How does Tazorac work?

Tazorac and other topical retinoids promote skin exfoliation by increasing skin cell turnover and the production of new skin cells. New cells push older dead cells upwards and out of blocked pores.

What side effects can I expect while using Tazorac?

Tazorac's most common side effects reported during clinical trials were itching, redness, burning/stinging, peeling skin, and dry skin. For most people, skin irritation decreases over time with continued use.

Tazorac (Tazarotene) Topical: Uses, Side Effects, Dosages

What Is Tazorac?

Tazorac (tazarotene) is a prescription topical (applied to the skin) medication used to treat acne vulgaris and plaque psoriasis in adults and adolescents 12 and older.

Specifically, Tazarotene is a synthetic (a drug that imitates a natural product) topical retinoid.

Topical retinoids are a form of vitamin A, an active ingredient in various skin creams. Tazorac contains anti-wrinkling effects and can help clear acne. Vitamin A is called retinol because it produces pigments in the eye's retina.

Tazorac works by slowing skin cell overgrowth and decreasing skin cell inflammation, which can lead to acne or psoriasis.

Tazorac contains the active ingredient tazarotene. As a brand-name drug, Tazorac is available as a cream or gel.

Tazarotene is a generic product that can be purchased in the form of a cream, gel, foam, or lotion.

Finally, other medications contain the active ingredient tazarotene, such as Arazlo and Avage.

Drug Facts

Generic Name: Tazarotene

Brand Name(s): Tazorac, Fabior, Arazlo, Avage,

Drug Availability: Prescription

Therapeutic Classification: Antiacne

Available Generically: Yes

Controlled Substance: No

Administration Route: Topical

Active Ingredient: Tazarotene

Dosage Form(s): Cream, gel, foam, lotion

What Is Tazorac Used For?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tazorac to treat adults and adolescents 12 and older with acne vulgaris or plaque psoriasis with up to 20% body surface involvement.

For context, plaque psoriasis is an autoimmune disease where skin cells build up to form scales and flaky, red patches. Plaque psoriasis can appear on different body parts, such as the legs, arms, knees, or scalp.

Comparatively, acne vulgaris is the most common form of acne, consisting of zits, pimples, or sore bumps. Clogged hair follicles and oil glands on the skin cause it.

How to Use Tazorac

Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for using Tazorac.

Apply Tazorac to the affected area(s) in the evening following cleaning. Allow your skin to dry completely before applying it. Use the medication around the same time every day.

Shake the tazarotene foam well before use. Be aware that tazarotene foam may catch fire. Therefore, keep away from an open flame.

Do not apply tazarotene to skin that is irritated or covered with atopic dermatitis (eczema). Wait until these issues resolve before starting treatment.

Be aware of the following instructions before starting tazarotene:

For the treatment of acne or facial wrinkling, first, wash the skin with water and mild soap.
For plaque psoriasis treatment, it is not necessary to wash the affected skin first.
Apply a thin layer of cream, foam, or gel to the affected skin. From there, gently massage the medication into the skin.
Do not cover the affected area with any bandages.
Wash your hands after handling.

Storage

Keep this medication in the container it came in and out of reach of children and pets. Be sure to store at room temperature (between 68 to 77 F).

Store away from excess heat and moisture (do not store in a bathroom). Also, do not freeze the medication.

Finally, Because tazarotene foam is flammable, keep it away from any open flame or a location exposed to extreme heat.

Discard all expired or unused drugs. Ask your pharmacist about the best ways to get rid of your medicine. There may be local drug take-back programs in your area.

Off-Label Uses

Tazorac has been used as an off-label alternative to treat basal cell carcinoma of the skin (a common form of skin cancer). Off-label use is for a treatment not specifically approved by the FDA.

Tazorac has been also used to treat congenital ichthyosis (an inherited skin disorder marked by red, dry skin with coarse scales).

How Long Does Tazorac Take To Work?

If you use Tazorac for acne, your symptoms should lessen in about four weeks. If treating plaque psoriasis, your symptoms should begin to improve in about one to four weeks.

If no improvement in skin condition is seen after 10 weeks of treatment with Tazorac, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should continue the medication.

What Are the Side Effects of Tazorac?

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your healthcare provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at fda.gov/medwatch or 800-FDA-1088.

