- Tazorac is most frequently prescribed to treat facial acne in teenagers and adults. It is effective against all types of acne, including blackheads, whiteheads and pustules. This drug may also be used to treat plaque psoriasis on any part of the body. Tazorac is absorbed into the bloodstream and can cause systemic side effects, so it is not normally used to treat acne on large areas of the body (such as the back) or for psoriasis that covers more than 20 percent of the body.
- Tazorac is an effective treatment for both plaque psoriasis and facial acne. More than half of psoriasis patients using Tazorac experienced at least a 50 percent reduction in the severity of lesions within 12 weeks of beginning treatment. On average, patients with acne had half as many lesions after 12 weeks as they did before beginning treatment.
- The most common side effects associated with Tazorac are itching, burning or stinging, redness and peeling of the skin it is applied to. These side effects generally lessen (or disappear entirely) over time, but if they become severe, ask your doctor whether you should continue using Tazorac. This drug also makes sunburn much more likely to occur, so you must wear sunscreen whenever you go outside during treatment.
- Although Tazorac doesn't usually cause serious side effects, it is not an appropriate treatment for everyone who has acne or psoriasis. Because this drug can cause problems for a developing fetus, Tazorac must not be used by pregnant women or women who may become pregnant. It can also make some skin conditions, such as eczema and sunburn, more severe, and it may interact with certain medications.
- For acne, Tazorac is typically applied once a day, but you may need to gradually work up to this amount. Psoriasis patients should apply Tazorac only to psoriasis plaques and avoid getting the medication on the surrounding skin. Always moisturize and apply sunscreen to the treated skin to prevent irritation and sunburn.
