Tazarotene has effects similar to other topical retinoids like tretinoin and adapalene. It normalizes the cellular differentiation in the epidermal cells and reduces their multiplication and helps limit the inflammation. It is also thought to help reduce the sebum production in acne.
Are There Any Advantages of Using Tazarotene in Acne?
Tazarotene is known as a prodrug as it metabolizes rapidly to its active metabolite, the tazarotenic acid within a matter of two to five minutes. Hence a short contact therapy of two to five minutes of higher strength (0.1%) is sufficient to produce satisfactory results, while reducing the irritant potential of the acne medication.
The medication penetrates through the spaces between the epidermal cells or through the hair follicle opening to the sebaceous glands and dermal layers to produce the anti-acne effects within this short period of time.
How is Tazarotene Applied in Acne?
A small quantity of 0.1% tazarotene gel is applied to the face where acne bumps are present and kept for 0.5 to 5 minutes and then washed off, depending upon the skin sensitivity of the patient. To start with, a two-minute application is carried out twice daily, gradually increasing or reducing the time of contact. This is known as the tazarotene short contact therapy in acne.
Tazarotene Combination Therapy in Acne
In moderate to severe types of acne combination therapy of tazarotene with benzoyl peroxide, erythromycin or clindamycin has been found to be more effective and less irritant than tazarotene used alone. Of these combinations, tazarotene short contact therapy plus benzoyl peroxide produced better results than others in terms of effectiveness and patient acceptance.
What are the Precautions to be taken While Using Tazarotene to Treat Acne?
Like other systemic and topical retinoids, tazarotene can cause severe fetal deformities if used during pregnancy. Hence, women of child bearing age group should take steps to avoid getting pregnant while on tazarotene.
What are the Other Uses of Tazarotene in Dermatology?
Tazarotene is a very useful topical agent in treating psoriasis and sun-damaged skin. Other skin diseases where tazarotene has been found effective are:
- steroid induced skin damage
- nail psoriasis and other forms of localized psoriasis
- elastosis perforans serpiginosa
- Darier’s disease
- confluent and reticulate papillomatosis
- basal cell carcinoma
- keratoderma blenorrhagicum
- juvenile acanthosis nigricans
- localized discoid lupus erythematosus.
What are the Side Effects of Tazarotene in Acne?
Tazarotene irritates the skin more than other topical retinoids. It has been documented that around one third of patients who is on tazarotene experience dryness, redness, irritation, itching, stinging or excessive scaling on the face.
The short contact therapy is very effective in limiting these adverse effects of tazarotene. In individuals with very sensitive skin, the tazarotene 0.05% cream is used only to the acne lesions for two to five minutes.
Tazarotene, the new generation retinoid, is thus a very useful and safe topical acne medication useful in treatment of all types of acne, either alone or in combination with topical or oral acne medicines.
Sources:
- Diane T, Gollnick H et al. New insights into the management of acne: An update from the Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne Group. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2009; 60:S1-50.
- Srinivas CR, Lakshmi C. Principles of Topical Therapy in Dermatology in IADVL Textbook of Dermatology, 3rd Ed, 2008;1591-1618
Hanish Babu - Dr.Hanish Babu, MD is a dermatologist and a feature writer on Suite101.com with more than 200 articles related to skin diseases on the ...
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