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PATIENTS & PUBLIC

Hydroquinone

Drs. Lulit Price, Neelam Vashi, and Nkanyezi Ferguson

What is hydroquinone?
Hydroquinone is a prescription  cream used to lighten dark patches of the skin (also called hyperpigmentation). It can be compounded with other creams depending on your skin’s needs.  

What is hydroquinone used for?
Hydroquinone is used to lighten dark patches of the skin. These dark spots can be related or triggered by many factors including pregnancy, birth control pills, inflammation, and injury to the skin.  The most common use is for melasma, a condition in which people develop dark patches on the face and other areas of skin, such as the arms.

How is it used?
Safe use of hydroquinone includes using it under the supervision of a dermatologist. It should be applied only to the affected darkened areas of skin to avoid lightening of normal skin. It should not be used for extended periods of time as it can actually cause darkening of the skin .  Cycling of use with breaks is recommended to limit overuse and the side effect known as exogenous ochronosis.  

What else do I need to know about hydroquinone?
It is an out of pocket expense as insurance will not cover this medication. If using it to treat melasma, it should be used in combination with a broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or higher daily. Sunscreen should be applied to the affected areas after hydroquinone to avoid relapse of the condition. Dark areas may recur if the cream is discontinued but this is less likely happen if sun protective measures are followed.

 

What is Hydroquinone?

Hydroquinone is a special cream that you can only get with a prescription. People use it on their skin to make dark patches, also called hyperpigmentation, lighter. Depending on what your skin needs, it can be mixed with other creams. In some countries, like the United States, you can get it without a prescription, usually in a 2-3% form.

What is Hydroquinone used for?

People use Hydroquinone to make dark spots on their skin lighter. These dark spots can happen for different reasons, like during pregnancy, when using birth control pills, or because of inflammation and skin injuries. One common use is for a condition called melasma, where dark patches show up on the face and other skin areas, like the arms.

How do you use it?

It's important to use Hydroquinone with the guidance of a dermatologist (skin doctor). You should only put it on the dark areas of your skin to avoid lightening the normal skin. It's not meant for long-term use, as it might actually make the skin darker, which is a strange effect. It's recommended to take breaks from using it to prevent overuse and a side effect called exogenous ochronosis.

What else should I know?

You have to pay for Hydroquinone yourself because insurance doesn't cover it. If you're using it for melasma, it's best to also use a strong sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) every day. Put the sunscreen on the dark areas after using Hydroquinone to prevent the condition from coming back. Dark spots might return if you stop using the cream, but this is less likely if you protect your skin from the sun.

 

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