How long before tazorac starts working

If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time. The following side effects are generally mild and go away as your body becomes used to the medicine. Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome.

Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects. Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention. Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication. Eczema: Retinoids can cause severe irritation of eczema. If you have eczema, your doctor will monitor your condition while you are using tazarotene. Exposure to sunlight: This medication can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight.

Make sure you use sunscreen minimum SPF 30 and protective clothing when exposed to sunlight. People with sunburn should not use tazarotene until they have fully recovered. Pregnancy: It is recommended that pregnant women do not use tazarotene. Women who may become pregnant should use an effective method of birth control while using this medication.

If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately. Breast-feeding: It is not known if tazarotene passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication,it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding. Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children less than 12 years of age. If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed. All material copyright MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only.

Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine.

Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:. It is very important that you use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may cause your skin to be irritated. You may need to use this medicine for several weeks or months before your skin starts to look better.

Applying extra medicine will not make it work faster. This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. This medicine is for use on the skin only. Do not get it in your eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina.

Do not use it on skin areas that have cuts or scrapes. If it does get on these areas, rinse it off right away. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.

Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible.

However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Do not spray or use it near heat, open flame, or while smoking. Do not puncture, break, or burn the can. It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to use it.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. Below is information on other possible uses for Tazorac. However, another brand-name drug that contains tazarotene the active drug in Tazorac is approved for some of these purposes. Studies have found that tazarotene can reduce fine wrinkles caused by sun damage.

Other studies have also found that the drug can improve fine wrinkles, dark spots, skin roughness, and elasticity, and reduce pore size in sun-damaged skin. In fact, a brand-name medication containing 0.

Avage is approved to reduce fine facial wrinkles and certain types of dark or light spots on the face caused by sun damage. While you use Avage, you have to protect your skin from sunlight and follow a complete skin care routine that includes a moisturizer.

Acne can sometimes leave deep pitted scars. However, if Tazorac effectively treats your acne, this can help prevent acne scars from developing in the first place.

Tazorac may also be used off-label to treat acne scars. A small study found Tazorac 0. Microneedling is a treatment dermatologists use for various skin conditions. The 0. You may wonder how Tazorac compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Tazorac and Retin-A are alike and different. Tazorac contains tazarotene, while Retin-A contains tretinoin.

Both Tazorac and Retin-A are retinoid medications. Tazorac comes as a cream and a gel. Retin-A comes as a gel and a cream. The gel is available in two strengths: 0. The cream is available in three strengths: 0. Tazorac and Retin-A both contain a retinoid drug.

Therefore, these medications can cause very similar side effects, but some different ones as well. Below are examples of these side effects.

This list contains up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with both Tazorac and Retin-A when used individually :.

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Tazorac, with Retin-A, or with both drugs when used individually. Tazorac and Retin-A were found to be similarly effective for treating acne in a recent review of studies.

Current guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology recommend both Tazorac and Retin-A as effective options for treating acne. Talk with your doctor about which one is right for you.

According to estimates on GoodRx. Like Retin-A above , the drug Differin has uses similar to those of Tazorac. Tazorac contains tazarotene, while Differin contains adapalene.

Both are retinoid medications. Differin comes as a gel, cream, and lotion. These are all available in a strength of 0. The gel is also available in a 0. Tazorac and Differin both contain a retinoid drug. This list contains up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with both Tazorac and Differin when used individually :. This list contains examples of serious side effects that can occur with both Tazorac and Differin when used individually :.

A recent review of studies examined the use of topical applied to the skin retinoids in treating acne. The retinoids included Tazorac and Differin.

However, they did find that Differin was linked to less bothersome side effects than other retinoids, including Tazorac. Current guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology recommend both Tazorac and Differin as effective options for treating acne.

Tazorac can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Tazorac. For more information on the possible side effects of Tazorac, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome. Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects.

Children ages 12 years and older may have the same side effects as adults who use Tazorac, such as those listed above. You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug. As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after using Tazorac.

Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include hives around your throat or on your tongue, or trouble breathing along with hives. If you develop these symptoms while using Tazorac, call or your local emergency number, or seek medical attention right away.

Some skin irritation may occur while using Tazorac. In fact, skin irritation was the most common side effect of Tazorac in clinical studies of the gel and cream.

Skin irritation can be made worse by medications, cosmetics, and cosmetic treatments that have a drying or irritating effect on your skin. And avoid cosmetic treatments like waxing and chemical peels. If your skin gets irritated while using Tazorac, talk with your doctor. Depending on how bad the irritation is, they may recommend using Tazorac less often, such as every other day. Or your doctor may suggest that you stop treatment for a time. You can usually start using Tazorac once a day again when your skin irritation eases.

If your skin gets irritated while using Tazorac 0. Skin may become more sensitive to sunlight, sun lamps, and tanning beds while using Tazorac. This can raise your risk for getting a severe sunburn, particularly if you have fair skin.

To protect your skin, you should avoid sunlight when possible. If you need to go out in the sun, wear a hat and clothes that cover your skin. If you get a sunburn while using Tazorac, talk with your doctor about ways to soothe it.

Be sure not to get Tazorac in your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you accidentally get Tazorac in your eyes, rinse them well with water. However, if your skin gets very irritated during treatment, talk with your doctor. Skin irritation may appear as skin peeling, redness, or discomfort.

You may need to use Tazorac less often or stop using it for a time. Your doctor may have you start using Tazorac once a day again when the irritation eases. A medication timer may be useful, too. With acne, the pores in your skin become blocked by a buildup of dead skin cells and sebum oil. The sebum can build up in your pores, leading to inflamed red and swollen papules and pus -filled pimples.

The bacteria feed on the sebum and produce waste products that irritate and inflame the pores. It works by slowing down the production of skin cells. This helps stop dead skin cells from building up on the surface of your skin. Tazorac also reduces inflammation in the skin. In acne, Tazorac helps stop your pores from becoming clogged. As a result, the drug reduces the formation of blackheads and whiteheads.

Tazorac also helps keep red, swollen spots and pimples from forming. In plaque psoriasis, Tazorac reduces the formation of psoriasis plaques. The drug also reduces the amount and severity of scaling and redness. Tazorac may start working in 1 to 2 weeks.

But it typically takes longer than this before you start to see an improvement in your skin. It can take up 12 weeks of treatment for the drug to have its full effect. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to use the dosage your doctor prescribes for you.

Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. To treat acne, you should apply a thin layer of Tazorac once a day, in the evening. Only apply Tazorac to the areas of skin affected by acne. To treat psoriasis, you should apply a thin layer of Tazorac once a day, in the evening.

Only apply Tazorac to the psoriasis plaques. Take care to avoid the surrounding areas of skin. The cream is used in the same dosage as for adults see above. If you miss an application of Tazorac, just skip that dose, then follow your usual schedule.