Common Side Effects

Common side effects of Tazorac include but are not limited to the following:

Dry skin
Redness
Skin irritation or stinging
Skin itching
Worsening of psoriasis

Severe Side Effects

Call your healthcare provider immediately if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects can include the following:

Anaphylaxis (hypersensitivity reactions), such as wheezing, urticaria (hives), swelling of the tongue, face, or throat, and cardiac arrhythmias (an abnormal heartbeat)
Peeling of skin

Long-Term Side Effects

During a one-year clinical trial of Tazorac, the following side effects occurred more commonly in months four through 12 compared to the first three months:

Worsening of psoriasis
Sun-induced redness (increased susceptibility to sunburn)

Report Side Effects

Tazorac may cause other side effects. Call your healthcare provider if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your healthcare provider may send a report to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or by phone (800-332-1088).

(800) 332-1088

Dosage: How Much Tazorac Should I Use?

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For topical dosage form (0.1% cream):
- For reducing fine facial wrinkles and certain types of dark and light spots on the face:
  - Adults and children 17 years of age and older—Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) of the skin once a day, at bedtime.
  - Children younger than 17 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
For topical dosage form (cream):
- For psoriasis:
  - Adults—Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) of the skin once a day, usually in the evening or at bedtime.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
For topical dosage form (foam):
- For acne:
  - Adults and children 12 years of age and older—Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) of the skin once a day, usually in the evening or at bedtime.
  - Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
For topical dosage form (gel):
- For acne:
  - Adults and children 12 years of age and older—Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) of the skin once a day, usually in the evening or at bedtime.
  - Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
- For psoriasis:
  - Adults and children 12 years of age and older—Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) of the skin once a day, usually in the evening or at bedtime.
  - Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
For topical dosage form (lotion):
- For acne:
  - Adults and children 9 years of age and older—Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) of the skin once a day, usually in the evening or at bedtime.
  - Children younger than 9 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.

Modifications

How you use topical Tazorac may vary depending on various factors.

Pregnancy

The use of topical Tazorac is discouraged in pregnancy due to the potential for fetal harm. Therefore Tazorac should be discontinued as soon as pregnancy is identified.

Breastfeeding

It is unknown if Tazorac is excreted in human breast milk as there is no published human experience of lactation with Tazorac.

Some experts suggest Tazorac should not be used on more than 20% of the body surface area while nursing due to possible absorption into the breastfeeding person’s bloodstream and potential transfer into human milk.

Age

The safety of Tazorac foam has not been established in people with plaque psoriasis under the age of 18 or those with acne under the age of 12. Therefore, consult a healthcare provider to find alternative treatment options.

In clinical trials of Tazorac for plaque psoriasis, adults 65 and older experienced more side effects and lower treatment success rates after 12 weeks of treatment than younger adults.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of Tazorac, skip the missed dose and resume the next dose at your usual time the next day. Do not double up on the medication to make up for a missed dose.

Overdose: What Happens If I Use Too Much Tazorac?

Excessive topical use of Tazorac can result in severe redness, peeling, or discomfort.

What happens if I overdose on Tazorac (Tazarotene)?

If you think you or someone else may have overdosed on Tazorac, call a healthcare provider or the Poison Control Center (800-222-1222).

If someone collapses or isn't breathing after taking Tazorac, call 911 immediately

911

Precautions

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to use it.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

To make sure you are not pregnant when you start using this medicine, you may need to start using it during a normal menstrual period. Also, you must have a negative pregnancy test within 2 weeks before you start using this medicine.

If you are using this medicine to treat acne on the face, your condition may seem to worsen at first before it begins to improve in about 4 weeks. Check with your doctor if your condition does not improve within 8 to 12 weeks.

If you are using this medicine to treat psoriasis, scaly patches on the skin may begin to improve in about 1 to 4 weeks but redness may take longer to improve. Check with your doctor if your condition becomes worse.

Avoid exposing your skin to wind, cold weather, and sunlight, even on cloudy days. Your skin will be more prone to sunburn, dryness, or irritation. Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed. Use a sunscreen or sunblock lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 on a regular basis. Wear protective clothing and hats and stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Skin reactions such as dryness, redness, scaling, burning, or stinging can occur when you use this medicine. Use a moisturizer as needed to lessen these skin problems.

