From the Guidelines
The recommended treatment regimen for acne using topical tazarotene involves applying a thin layer of tazarotene only to the affected area once daily in the evening. This is based on the guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris, which suggest that tazarotene is significantly more effective than vehicle in the treatment of facial acne vulgaris 1.
Key Considerations
- The dosing regimen should be applied to clean, dry skin affected by acne, with patients using a gentle cleanser before application and a non-comedogenic moisturizer afterward if dryness occurs.
- Consistent daily sunscreen use is essential as tazarotene increases sun sensitivity, and patients should avoid exposure to sunlight, sunlamps, and weather extremes 1.
- Side effects may include pruritus, burning, skin redness, peeling, desquamation, dry skin, and erythema, which typically improve with continued use 1.
- Women of childbearing potential should use effective contraception during treatment as tazarotene is contraindicated in pregnancy, with a pregnancy category of X 1.
Treatment Duration and Efficacy
- The treatment should continue for at least 12 weeks to see optimal results, with tazarotene working by normalizing cell turnover and reducing inflammation through its action on retinoic acid receptors.
- Topical retinoids, including tazarotene, are the core of topical therapy for acne because they are comedolytic, resolve the precursor microcomedone lesion, and are anti-inflammatory 1.
Special Considerations
- Tazarotene is ideal for comedonal acne and, when used in combination with other agents, for all acne variants 1.
- The safety and efficacy of tazarotene have not been established in patients with acne under 12 years of age, and it is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
2.3 Acne Cleanse the face gently. After the skin is dry, apply a thin layer (2 mg/cm 2) of tazarotene cream 0. 1% once per day, in the evening, to the skin areas where acne lesions appear. Use enough to cover the entire affected area. Use effective sunscreens and wear protective clothing while using tazarotene cream [see Warnings and Precaution ( 5.3)].
The recommended treatment regimen for acne using topical tazarotene is to apply a thin layer of tazarotene cream 0.1% once per day, in the evening, to the skin areas where acne lesions appear. It is essential to:
- Cleanse the face gently before application
- Apply the cream to dry skin
- Cover the entire affected area
- Use effective sunscreens and wear protective clothing while using tazarotene cream 2.
From the Research
Recommended Treatment Regimen for Acne using Topical Tazarotene
The recommended treatment regimen for acne using topical tazarotene involves applying tazarotene cream or lotion once daily, with concentrations ranging from 0.045% to 0.1% 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- Tazarotene 0.1% cream has been shown to be effective in reducing both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions 3, 4, 6.
- Tazarotene 0.045% lotion has also been found to be effective in treating moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris, with a favorable safety and tolerability profile 5, 7.
- Combination therapy with clindamycin/benzoyl peroxide gel may enhance the efficacy of tazarotene and improve tolerability 3, 6.
Efficacy and Safety of Topical Tazarotene
Topical tazarotene has been demonstrated to be highly effective in reducing acne lesions, with significant reductions in comedone counts and inflammatory lesion counts 3, 4, 6, 7.
- The most common adverse events associated with topical tazarotene are application-site reactions, such as peeling, erythema, dryness, and burning 4, 6, 7.
- However, these reactions are typically mild and decline with continued use of the medication 6.
Treatment Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction
Patients and investigators have reported high levels of treatment satisfaction with topical tazarotene 0.1% cream 6.
- Tazarotene 0.045% lotion has also been shown to improve quality of life domain scores in patients with moderate-to-severe acne 7.
- In some cases, topical tazarotene has been used as maintenance therapy after oral isotretinoin treatment, with no relapses reported and subjective visual improvements in acne-related scarring 5.