Topical tazarotene: The BEST (balancing efficacy, speed, and tolerability) in acne trial.

Results of clinical trials have shown that tazarotene cream used as monotherapy effectively reduces the number of both inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions in patients with acne vulgaris. The efficacy of tazarotene cream in clinical practice, however, has not been reported. To evaluate the benefits of tazarotene cream in everyday clinical practice, an uncontrolled observational study was conducted in a large population of patients with facial acne vulgaris; 243 investigators enrolled 1118 patients for treatment with once-daily tazarotene 0. 1% cream as monotherapy, or in combination with other agents, for up to 12 weeks. Tazarotene efficacy was well rated by both investigators and patients and had a rapid onset of action. Reduction in comedone counts was greatest when tazarotene 0.1% was used as first-line therapy. The incidence of adverse events (almost exclusively peeling, erythema, dryness, or burning) was low and typically declined with continued use of the medication. The combination of tazarotene 0.1% cream and clindamycin-benzoyl peroxide was the best tolerated of all the treatment regimens. Patients and investigators reported high levels of treatment satisfaction with topical tazarotene 0.1% cream.