Has anyone ever used Tazorac for acne??

[midnight]

Hi,
I just went off Accutane which worked wonderfully but I had been on it way too long. The doctor prescribed Tazorac instead of the Differin he had prescribed in the past when I had gone off Accutane. Tazorac is not a retinol as far as I know, but I am wondering if it will have the same effects as Differin and Accutane, namely drying my skin out completely? I just don't know anyone who has been on this medicine and I need some real-life input.
Thanks!!

--Lois

 

[carmenelectra]

if the accutane worked, why do u need to go on the yazorac?

 

[amy_b]

I'm on Tazorac and so is my daughter. I'm really happy with it. I started out using it daily and I did have some flaking and a little bit of peeling. I cut back to every other day for a couple of months. Now I do it daily during a flare-up, but my skin is the best it has been in MANY years and I'm using about every 3rd day along with Nicosyn, which is a topical antibiotic and a weekly exfoliating scrub. It is the strongest acne topical and the Dr. was pretty surprised that I could tolerate as well as I have.

 

[wlorrie]

I've been using use tazorac .1% for abot 2 years. I do believe it is a retinol. It does sting after a couple of minutes, but nothing unbearable. It usually causes my skin to peel, and in the winter, my skin does dry out. I use a glytone cleanser, cleocin lotion, and tazorac for acne. I'm pleased with the results so far.
Lorrie

 

[amhess]

I've never used that, but I did use Retin-A, Differin and a bunch of other stuff that was contantly drying out my skin. I even tried Pro-active and that wasn't the greatest.

What I have found that is similar to Proactive is Klear Action, it's sold at Walgreen's. It's supposed to work like Proactive but it's only $15 for the kit. It's really fabulous. I never have dry skin anymore and my acne has virtually cleared up except for a couple small issues before that time of the month. I never thought anything but a prescription drug would help, but this stuff is great!

Who ever thought we'd have this problem at age 35!!!x(
Anne

 

[midnight]

Hey, I'm 46 and I've had acne since I was 9!!! x( I think I was the oldest person on Accutane!! I can't believe I've had acne for 37 years. Maybe when I go through menopause, which there is no sign of, it will finally disappear - I can only hope... the Tazorac seems to be working well, we'll see what happens at TTOM, that's the real test.

--Lois

 

[carmenelectra]

I heard that if you go on accutane. you should never need to go on anything else again. I have been on differen, benzaclin, doxycycline and spironolactone and now retin a and it seems to work great until like a month after I go off - then it all comes back. My derm told me as a last resort I could try accutane but there are alot of side effects and you rarely need a second teatment of accutane. Its the side effects tat im a little weary of.

 

[midnight]

My doctor also told me that once you go on Accutane, you don't need to go on it again after the first course of treatment. Obviously, my skin wasn't listening when he said that because I've been on it three different times already!!

Fortunately, I never experienced any side effects. If you are still considering childbearing DO NOT go on it as it causes serious birth defects and can cause them for up to six months after you discontinue treatment. Not an issues for me as I had a tl after dd was born, but nevertheless I had to get a pregnancy test every month. Also, it can cause liver problems including but not limited to, a rise in cholesterol. Last, but certainly not least, it can cause or exacerbate mood disorders (which was my major concern but turned out to not be a problem). I had to get blood work every month, wait for the results and only then would I get my next month's prescription. All three times it worked great at the lowest dose so I would go off it after several months and there is was again, within a month. So far so good on the Tazorac but it is certainly drying my face out even more than the accutane (or anything else retinoid) that I've ever taken. I think I'm going to have to switch my makeup AGAIN. Sheesh. x(

In addition, I have to get an override from my health insurance co. every time I change to a new retinol prescription due to my age so they can verify that I am not using it simply for "cosmetic" reasons.

--Lois