The efficacy and tolerability of tazarotene 0.1% gel in the treatment of acne vulgaris have been compared with those of tretinoin 0.025% gel and adapalene 0.1% gel in multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group trials. Preliminary results from the tazarotene versus tretinoin trial suggest that once-daily tazarotene is more efficacious than once-daily tretinoin in reducing the numbers of papules and open comedones, and achieves a more rapid reduction in pustules. Both drugs appear to be equally efficacious against closed comedones. Preliminary results from the tazarotene versus adapalene trial suggest that, when tazarotene is applied only half as frequently as adapalene (every other day versus every day), the two drugs achieve comparable reductions in noninflammatory and inflammatory lesion counts. The results from these studies, and a separate split-face tolerability study, suggest that the tolerability of tazarotene gel is clinically comparable to that of tretinoin 0.025% gel, tretinoin 0.1% gel microsphere, and adapalene 0.1% gel. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:S51-4.)