RateItAll: The Opinion Network

I've had acne since I as 10. I am now 32 years old and I finally decided to see a dermatologist. (I went when I was 10 and used Retin A for a few years which made my face peel all the time). Eventually I stopped going to the dermatologist and started trying OTC treatments. All of which failed. ProActiv worked the best but still left me with bad breakouts.

The Dr told me that I have adult acne and recommended I try Tazorac with Minocyclin to lessen the initial break out period. I was worried b/c everyone was saying that their faces were peeling and red. I went through that with Retin-A when I was younger and wasn't looking forward to it. I decided to give Tazorac a shot anyway. I would like to note that I have very oily skin. I use those oil blotting sheets on a daily basis. I also tend to get those zits that swell up under the skin for a few days (about the size of a nickel) and then display a nice ugly, pussed filled white head for everyone to gauk at. They seem to take weeks to go away. I get the small red bumpy zits too.

I'm using the 0.05% Tazorac cream. I've been using it for 3 months now.

Here's what I do:

I stopped using everything else and only use what the Dr told me to use. I took the Minocyclin twice a day as prescribed, washed my face with Cetaphil cleanser (Dr recommended) once in the morning and once at night. After washing my face at night I apply CeraVe moisturizer (Dr recommended) and let it soak in for about an hour. Then I apply the Tazorac. I only use a small amount, about the size of a chocolate chip or pea for my entire face. I put a dot on my forehead, chin, nose and both cheeks, then spread it over my whole face. It seems to spread much more smoothly if you wait an hour after moisturizing and it really only takes a small amount. It makes my face really greasy and I wait about 30 minutes before going to bed so it doesn't end up on the pillowcase.

I did not experience the initial break out/purging that some people have had. The Minocyclin was suppose to help lessen that and it did. I took that for 2 months. My face started clearing up within a week of starting the Tazorac. I didn't have any peeling at all. I did notice my lips were dry even though I wasn't applying the Tazorac to them. Probably caused by the Minocyclin. I had a little bit of itching and tingling the first few times I applied the Tazorac but that was it. Sometimes when I wash my face with the Cetaphil cleanser it burns a little where my face is dry but nothing unbearable. I make sure to wear sunscreen everytime I'm out in the sun and to reapply often since the medicine makes you more sensitve to sunlight. I use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock, SPF55. That sometimes burns when I sweat or rub my face, but sunscreen has always done that to me.

Overall, I am really happy with my results. My skin looks better than it has in almost 20 years. It has not only reduced the acne but given my face a nice healthy glow. My skin is very smooth to the touch and my boyfriend says I look younger, which is always a bonus. I still have a pimple here and there, I noticed a few once I stopped the Minocyclin, mainly around my mouth and chin. I went back for my 3 month check up last week and she decided to add Duac to my regimen to clear up the remaining acne. We'll see how that works out. As for Tazorac, I am very pleased with the results.

I just wish I would have found this stuff years ago! Don't put off going to the dermatologist like I did. I didn't think there was anything out there that would help and I lived with acne for way too long.

At first, like the first two weeks, the acne prone areas on your face will cause more breakouts. It's like everything comes out. So be prepared for major breakouts and major dry skin the first two weeks and stay away from oily foods and non-oil free/greasy moisturizers. After two weeks your skin starts clearing up BIG time. THe scars from the previous break outs take longer to go away but eventually they do go away. Don't use any other acne product with this cream though - I just use a simple face wash and 100% pure EMu oil (its the only thing that doesnt cause me to break out and makes the dry skin/peeling go away. Just drink LOTS of water to keep up the clear skin. I think its worth it.

First I used the 0.5% cream then the 1.0%. I wanted something to treat acne and anti-aging. I wasn't too impressed with this cream. It was too heavy on my skin and didn't help the acne at all. I don't know about the gel though. Typically gels are lighter and less moisturizing than creams.

Tazorac gave me my life back. I've been using it for a little over a year now, and I'm a completely different person. It's amazing that your entire personality can change just by clearing your acne. The gel may take a little while, but stick with it- it's worth the wait.

iv been using this gel for almost 2 months now, and if anything my acne seems to have gotten worse. My face iches like crazy, and is red all the time now. i was better off before i used it...

It works really well for my oily skin. I tried this stuff in place of retinA, in conjunction with doxycycline. The retinA would make my skin even more oily. The 0.05% gel didn't cause any peeling or irritation at all. After 3 months on 0.05%, I've had very minimal breakouts, and the old acne scars are slowly disappearing. Just switched to 0.1% gel, so far with only minor irritation. Bottom line is that you have to try this medication for yourself and see. It works very well if your skin can tolerate it.

ive been on this stuff for almost a year now and it kina seems to be losing it's power. I use it every night with doxycycline and while may face isn't terrible it is defenenelty worse then i would expect it to be from this much medication usage

Tazorac is a really really strong medication... I had viral warts on my forehead, went to go see a dermo and he prescribed me with this. I used it for only 1 month and my warts were gone. But I still had acne, so i kept on using it and my face slowly cleared away. The best thing to do is not to use any other acne products. To keep from your face burning/peeling, wash your face with Cetaphil soap and then gentle cleansing softener... Let your face build up natural oil (1-2 hours), then apply Tazorac (done at nite time). during the day, after washing your face, apply Tazorac when possible, then use the Cetaphil moisterizer.

