Efficacy and safety of topical tazarotene: a review.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Tazarotene (Tazorac, Avage, Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA, USA) is a synthetic retinoic acid receptor- betagamma topical retinoid approved for the treatment of plaque psoriasis and acne vulgaris.

OBJECTIVES:

To review a decade of experience using tazarotene as a monotherapy or as combination therapy for approved and other indications: acne, psoriasis, photoaging, basal cell carcinomas and various keratinization disorders.

METHODS:

We reviewed the published literature available on PubMed for safety and efficacy of topical tazarotene gel or cream preparations.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS:

Tazarotene, in both gel and cream formulations, has been used both as monotherapy and as an adjuvant therapy. For psoriasis it has been combined with steroids, calcipotriene and phototherapy, and for acne, with antibiotics. Tazarotene has been shown to upregulate the tumor suppressor, tazarotene induced gene 3, which is overexpressed in psoriasis and skin cancer. Adverse effects are limited to mild to moderate local irritation and erythema as seen with the 'retinization period' of other topical retinoid therapies. Daily application of tazarotene is effective with sustained benefits and limited local side effects.

• Authors: Rakhashandra Talpur, Katherine Cox, Madeleine Duvic
• Journal: Expert opinion on drug metabolism & toxicology (Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol) Vol. 5 Issue 2 Pg. 195-210 (Feb 2009) ISSN: 1744-7607 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20213916 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Dermatologic Agents
• Nicotinic Acids
• PLAAT4 protein, human
• Receptors, Retinoic Acid
• tazarotene

Topics

• Acne Vulgaris (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Administration, Cutaneous
• Animals
• Carcinoma, Basal Cell (drug therapy, pathology)
• Dermatologic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Nicotinic Acids (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Psoriasis (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Receptors, Retinoic Acid (drug effects, genetics)
• Skin Aging (drug effects)
• Up-Regulation (drug effects)