Tired of dark spots and patches dialing up your glow? If your hyperpigmentation is caused by melasma? you might want to consider hydroquinone cream. It’s a prescription skin-whitening treatment that’s more effective than over-the-counter products that contain ingredients like vitamin C. Hydroquinone topical creams are the most effective treatment for melasma, and sometimes prescribed for sun spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from acne.
Is hydroquinone right for you? Let’s take a look at this remedy to see if you should add it to your skin care routine.
How Hydroquinone Works
Hydroquinone cream stops the melanocytes in your skin from producing melanin. Melanin is the main pigment of the skin, so by reducing it in your problem areas, you can also reduce dark spots and hyperpigmentation. You may hear hydroquinone called a skin bleaching agent, but it does not whiten the skin.
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How many times a day can you use hydroquinone?
Most doctors recommend using hydroquinone twice a day – probably when you wash your face in the morning and at night. Regular application is the best way to improve your skin and reduce hyperpigmentation.
What Results Can One See When Using Hydroquinone?
You will start to see your skin tone come out and dark patches fade after four weeks. By the third month of application, your dark spots should be significantly reduced. Many patients report being much more satisfied with their appearance and confidence in their skin after a three-month course of hydroquinone.
Your results may be even better if you pair hydroquinone with other skin-lightening agents like vitamin C or kojic acid. Hydroquinone is prescription only, so when using it you should consult with the medical provider who prescribed it before adding other skin care products to your routine.
Another way to improve results is to limit your sun exposure. UV light can trigger melanin production, which is what hydroquinone is trying to stop! Too much sun will work against you and make melasma worse.
How Does Hydroquinone Target Dark Spots?
The mechanism of action of hydroquinone is quite complex. It inhibits the so-called amino acid L-3,4- dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) from being converted to melanin by inhibiting an enzyme called tyrosinase. Tyrosinase converts L-DOPA into melanin, so without it, your skin cannot make this pigment. Over time, this means your melasma and other dark spots will lighten.
Just remember — hydroquinone only targets dark spots. It will not fight any other skin issues or signs of aging. For that, we recommend checking out some of our others anti-aging drugs.
Best Uses for Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone therapy treats skin conditions such as acne scars, aging freckles, freckles, melasma, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from eczema or psoriasis. That said, it won’t work for active redness or inflammation from acne.
Can You Use Hydroquinone Daily, Why or Why Not?
Yes, to see the best skin whitening results, you should use the hydroquinone cream every day! If you’re not consistent in your application, it may take longer to see a difference — if you see one at all.
Hydroquinone will only inhibit melanin production while it is active on the skin, so reapplying is the best way to maintain the depigmentation process so you can see a reduction in hyperpigmentation and dark spots.
However, most medical providers recommend that you use hydroquinone for no more than 3-6 months, as long-term use can actually make dark spots worse. Your medical provider may prescribe you a three-month dose of hydroquinone, then switch you to other medications such as azelaic acid or tretinoin to maintain your results.
What Can’t You Mix with Hydroquinone?
The good news is that hydroquinone is safe to include in your existing skin care routine. Just be careful with products that contain benzoyl peroxide or hydrogen peroxide as well as alpha hydroxy acids. The combo of these can irritate your skin or cause temporary discoloration.
Why Would Someone Start Using Hydroquinone?
Typically, a patient using hydroquinone cream has tried over-the-counter skin lightening products without success. For example, they may have tried kojic acid and vitamin C and not seen any change in their dark spots or skin tone. Because hydroquinone is prescription strength, it is more effective and efficient than over-the-counter treatments in resolving hard-to-treat melasma hyperpigmentation and dark patches.
The usual starting dose is 4% hydroquinone cream, although there are stronger prescriptions available if your doctor thinks they are a good choice for you.
The efficacy of Hydroquinone
Many studies have found that hydroquinone cream is effective in reducing hyperpigmentation. In a study published in J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 79% of patients using 4% hydroquinone as a melasma treatment saw an improvement in their skin tone.
Another study published in the Iranian Journal of Dermatology looked at hydroquinone 5% cream plus azelaic acid 20% found patients saw a noticeable improvement in their melasma area.
What Other Drugs Interact with Hydroquinone?
Fortunately, doctors haven’t found any serious drug interactions with hydroquinone, meaning you don’t have to stop taking any medications. Of course, your doctor will have more information about potential interactions in your particular situation.
Although it is not a drug, the sun can have an unfortunate interaction with topical hydroquinone. Too much sunlight stimulates your body to produce more melanin, which can cancel out the results of your hydroquinone treatment. To avoid this, we recommend using sun protection whenever you are out. Try at least SPF 30 sunscreen, wear a hat that shades your face, and stay in the shade during the midday hours when the sun is at its harshest.
How Fast Can One Expect to See Results From Using Hydroquinone?
It usually takes about four weeks to start seeing results from hydroquinone topical cream. These results should continue to improve for up to three months after you start treatment. At that point, most doctors recommend taking six to nine months off to give your melanocytes a chance to stabilize before continuing treatment.
When Should You Stop Using Hydroquinone?
There are times when you should stop using hydroquinone. The first and most serious is if you are having serious side effects from the cream. Ideally, the first time you use hydroquinone cream, you should do a skin test by rubbing some of the product on your skin and wait 24 hours to see if you have a reaction. If you experience severe itching or irritation, discontinue use and notify your doctor.
However, medical guidelines specify that you should stop using hydroquinone if you haven’t seen any results after about three months. Your doctor may recommend that you try some new product which combines hydroquinone with other ingredients, such as glycolic acid. They may also recommend switching to tranexamic acid, which is a newer cream with comparable results to hydroquinone in reducing hyperpigmentation.
Precautions When Using Hydroquinone
The good news is that hydroquinone topical cream is relatively safe for your skin — in fact, scientists haven’t found any evidence that it’s harmful. However, you may still get some side effects, such as skin irritation, including red and dry skin where you apply it. As long as you use a hydroquinone cream prescribed by a doctor, you can avoid many of the dangers of skin bleaching patients see in over-the-counter, non-FDA-approved products.
What Should You Know Before Using Hydroquinone?
There is another serious condition that hydroquinone can cause. This is called ochronosis, and it is characterized by areas of gray-blue or blue-black discoloration that are difficult to treat or become permanent. Usually, this only happens when you use hydroquinone for too long, so as long as you follow your doctor’s instructions, you should be safe.
Also, if you are planning to become pregnant or are currently pregnant or breastfeeding, you should wait to take hydroquinone. While current research doesn’t show any links between birth defects or pregnancy complications, doctors aren’t entirely sure how it affects babies. Because your body absorbs a large amount of the drug (35% to 45%), it’s best to avoid it until more research is done.
How Long Is Hydroquinone Safe to Use?
Doctors generally agree that it is safe to use hydroquinone for skin whitening for about three months. After that, you run the risk of developing ochronosis. If you find that your hyperpigmentation is starting to return, your doctor may give you the go-ahead to resume hydroquinone 4% cream after a six-month break. There are others too treatments you can try if you want to address your acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and dark spots.
What Health Conditions May Interact with Hydroquinone?
Hydroquinone does not have any serious reactions in other health conditions. That said, you should let your doctor know if you have other skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, or sensitive skin.
You should also tell your doctor if you have asthma. Although you’re unlikely to inhale hydroquinone, it can have serious side effects if it gets into your lungs.
If you’re interested in adding hydroquinone to your skincare routine, start here by answering a skincare questionnaire.
