Arazlo is a prescription retinoid lotion applied once daily to treat acne. It contains tazarotene at a 0.045% concentration, formulated specifically as a lotion to be easier on the skin than older tazarotene products. It’s FDA-approved for acne in patients 9 years of age and older. Getting the application technique and routine right makes a real difference in both how well it works and how much irritation you experience.
Step-by-Step Application
Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser and patting it completely dry. Apply a thin layer of Arazlo to the affected areas once daily, typically in the evening. You don’t need a large amount. A thin, even layer across the treatment area is enough.
Keep the lotion away from your eyes, mouth, the creases around your nose, and any mucous membranes. If it does get in or near your eyes, rinse thoroughly with water. Wash your hands after applying so you don’t accidentally transfer the product to sensitive areas.
Do not apply Arazlo to skin that is sunburned or affected by eczema. Irritated skin absorbs more of the active ingredient, which increases the chance of a painful reaction rather than a therapeutic one.
Where Arazlo Fits in Your Routine
If you also use benzoyl peroxide, do not apply it at the same time as Arazlo. Benzoyl peroxide is an oxidizing agent that can break down tazarotene on contact, reducing its effectiveness. The solution is simple: use one in the morning and the other in the evening. Most people apply benzoyl peroxide in the morning and Arazlo at night.
You can use a moisturizer with Arazlo. Apply it after washing your face, either before or after the lotion depending on your skin’s sensitivity. If your skin is particularly reactive, applying moisturizer first creates a buffer that can reduce irritation without blocking the medication from working. Choose products labeled noncomedogenic so they won’t clog your pores and contribute to new breakouts.
Sun Protection Is Essential
Tazarotene makes your skin significantly more sensitive to UV light. This isn’t a mild caution. You will burn faster and more easily while using Arazlo. Wear sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days, and reapply it if you’re spending extended time outdoors. Protective clothing like hats and long sleeves helps when sun exposure is unavoidable. Avoid tanning beds and sun lamps entirely during treatment.
Managing Irritation in the First Weeks
Dryness, flaking, peeling, redness, and itching are common when you start Arazlo, especially in the first few weeks. This is your skin adjusting to the retinoid, and it doesn’t necessarily mean the product isn’t right for you. Some people also experience mild pain or stinging at the application site.
If irritation becomes uncomfortable, you have a few options. Adding a moisturizer to your routine (if you haven’t already) is the first step. You can also reduce how often you apply Arazlo, for example, every other night instead of nightly, and then gradually increase frequency as your skin builds tolerance. If symptoms are severe, stopping temporarily and restarting at a lower frequency is reasonable.
The Initial Breakout Period
Many people notice their acne temporarily gets worse before it gets better. This is often called “purging,” and it happens because retinoids speed up skin cell turnover, pushing clogged pores to the surface faster than they would on their own. It can be discouraging, but it’s a sign the medication is actively working on existing blockages beneath the skin.
Purging typically involves breakouts in areas where you already tend to get acne. If you’re breaking out in completely new areas where you’ve never had acne before, that’s worth mentioning to your prescriber, since it may indicate an actual reaction rather than the normal adjustment process. The purging phase generally settles within the first several weeks of use.
How Long Before You See Results
Arazlo was tested in two large clinical trials that measured results at 12 weeks. By that point, the lotion produced statistically significant reductions in both inflammatory lesions (red, swollen pimples) and noninflammatory lesions (blackheads and whiteheads) compared to a vehicle lotion without the active ingredient. A meaningful percentage of participants also achieved clear or almost-clear skin ratings by week 12.
This means you should plan on using Arazlo consistently for at least three months before judging whether it’s working. Some improvement may appear sooner, but the full effect takes time. Stopping early because you don’t see dramatic changes in the first month is one of the most common reasons retinoid treatments seem to “fail.”
Important Safety Precautions
Arazlo should not be used during pregnancy. Tazarotene, the active ingredient, is a retinoid, and retinoids as a class carry serious risks of birth defects. If there’s any chance you could become pregnant, discuss contraception with your prescriber before starting treatment.
The 0.045% concentration in Arazlo is lower than some other tazarotene products, which is intentional. The lotion formulation was designed to deliver the retinoid effectively while reducing the harsh irritation that made older, higher-concentration tazarotene products difficult for many people to tolerate. Even so, it’s a potent medication. Using more than directed won’t speed up results and will only increase side effects.