-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 J3IiKYnfnGo6aSTYzkusSigefV+0TX96ay4WYbSrEapWS9Q+cdVky14oskJCXmmP
 4TwPHmdeLjNn1nh5n1aWLQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246360-09-000595.txt : 20090210
<SEC-HEADER>0001246360-09-000595.hdr.sgml : 20090210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090210132213
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246360-09-000595
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090207
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090210
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090210

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PETERSON RICHARD D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001430423

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14471
		FILM NUMBER:		09584827

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(602) 808-8800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8125 NORTH HAYDEN ROAD
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85258-2463

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000859368
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				521574808
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8125 NORTH HAYDEN ROAD
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85258
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125992000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8125 NORTH HAYDEN ROAD
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85258
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>false</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000859368</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001430423</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PETERSON RICHARD D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7720 N. DOBSON RD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85256</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, CFO &amp; Corp Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>208</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.99</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>34846</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Upon the vesting of 540 shares on February 7, 2009 under a restricted stock grant dated February 7, 2006, the reporting person had 208 shares withheld by the Company for personal tax liability withholding.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard Peterson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----