Safety, efficacy and duration of therapeutic effect of tazarotene used in the treatment of plaque psoriasis.

Topical therapies are first-line treatment for mild/limited stable plaque psoriasis. Disadvantages of currently available therapies include lack of short-term efficacy and long-term maintenance, adverse effects, and cosmetic problems. Tazarotene is a new topical retinoid which has proven to be efficacious in the treatment of mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. Results from a large, multicentre, pivotal study show that a once-daily application is as effective as a first-line monotherapy, providing rapid resolution of signs and symptoms and sustained therapeutic effects in some patients. Tazarotene gel is cosmetically acceptable, and is minimally absorbed systemically, with adverse events limited to local irritation.