Tazorac vs. Ziana: Understanding Acne Treatments

Tazorac and Ziana are among many different acne treatments doctors can choose to prescribe. While both of these prescriptions treat acne vulgaris, the prescriptions have different active ingredients, require different preparations and have different forms.

Active Ingredients

• Tazorac's acne-treating ingredient is tazarotene. Tazarotene is a retinoid, a presciption applied directly to the skin. However, Ziana has two active ingredients: clindamycin phosphate, an antibiotic, and tretinoin, a retinoid.

Forms

• Tazorac comes in both a cream and a gel form. Doctors prescribe the cream for acne vulgaris and the gel for mild or moderate facial acne vulgaris. Ziana comes in a gel form only.

Directions

• While the directions for both Tazorac and Ziana recommend using the product only once a day, Tazorac's directions instruct patients to moisturize before using the product.