Hydroquinone cream 4% for melasma & dark spots

Hydroquinone helps to lighten areas of your skin that are darker than your normal skin tone. It helps with melasma, a condition caused by hormonal changes such as pregnancy (sometimes referred to as the “pregnancy mask”) and is characterized by darker skin patches on the forehead, upper lip, cheeks and nose. It also helps with post-inflammatory marks for conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and even old bug bites.

Hydroquinone is generally well tolerated and considered safe for your skin. However, it is possible to experience some adverse effects like skin irritation, dryness, redness, and stinging. Hydroquinone may very rarely produce exogenous ochronosis, a gradual blue-black darkening of the skin. If this condition occurs, discontinue treatment and consult your physician. The majority of patients developing this condition are Black, but it may also occur in Caucasians and Hispanics. Limiting use of this medication to 3 months at a time with a break of 6 to 9 months in between reduces the risk of this side effect.

To see the best skin-brightening results, you should use hydroquinone cream twice a day. If you’re not consistent with your application, it may take longer for you to see a difference—if you see one at all.

Hydroquinone will only inhibit the production of melanin while it’s actively in the skin, so reapplying is the best way to keep the depigmentation process going so you see a reduction in hyperpigmentation and dark spots.

However, most medical providers recommend you use hydroquinone for no longer than 3 months, because with prolonged use it can actually make dark patches worse. Your medical provider may prescribe you a 3-month dose of hydroquinone, then switch you to other medications that are clinically proven to treat uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation like azelaic acid or tretinoin to maintain your results.

It usually takes about 4 weeks to start seeing results from hydroquinone topical cream. These results should continue to improve until 3 months after you’ve started treatment. At that point, most doctors recommend taking a 6-9 month break to give your melanocytes a chance to stabilize before continuing treatment.

Hydroquinone is recommended for skin conditions like melasma, age spots, and acne scars. It can also help treat post-inflammatory marks for conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and even old bug bites.

Do not use benzoyl peroxide products when using hydroquinone, since this can cause a temporary staining of the skin.

It is important to note that the sun can have unfortunate interactions with topical hydroquinone. Too much sun stimulates your body to produce more melanin, which could cancel out the results of your hydroquinone treatment. To avoid this, we recommend using sun protection every time you're outside. Try at least SPF 30 sunscreen, wear a hat that shades your face, and stay in the shade during the mid-day hours when the sun is its harshest.

No, hydroquinone should not be used by patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive. If this applies to you, then your provider may help you find an alternative treatment that is safe to use.