Tazarotene is a synthetic
retinoid that, depending on the concentration and vehicle, is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the topical treatment of
acne vulgaris (AV) and plaque
psoriasis.
Tazarotene is also used as adjunctive treatment for specified clinical manifestations of chronically photodamaged skin (facial fine wrinkling, mottled facial
hypopigmentation and
hyperpigmentation, and benign facial
lentigines), along with comprehensive
skin care and photoprotection from sunlight. The gel formulation was released in the United States in 1997, with the cream formulation made available in 2000. Multiple studies are available supporting the effective and safe use of topical
tazarotene for each of its indications. This article provides an overview of the pharmacology of topically applied
tazarotene, discussing in particular up-to-date information on the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of topical
tazarotene for AV, including monotherapy and combination
therapy studies. Topical
tazarotene 0.1% in both formulations is highly effective in reducing both inflammatory and noninflammatory
acne lesions, and can be used in combination with other topical agents, including formulations containing
benzoyl peroxide or
dapsone 5% gel. Although many patients tolerate the use of topical
tazarotene without significant issues or concerns, some patients experience application-site tolerability reactions, which can usually be managed with proper
skin care and are less frequent with the cream formulation.