What You Should Know About Tazarotene
Tazarotene is in a class of medications called retinoids. It helps reduce acne and psoriasis by slowing skin cell overgrowth, decreasing inflammation, and unclogging blocked pores. It also works to reduce facial wrinkling and discoloration. Retinoids are available as creams, gels, and liquids that you apply to the skin, or as tablets and capsules that you take by mouth. Talk to your doctor about which form of tazarotene is right for you.
Tazarotene can cause skin irritation in and around the area where it is applied. This usually is mild, but may be severe in some people. If you have irritation, your doctor may advise you to use the medication less often, such as every other day. They may also recommend a product to soothe the irritation.
This medication is not safe to use during pregnancy. It contains a type of drug known as a retinoid, and retinoids can harm a developing fetus. If you become pregnant while using this medication, stop taking it and talk to your doctor right away.
It is important to tell your doctor about any other medical conditions or allergies you have before taking tazarotene. This includes prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Also tell your doctor if you have a history of skin cancer or sunburn.
Before you begin treatment with tazarotene, your doctor will test your blood to make sure it is safe for you to receive the medication. You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to it or to any other retinoid, such as isotretinoin (Accutane), tretinoin (Renova), or adapalene (Aczone).
Tazarotene can increase your risk of side effects such as dryness, itching, redness, and scaling. It can also affect your nails, causing them to thin and crack. If your nails thicken or develop cracks and fissures, you should see a dermatologist immediately.
In addition to nail problems, tazarotene can also cause a type of rash on the palms and soles of the feet called irritant contact dermatitis. This rash is similar to that caused by other topical retinoids and includes erythema, edema, xerosis/scaling, pruritus, and burning. This rash can be serious and should be reported to your doctor immediately.
You should avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight or extreme cold while using tazarotene. It can make your skin sensitive to sunlight and could lead to a severe sunburn. If you must be outside, wear protective clothing and sunscreen with a high SPF. If you do get a sunburn, your doctor may recommend that you use a moisturizer to help heal it.
Tazarotene is a type of vitamin A and an oxidative stress modifier that acts on the body’s cells to improve the health of the skin and hair. It also helps prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin, which can cause wrinkles. It can also treat psoriasis and keratosis pilaris. A tazarotene lotion can be applied to the affected skin at night. The medication works by reducing inflammation and blocking the breakdown of hyaluronic acid, which is an essential building block of collagen. tazarotene uk
