Tazarotene Treatment Guidelines
Patient Selection and Contraindications
- The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that safety and effectiveness of tazarotene have not been established in pediatric patients under 12 years of age 1
- Tazarotene is contraindicated during pregnancy, as indicated by its pregnancy category X classification 1, 7, 2
Combination Therapy
- The American Academy of Dermatology recommends the combination of tazarotene with medium- or high-potency topical corticosteroids for 8-16 weeks for the treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis, with a strength of recommendation of A 2, 3, 4
- This combination therapy increases efficacy while reducing local adverse events 4, 5
- The combination also increases the duration of treatment effect and extends remission time 4, 5
Treatment of Specific Conditions
- Tazarotene 0.1% cream can be used for nail psoriasis, particularly when applied under occlusion 6
- Tazarotene has shown significant improvement in the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index with respect to onycholysis, pitting, hyperkeratosis, and oil spots 5
Managing Side Effects
- Common adverse effects of tazarotene include pruritus, burning, skin redness, peeling, desquamation, dry skin, and erythema 1
- To minimize irritation, consider short contact therapy (30-60 minutes) 5, apply in combination with moisturizers 5, or use combination with topical corticosteroids to reduce irritation 5