From the Guidelines
Tazarotene cream is a prescription retinoid medication used to treat acne vulgaris, available in strengths of 0.05% and 0.1% for topical application. It is primarily used to treat acne, plaque psoriasis, and photoaging (sun damage) [ 1 ]. When using tazarotene cream, apply a thin layer to affected areas once daily, typically in the evening after cleansing the skin [ 1 ]. Treatment duration varies by condition but often requires several weeks to see full benefits.
Key Points to Consider
- Common side effects include skin irritation, redness, peeling, and increased sun sensitivity [ 1 ].
- Patients should use sunscreen daily while using this medication and avoid applying it to sunburned, irritated, or broken skin.
- Tazarotene works by normalizing skin cell development and reducing inflammation by binding to retinoic acid receptors in the skin, which regulates gene expression involved in cell growth and differentiation [ 1 ].
- It should not be used during pregnancy as it belongs to pregnancy category X and may cause birth defects [ 1 ].
Important Considerations
- Contraindications include pregnancy and hypersensitivity [ 1 ].
- Interactions may occur with photosensitizing agents [ 1 ].
- Avoid exposure to sunlight, sunlamps, and weather extremes [ 1 ].
From the FDA Drug Label
Tazarotene cream, 0.1% is for topical use and contains the active ingredient, tazarotene. Each gram of tazarotene cream, 0.1% contains 1 mg of tazarotene, in a white cream base. Tazarotene is a member of the acetylenic class of retinoids. Tazarotene cream 0.1% is a retinoid indicated for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis. Tazarotene cream 0.1% is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris.
Tazarotene cream is a retinoid cream used for the topical treatment of:
- Plaque psoriasis
- Acne vulgaris It contains the active ingredient tazarotene, which is a member of the acetylenic class of retinoids. 2 2 2
From the Research
What is Tazarotene Cream?
Tazarotene cream is a topical retinoid used for the treatment of acne vulgaris, psoriasis, and photoaging [ 3, 4 ]. It is a receptor-selective retinoid that normalizes keratinocyte differentiation, reverses keratinocyte hyperproliferation, and has anti-inflammatory effects [ 3 ].
Mechanism of Action
Tazarotene is rapidly hydrolyzed by esterases to its active metabolite, tazarotenic acid, which does not accumulate in adipose tissue and is rapidly eliminated via both urinary and fecal pathways [ 5 ].
Efficacy
Clinical studies have shown that tazarotene 0.1% cream is highly effective in reducing both inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesions [ 4, 6 ]. It can be used as monotherapy or in combination with other topical agents, such as benzoyl peroxide or dapsone 5% gel [ 4 ].
Combination Therapy
Combination therapy with tazarotene and other topical agents, such as clindamycin/benzoyl peroxide, can enhance efficacy and tolerability [ 7 ]. The adjunctive use of clindamycin/benzoyl peroxide gel with tazarotene cream promotes greater efficacy and may also enhance tolerability [ 7 ].
Safety and Tolerability
Tazarotene cream is generally well-tolerated, but some patients may experience application-site tolerability reactions, such as irritation, peeling, erythema, dryness, burning, and itching [ 3, 4 ]. These reactions can be minimized with proper skin care and are less frequent with the cream formulation [ 3, 4 ]. Systemic exposure to tazarotenic acid is limited, and the cream has a low potential for systemic adverse effects [ 5, 6 ].