Tazorac didn't help me at all. I usually break out on my cheeks and by the corners of my mouth, and after about a week, my face was SOOO dry and peeling that it literally hurt me to talk. The peeling and redness didn't go away until about 2 weeks after I stopped using it. I would never even think about using this again. My friend even warned me about it because it happened to her, but I didn't listen! Beware users!

I started using this product at night along with Duac in the morning and I have had great success. I have used every product out there and most recently I was using Differin, which seemed to stop working after about 2 years. The first week using Tazorac is awful, but it really does get better!!! I used moisturizer before I put on the medicine and that seemed to help A LOT. I use Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizer. The improvement was slow, but it has been a month and my skin looks amazing!

I have been using this treatment with Benzaclin for about 3 weeks now. While I am not seeing huge results it seems to be clearing up my face slowly.

This product worked really well in place of retin-A. Because there isn't as much peeling. It quickly clears up your skin.

My dermatoligist recommended this product in place of micro retin A. I had a better response with Avage (the cream form of tazorac) because it was less harsh. My face does peel but it's simply a matter of using it every three days rather than every day. My skin has a rosy glow and it looks vibrant and healthy. I have tried everything from accutane on and I really like this product. Do not take accutane. It causes permanent hair loss. Trust me on this, and do the research if you decide to try it.

This product can be very disappointing at first. The first week is very difficult and you may instantly want to stop using it. There is ALOT of peeling. My skin is already dry so the peeling was pretty bad. To help this I exfoliated my skin frequently with a scrub type product. You can mix sugar and olive oil to make a gentle scrub that will moisturize. I dont believe that the olive oil made my skin breakout, but everyone is different. If you continue to use the product the redness and peeling is drastically reduces and your skin will start to look and feel better. Be patient!

i've been on Tazorac for 3 weeks now.. The first week it seemed as if it was working immediately, but now - i'm breaking out more than ever. I'm hoping this is just a phase and when I go to my next appointment with my dermatologist, that most of the acne will be gone.. sigh - please oh god will it ever end..

Because this drug can cause peeling, my doc recommended wearing it for 1-2 hours before bed, and then rinsing it off. This worked well. When I tried wearing it overnight, I peeled too much. My skin cleared up after a few months, and then my doc prescribed me Retin-A, which is weaker, but the acne is coming back now. I am going back on the tazorac, because it worked.

Tazorotene worked pretty well for me. My dermatologist told me to put Benza-Clin on, and then put the Tazorotene on over the Benza-Clin. It's been working pretty well, but it dries out your skin and makes you peel. Just make sure to not stay out in the sun too much...That may help prevent your skin from peeling. Good luck!

Have been on Tazorac for 2 1/2 months.. my skin is not crystal clear but feels alot smoother (no little bumps around nose).. the peeling stopped so makeup is going on more smoothly, for all those who could not wait it out.... wish doctor gave me gel form because the mineral-oil based creme feels disgusting on my already oily face...

Tazorac did not work for me at all. The first four weeks were a constant battle with EXCESSIVELY dry skin, which is unusual for someone with naturally oily skin. It also made my face turn red, as if I had a very bad sunburn. All of this would have been tolerable if it had cleared up my acne, but it did not. If anything, it made it worse (even beyond the weeks of the so-called "initial breakout period"). After I stopped, my acne was worse than ever. This may work for some people, but it certainly did not for me. I have heard people have had better results with Retin-A Micro among the topical retinoids.

This has to be the WORST product I have ever used. After only two days of noticing it my skin is oozing, and it skins horribly. My face is literally PEELING OFF! Worst of all, I use foundation to cover up my acne and now that is totally impossible!! STAY AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT!!!!!

I have used almost every type of acne treatment in the last 10 years, from Azalex to Accutane and everything in between. I did notice a difference when I used Tazorac my skin improved, but it was so painful for me that every morning, when I would wash my face, there would be dead skin all ofer the wash rag [millions of pieces]. I now use it once a week in adittion to Azalex.

I started using tazorac about 6 months ago and it worked great up until last month. I seem to be breaking out bad, im wondering should i use any soaps to help or just stick it out. If you recommend any soaps leave me a message please.

You have to get through the breakout stage. But it drys up pimples F-A-S-T!! And helps get rid of scars too, which is very important. My doc. combined this with BenzaClin, which kills the bacteria that Tazorac pulls out. This shortens the breakout period. Good luck!

If this refers to Tazorac, yes, this cleared up my face. Just don't combine this with other products, as it is very harsh. Did not do much for the back acne.

This really didn't do anything but dry my skin out. It didn't clear up my acne, and since I usually use make up to cover my redness, it made even make up impossible since I was peeling so much. I would have been better off without it

This treatment is the only thing that has worked for me so far. Of course, it's not for everyone because it causes severe dry skin at first and itching throughout the treatment, but it is totally clearing up my blemishes!