Is Tazorac the same as Retin-A?
No, Tazorac (tazarotene) and Retin-A (tretinoin, all-trans retinoic acid) are not the same, but they do belong to the same class or group of drugs known as retinoids. Retinoids are derived from vitamin A (retinol) or have a structure and/or function similar to vitamin A.
Tazorac and Retin-A are both topical (applied to the skin) retinoids used to treat acne. Tazorac is also used to treat plaque psoriasis.
Tazorac and Retin-A work about the same when used to treat acne and are also similar in terms of the side effects they produce. They are recommended for the treatment of mild-to-moderate acne (for use alone and in combination with other acne products) by the American Academy of Dermatology.
What is the difference between Tazorac and Retin-A?
Retin-A is a first-generation retinoid and was the first topical retinoid to be developed. Tazorac, on the other hand, is a third-generation retinoid. A key difference between Tazorac and Retin-A is that they have different chemical structures.
Their different structures mean that they target and activate a different pattern of receptors in the body in order to work. Retin-A directly activates all three retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and indirectly activates retinoid X receptors (RXRs), whereas Tazorac only binds to RAR-beta and RAR-gamma, but not RAR-alpha and RXRs.
| Tazorac | Retin-A | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Allergan | Bausch |
| Type of drug | Retinoid - third-generation (poly-aromatic) | Retinoid - first-generation (non-aromatic) |
| How it comes (formulations) |
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| Uses |
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Other branded and generic formulations of topical tazarotene and tretinoin are also available, including products that are also approved for minimizing facial wrinkles and other signs of aging and sun damage.
Related questions
References
- Motamedi M, Chehade A, Sanghera R, Grewal P. A Clinician's Guide to Topical Retinoids. J Cutan Med Surg. 2022;26(1):71-78. doi:10.1177/12034754211035091.
- Mukherjee S, Date A, Patravale V, Korting HC, Roeder A, Weindl G. Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety. Clin Interv Aging. 2006;1(4):327-348. doi:10.2147/ciia.2006.1.4.327.
- Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris [published correction appears in J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Jun;82(6):1576]. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Tazorac Gel Product Label. [Accessed August 31, 2022]. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/020600s010lbl.pdf.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Avage Cream and Tazorac Cream Product Label. [Accessed August 31, 2022]. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/021184s009lbl.pdf.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Retin-A Product Label. [Accessed August 31, 2022]. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2002/16921s21s22s25lbl.pdf.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Retin-A Micro Product Label. [Accessed August 31, 2022]. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/020475s021lbl.pdf.
Read next
Does Tazorac help with acne scars?
Tazorac cream and Tazorac (tazarotene) gel do NOT have acne scar treatment as an FDA approved indication. Tazarotene gel 0.1% has successfully treated atrophic post acne scarring in a small clinical trial using microneedling as an active control. Continue reading
How long does it take Tazorac to work?
There is little information available from clinical trials as to how soon Tazorac cream starts working for acne. The full positive effect of Tazorac cream on acne may not be seen for a number of weeks and in some cases acne may get worse before it gets better. Continue reading
What does tazarotene do to your skin?
Tazarotene improves the look and feel of your skin. It is used to treat skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis. It may also reduce fine lines, wrinkles and patches of skin discoloration. This topical medication is in the class of drugs known as retinoids, which are derived from vitamin A. Continue reading
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