Excessive sebum production triggers acne development. Tazarotene, 0.045% lotion, reduces acne lesions and acne-induced sequelae.

A recent study evaluated the efficacy, changes in skin oiliness, and safety of tazarotene 0.045% lotion in participants with moderate-to-severe acne and oily skin.

This two-phase 3, double-blind, 12-week study included participants aged ≥9 years with moderate-to-severe acne and randomized them 1:1 to once-daily tazarotene 0.045% lotion or vehicle lotion. It evaluated inflammatory/noninflammatory lesion counts, treatment success, skin oiliness, treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), and cutaneous safety/tolerability.

The study observed-

• Tazarotene provided greater reductions in inflammatory/noninflammatory lesions and greater treatment success rates versus vehicle in all participants with oily skin at week 12.
• More than two-thirds of polymeric lotion-treated participants showed subjective skin oiliness reductions by week 12, with nearly one-third reporting low/not oily skin.
• Tazarotene TEAE rates showed similarity to the overall population.

This study shows that once-daily treatment with tazarotene 0.045% polymeric emulsion lotion improves patient-perceived skin oiliness in those with moderate-to-severe acne.

Tanghetti EA, Zeichner JA, Gold M, et al., Improvements in Acne and Skin Oiliness with Tazarotene 0.045% Lotion in Patients with Oily Skin. Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 2022. DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2022.2147391