Tazorac (tazarotene) is a compound similar to vitamin A that reduces oil secretion and helps clear skin. It’s used to treat plaque psoriasis (scaly skin patches) and to help prevent or improve acne vulgaris in people ages 12 years and older. It’s also used to reduce fine wrinkles on the face, and it can help remove the appearance of dark spots caused by sun exposure (liver spots). The brand-name drug is available as a gel or cream. A generic version of tazorotene is available, and it costs less. Tazorac is in a class of medications called retinoids. Other drugs in this class include adapalene, isotretinoin, and tretinoin-cream.
Tazorac works by changing the way your body makes and uses oil. It also helps reduce the formation of comedones, or blackheads, and reduces inflammation associated with psoriasis and acne. It normalizes the process of desquamation — when your skin sheds cells to make room for new ones — in people with psoriasis, allowing the dead skin cells to break down and fade away. Tazorac also helps to regulate the production of keratinocytes in people with acne, and it reduces the buildup of these cells.
You can use Tazorac on most areas of your skin, including your neck and chin. However, you shouldn’t apply it to eczema-affected areas of your skin, as the medication can cause severe irritation. You should also avoid contact with your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you do get Tazorac in your eyes, nose, or mouth, rinse well and wash your hands. Tazorac can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so you should protect yourself by wearing a hat and clothing that covers your skin, and by using sunscreen when you go outdoors.
Your doctor may recommend that you apply Tazorac once a day, in the evening. If your skin gets irritated while you’re using the medication, talk to your doctor. They might suggest that you apply it less often or stop treatment for a while, depending on how bad the irritation is. They may also have you start back up again once your irritated skin has healed.
It’s important to tell your doctor about all of the medications, vitamins, and supplements you are taking before starting Tazorac. Some medications can interact with Tazorac, and the interactions can affect how effective the medication is or increase your chances of side effects. For example, tazorac interacts with tetracyclines, antibiotics, and phenothiazines. It’s also important to tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or might become pregnant, because Tazorac can cause birth defects in unborn babies.
Tazorac isn’t safe to take during pregnancy, and it should never be used by a woman who’s trying to become pregnant. It’s not known whether Tazorac passes through breast milk, but if it does, it can harm a nursing baby. Therefore, women who are breastfeeding should not use Tazorac. tazorac uk