It is likely that your skin may become irritated with normal use of this medicine. You should not stop using tazarotene unless your skin becomes too red, dry, puffy, or otherwise irritated. If severe irritation occurs, contact your doctor.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you should avoid skin products that can dry or irritate the skin. Some examples are:

Any topical acne product or skin product containing a peeling agent (such as benzoyl peroxide).
Hair products that are irritating, such as permanents or hair removal products.
Skin products that cause sensitivity to the sun, such as those containing spices or limes.
Skin products containing a large amount of alcohol, such as astringents, shaving creams, or after-shave lotions.
Skin products that are too drying or abrasive, such as some cosmetics, soaps, or skin cleansers.

Ask your doctor before taking vitamin A supplements by mouth while using this medicine.

What Are Reasons I Shouldn’t Use Tazorac?

Do not use Tazorac if any of the following applies:

You are hypersensitive to tazarotene or any of its components.
You are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant while taking Tazorac. Retinoids may cause fetal harm.
You are currently treating eczema. Using tazarotene on eczematous skin may cause severe irritation and worsen eczema.
You are hypersensitive to benzyl alcohol, an ingredient in tazarotene.

What Other Medications Interact With Tazorac?

Tazorac should be administered cautiously in people who are also taking medications that belong to a category of drugs called photosensitizers (drugs that can make the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) radiation).

Specific photosensitizers that may negatively interact with Tazorac include Catapres-TTS-3 (clonidine), Amaryl (glimepiride), and Minocin (minocycline).

What Medications Are Similar?

Tazorac is a topical retinoid used to treat plaque psoriasis or acne vulgaris.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Tazorac work?

Tazorac and other topical retinoids promote skin exfoliation by increasing skin cell turnover and the production of new skin cells. New cells push older dead cells upwards and out of blocked pores.
What side effects can I expect while using Tazorac?

Tazorac's most common side effects reported during clinical trials were itching, redness, burning/stinging, peeling skin, and dry skin. For most people, skin irritation decreases over time with continued use.
How long does Tazorac take to work?

If you use Tazorac for acne, your symptoms should lessen in about four weeks. If treating plaque psoriasis, your symptoms should begin to improve in about one to four weeks.
If no improvement in skin condition is seen after 12 weeks of treatment with Tazorac, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should continue the medication.

How Can I Stay Healthy While Using Tazorac?

Tazorac can cause birth defects if used during pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will utilize a pregnancy test to ensure you are not pregnant prior to starting treatment.

Tazorac increases your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Use sunscreen and protective clothing if you are going to be in the sun. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds, as you could get a severe sunburn.

If you get a sunburn, stop using Tazorac until your sunburn heals.

It is common to experience skin irritation when starting Tazorac, which generally decreases with continued use. To minimize skin irritation, apply Tazorac to completely dry skin (e.g., wait several minutes after washing and drying your face).

For people with very sensitive skin, you may need to start with an every-other-day regimen and increase to daily use as tolerated.

Medical Disclaimer

Verywell Health's drug information is meant for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a healthcare provider. Consult your healthcare provider before taking any new medication(s). IBM Watson Micromedex provides some of the drug content, as indicated on the page.

10 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

DailyMed. Label: Tazorac- tazarotene cream.
DailyMed. Label: Tazorac- tazarotene gel.
MedlinePlus. Tazarotene topical.
MedlinePlus. Vitamin A.
Prescribers' Digital Reference. Tazarotene - drug summary.
MedlinePlus. Psoriasis.
Merck Manual. Professional version. Acne vulgaris.
Tang JY, Chiou AS, Mackay-Wiggan JM, et al. Tazarotene: randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, and open-label concurrent trials for basal cell carcinoma prevention and therapy in patients with basal cell nevus syndrome. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2014;7(3):292-299. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-13-0305
Craiglow BG, Choate KA, Milstone LM. Topical tazarotene for the treatment of ectropion in ichthyosis. JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149(5):598-600. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.239
Motamedi M, Chehade A, Sanghera R, Grewal P. A clinician's guide to topical retinoids. J Cutan Med Surg. 2022;26(1):71-78. doi:10.1177/12034754211035091.

By Carrie Yuan, PharmD
Carrie Yuan PharmD is a clinical pharmacist with expertise in chronic disease medication management for conditions encountered in primary care.

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Tazorac (Tazarotene) - Topical