Tazarotene effective for acne

Hershey, Pa. - The topical retinoid cream tazarotene, alone or in combination with oral antibiotics, is an effective, well-tolerated option for ongoing maintenance therapy in patients with moderate to severe acne, according to a study published in the May issue of Archives of Dermatology.

Patients with moderate to severe acne received tazarotene daily plus 100 mg of minocycline twice daily for 12 weeks. The average age of participants was 22 years. Sixty percent of patients attained at least 75 percent improvement and proceeded to a maintenance phase.

Results from the maintenance phase indicated that three regimens - tazarotene alone, minocycline alone, or tazarotene and minocycline in combination - effectively sustained improvements in noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions. More than half of patients in each group maintained at least 75 percent overall improvement.