Acne is treated with tazarotene (Tazorac, Fabior). Psoriasis is also treated with tazarotene (Tazorac) (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body). When used with other skin care and sun protection regimens, tazarotene (Avage) helps patients with face wrinkles and discolouration. Tazarotene belongs to the retinoids drug class. It acts to treat acne and psoriasis by reducing skin cell inflammation and delaying skin cell expansion, both of which can contribute to acne or psoriasis. By increasing the thickness of the outer skin layers, it reduces facial wrinkles and discolouration.

Tazarotene is available as a skin-applying cream, foam, and gel. The only time it is typically utilised is in the evening. Take tazarotene every day at roughly the same time. Ask your doctor or chemist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. As advised, take tazarotene as prescribed. Use it only as directed by your doctor, neither more nor less often.

Depending on how well your condition is doing and any potential side effects, your doctor may vary the dosage of tazarotene, how frequently you take it, or temporarily discontinue your therapy. Inform your doctor of your treatment response right away.

Your symptoms should subside if you are using tazarotene to treat acne in around 4 weeks. Your symptoms should subside if you are using tazarotene to treat your psoriasis in between one and four weeks of medication. Call your doctor if your symptoms don’t go away or get worse.

Before using, thoroughly shake the tazarotene foam.

Foam made by tazarotene may ignite. When using tazarotene foam and for a short while afterward, keep away from open flames, fire, and smoke.

Using tazarotene to skin that is sensitive, scratched, sunburned, or covered in eczema is not advised (a skin disease). Applying tazarotene to the affected region shouldn’t be done until the skin has healed if you have any of these disorders.

Moisturizers can be used as frequently as you wish, but you must wait until they have been thoroughly absorbed by the skin (about an hour) before using tazarotene.

Follow these steps to utilise the cream, foam, and gel:

1. Wash the skin with water and a mild soap before applying tazarotene to treat acne or lessen facial wrinkles and discolouration. Next, wipe the skin dry with a soft towel. It is not required to wash the affected area before using tazarotene to treat psoriasis, but if you have, pat the skin dry before administering the medication.
2. On the afflicted skin, apply a thin layer of cream, foam, or gel. You can put this cream on your entire face, including your eyelids, if you’re using it to lessen facial wrinkles and discolouration. Massage it into the skin in a gentle yet thorough manner. Avoid getting tazarotene in your mouth, nose, or eyes.
3. Avoid applying any bandages, dressings, or wrappings to the injured region.
4. After handling the drug, wash your hands with soap and water.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your chemist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or chemist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking tazarotene,

• If you have an allergy to tazarotene, any other medications, or any of the chemicals in tazarotene cream, foam, or gel, let your doctor and chemist know right away. Get a list of the ingredients from your chemist.
• Inform your doctor and chemist about any prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and dietary supplements you are currently taking or intend to take. Incorporate any of the following: diuril (chlorthiazide); fluphenazine; fluoroquinolone drugs as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), and ofloxacin; chlorpromazine; chlorthalidone (in Clorpres, Edarbyclor, Tenoretic); indapamide, methyclothiazide, and metolazone (Zaroxolyn); hydrochlorothiazide (Microdize, in Dyazide, in Hyzaar, and other drugs with HCT suffix); sulfonamide drugs such co-trimoxazole (Bactrim, Septra), sulfisoxazole (in erythromycin ethyl succinate and sulfisoxazole acetyl), perphenazine, prochlorperazine (Compro, Procomp), and others; tetracycline antibiotics such doxycycline (Monodox, Oracea, Vibramycin, among others), tigecycline (Tygacil), and tetracycline (Achromycin V, in Pylera); thioridazine; supplements including vitamin A, trifluoperazine. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• If you also use benzoyl peroxide, use it at a different time of day than when you apply tazarotene (Benzaclin, Duac, Epiduo, etc.).
• Inform your doctor if you or a family member have ever had skin cancer, eczema, another skin ailment, or if your skin is extremely sensitive to sunlight.
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Pregnancy should not occur when taking tazarotene. See your physician about birth control options you can take while undergoing therapy. A negative pregnancy test must be obtained within two weeks of beginning treatment if you are capable of getting pregnant. To ensure that you are not pregnant, you should begin taking tazarotene during your period. If you find out you’re pregnant while taking tazarotene, stop taking it right away and inform your doctor. The foetus may suffer from tazarotene.
• Consider wearing protective clothes, sunglasses, and sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, especially if you are prone to sunburn, and avoiding unnecessary or prolonged exposure to both natural and artificial sunlight (tanning beds and sunlamps). Avert extended exposure to wind or the cold. Your skin may become more sensitive to the sun and harsh weather if you take tazarotene.
• Any skin or hair care products you use, such as soaps, shampoos, permanent wave solutions, cleansers, moisturisers, and cosmetics, should be disclosed to your doctor. If you combine tazarotene with many skin care products, your skin may become irritated, especially if the products are harsh, dry out the skin, contain alcohol, spices, or lime rind. Your doctor might advise you to wait to start taking tazarotene if you have been using these products. Get product suggestions from your doctor for items that won’t aggravate your skin.
• Avoid getting tazarotene in your eyes at all costs. If tazarotene does get in your eyes, thoroughly rinse them out with water.
• During your tazarotene treatment, avoid using hot wax or electrolysis to remove unwanted hair from the region that you are treating.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

Skip the missed dose if you are using tazarotene gel and carry on with your regular dosing plan.

Apply the missing dose of tazarotene cream or foam as soon as you remember it if you are using it. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan.

To make up for a missed dose, do not apply additional gel, cream, or foam at the next planned dose.

Tazarotene might have negative effects. The skin you are treating with tazarotene is likely to experience the following symptoms. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Itching
• Burning
• Redness
• Rash
• Peeling
• Stinging
• Pain
• Dryness
• Swelling
• Discoloration
• Irritation or eyelid or eye swelling
• Irritated or chapped lips
• Edoema in the legs or arms

Further negative effects of tazarotene may occur. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom). Avoid freezing.

Keep tazarotene foam away from flames and very hot surfaces since it is combustible. The tazarotene foam container should not be pierced or burned.

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your chemist or the garbage/recycling agency in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call your neighbourhood poison control centre at 1-800-222-1222 if someone consumes tazarotene. Dial 911 to reach the nearest emergency services if the sufferer has collapsed or has stopped breathing.

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.