Tazarotene and Photobiomodulation Safety

Introduction to Tazarotene Photosensitivity

• Tazarotene is potentially photosensitizing due to thinning of the epidermis, and caution should be used when combining it with any light-based therapy, according to the American Academy of Dermatology 1

Evidence from Phototherapy Combinations

• The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that tazarotene combined with narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) has been shown to be effective and allows reduction in total UV exposure 2, 3, 4
• The combination of PUVA and tazarotene has been anecdotally reported to be synergistic, as noted by the American Academy of Dermatology 5

Practical Recommendation Algorithm

• The American Academy of Dermatology suggests applying tazarotene in the evening and performing PBM treatments in the morning (at least 12 hours apart) to minimize potential photosensitizing interactions 1
• This approach allows maximum separation between the two modalities, as recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology 5

Management of Adverse Events

• The American Academy of Dermatology notes that if irritation occurs, consider short-contact therapy (30-60 minutes), combination with moisturizers, or addition of topical corticosteroids 1, 6