Me and My Retinoid Tazarotene

Commenter biopunk inspired me, after the Indianmeal moth escapade, to tackle a problem involving retinoid tazarotene. You see, though my Very Famous Dermatologist once assured me that I could use this medication indefinitely, my New Dermatologist heartily disagrees. New Dermatologist wants me to give it up entirely. I have been on it for five years and he says that's enough.

I protested. "But Very Famous Dermatologist said that, without it, this fundamentally genetic problem of mine, which is completely under control right now, would return."

"Well," said New Dermatologist, in his alluring accent, "it's not like a genetic predisposition toward acne can't be controlled without prescription drugs. Tazorac works on the biochemical level, right? It's changing the shape of the skin cell, so that it's less sticky and you shed it faster. A clay mask with a highly acidic mixture can do that-- um, can have a similar effect. Plus, we know that acne is worsened by dairy foods . . . Okay, so it's genetics. But you can change your behavior and control it that way."
Read more. . .

I repressed a cross sigh. It was dawning on me that, once again, I would have to evaluate my understanding of acne. Starting with my use of the Wonder Drug that had single-handedly transformed me from an ugly duckling into a swan.

Amidst my bustle-about, I have gotten thus far:

The exact mechanism of how Tazarotene works is still unknown.

The End . . . Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating. But not much. I have no formal biochemistry training and this latest exploration will be satisfying but slow going. And I can't wait to embarrass myself in front of a bunch of scientists.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any less sexy than Indianmeal moths, I decide to blog about acne . . . Well. Eliza Doolittle did not start her ascension from a picturesque place and neither am I.