back to the half. I'll suffice with the minor bumps on my forehead. *Sigh*.	M	19	1 years		2/11/2008 Email
5	Cystic Acne, oil skin	Not a lot, but, I have dry skin around mouth and nose. Nothing too drastic (yet anyway)	I am 36 year old black female who has suffered from acne since I was 13. I have tried everything, ProActiv, Neutrogena, $275/pop laser treatments, etc. I was so stressed out and depressed about my skin, I went to the derm and requested that she just go ahead and put me on Accutane. She gave me Taz and I am also taking Monodox and said try this for a few months first. I use a cleanser only available @ MD's office called Glytone and an SPF 57 cream also only available at MD's office. It's been 3 weeks and I am actually starting to see some clearing. I had a couple large breakouts the first week, but this is to be expected anytime you change routine. I am liking what I am seeing. No huge cysts or pustules since I started. Hopefully the trnd continues.	F	36	3 weeks		1/30/2008
3	bad acne	Dryness around my mouth, very oily on T-zone	I am on the generic form of tazorac.. Tazortene.. Has anyone used this or know anything about it? My skin was looking really good for a while and now its looking dull and its starting to break out a little bit. Has anyone had this experience with the name brand or the generic?	F	23	4 months		1/30/2008 Email
5	Acne	Tremendous initial breakout during weeks 8-12	You really need to stick with this and it truly does work after the 12 week period. The initial breakout for me lasted over a month and it was worse than anything I had experienced so it was really hard to keep with it, but you just have to make the decision and wait it out. This message board was helpful because you just can't judge it before the 12 weeks are up. Just wash your face, put on a moisturizer and wait 20 minutes or more and then put on a small amount.	F	27	3 months		1/28/2008
4	had mild acne in the t-zone	for the first two weeks my skin was red and the bumps on my skin increased but suddenly after that it got better. Honestly, it worked even better with each additional month of use. Only drawback I have is peeling skin but I will try to now use it every other day. I still get the occasional blemish on my cheek but it's 90% clear. DO NOT try waxing your upper lip...will rip the skin right off because the drug makes the skin very thin. I will also try to give it up for 2 full days before waxing...good luck!		F	30	1 days		1/19/2008
4	Facial Acne	Minor itching, lots of dryness (especially around the mouth and near the cheeks), some redness at first.	I've been using Tazorac .05% for about two weeks and I can already see things improving. I used to have several yellowheads on my forehead, but now they're pretty much gone. There's still several little, painful red pimples. Some got a little worse, while some got better. I didn't have a breakout at first, but you will most likely have dryness and it can get extremely uncomfortable at first. Initial results can be very discouraging but do not give up. This medicine actually helps (along with taking oral antibiotics every 12 hours). I will be looking forward to better looking skin in a few weeks.	M	14	11 days		1/15/2008
5	acne on my face	dryness, burning	I started using tazorac and experienced a lot of burning and immediately had to wash it off my ace. I really wanted to give tazorac a chance and started applying a moisturiser prior to applying tazorac, and it made a huge difference!!! My face didn't burn or even get dry. Three months later and my face is extremely clear and I am so excited with the results that I really don't want to stop using it. one more comment - yes, my acne did get worse before it got better, I think that is the case with all acne medications. Stick through it because great results with be on the way!! :-) good luck!	F	22	3 months		1/13/2008 Email
4	constant flare up of whiteheads	I noticed some slight peeling near my hairline and on my nose...I've also experienced big, red whiteheads on my cheeks area!!	I have black skin (woman of color...brown skin complexion). I was going to my dermatologist in Los Angeles for laser hair removal and he suggested I take Tazorac 1% gell for my whitehead breakouts. I live in Las Vegas and the summers are devasting on my skin, my facial texture was sandy like a permanent heat rash that wouldnt go away, not to mention dull from the heat. My doctor instructed me to use a pea sized amount of Tazorac, (3) times a week, on my UNCLEAN face, for either (3) minutes in the morning, then wash it off, or (5) minutes at night, then wash it off. So far in 2 months the sandy, rough skin texture is gone, my face is soft and im no longer embarassed for my boyfriend to touch my face. The bumps I had on my chin from hair removal is history, and as far as the rest of my face it's a 75% improvement in just 2 months using Tazorac 3 times a week. I noticed people saying that they are to keep Tazorac on overnight, that's probably why your faces are peeling so badly and	F	33	2 months		1/10/2008 Email
4	Adult Acne/Fine Lines, Sun Damage	I'm using both the Tazorac .05% cream(under the eyes)and gel(on the rest of my face). Gel is much stronger due to alcohol based vehicle. Initial mild flaking around mouth and slight stinging, but that's it. Only wash my face with water once a day, and wait a full hour before applying Taz (I think that deters irritation better than only waiting 1/2 hr). Use no moisturizer at all, either. My skin wasn't oily to begin with.	I used Tretinoin (Retin-A) cream .025% for 2 mos. prior to this, but still had unacceptable breakouts, so my derm. switched me to this. It has already helped my acne considerably, including a large blemish I had prior to using. Made it disappear very quickly. Fine lines are already diminishing. Rate it a 4 merely because of initial dryness, but I like this stuff and plan on sticking with it!	F	42	8 days		1/2/2008
5	Acne, to improve cell turnover	I did have peeling for about a week, the first week. It seems to have subsided to minor peeling in certain spots. I use this 3-4 times per week and put a little mosturizer in the areas before applying Tazorac that I am prone to peel.	Tazorac is INCREDIBLE. I have been using this for a little over a month, and the results are amazing. I can only imagine what will happen in another month. My skin looks great, my pores are disapearing. I look very well rested as it improves wrinkles also. I wish I would have been prescribed this 10 years ago!!	F	40	1 months		12/31/2007

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Average rating for drug: 3.8. This page is printer-friendly; use landscape print with background color turned on.

Key to ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine.

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