This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms: Cream.
Hydroquinone shall be prescribed from your primary care physician, who will first consider the type of your skin as well as any conditions you may have that qualify your skin for the treatment. They may also consult about other therapies or mixtures with hydroquinine to achieve the best outcome.
If you have dark spots, melasma or hyperpigmentation, hydroquinone is a prescription-only active ingredient that could help you achieve more even-toned skin.
No. In general, Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D) do not cover this drug.
You can request a hydroquinone prescription by scheduling a virtual consultation with an online dermatologist, who can diagnose your hyperpigmentation, provide treatment guidelines, and follow up with you. The virtual consultation starts at only $59 and as low as $30 for any follow-up consultations.
The average cost for 1 tube of 28.35g of 4% of Hydroquinone cream is $25.07 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 70.2% off the average retail price of $84.11.
Alternative lightening agents including mequinol, arbutin, kojic acid, and others have shown comparable efficacy to hydroquinone in treating hyperpigmentation with less concerning side effects.
Patients who use creams with hydroquinone without professional medical supervision and advice will find that some side effects can be permanent, even if they stop using the medication.
With GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status, hexylresorcinol is a great choice for beauty brands seeking to provide skin lightening and even toning benefits in their next skin care formula. Hexylresorcinol was introduced to the skin care market in 2007 under the trade name Synovea® HR.
Does hydroquinone lighten skin permanently? No, the results of any skin lightening that hydroquinone brings about are not permanent. The effects can be seen within a couple of months or a few years at the maximum.
Additionally, hydroquinone rebound hyperpigmentation can occur if treatment is stopped too early (its best to stay on it for at least 3 months) or when there is sudden cessation or reduction of hydroquinone use. This causes the skin to overcompensate and produce an excess of melanin.
According to Dr. Eric Howell, to fade hyperpigmentation fast, your dermatologist can prescribe a triple combination cream consisting of hydroquinone, tretinoin and a topical corticosteroid sold under the brand name Tri-Luma, or can be also purchased via a compounding pharmacy.
Hydroquinone 4%
In most cases, lightening of skin should be seen after four weeks of treatment.
Arbutin has been found to be the most effective active ingredient in our study, even more so than hydroquinone, despite being a naturally occurring derivative.
Should I apply hydroquinone or tretinoin first? According to Dr. Mohta, if you are using two separate medications, you should apply hydroquinone in the evening after applying tretinoin.
Hydroquinone was available previously in over-the-counter products and is currently available in prescription formulations with common concentration ranges of 0.4 to 5%. Prescription strengths available in the United States include hydroquinone 2% and 4% cream and hydroquinone 2% gel.
Most commonly, celebrities resort to chemical peels or laser therapy to get rid of hyperpigmentation fast. Others opt for vitamin C supplements, retinol, or serums to lighten their skin.
Second, the finding that azelaic acid has a better safety profile than hydroquinone suggests that it may be especially suitable for individuals susceptible to skin irritation or concerned about hydroquinone's potential adverse effects.
You need a doctor's prescription to buy hydroquinone cream online or in a physical pharmacy. You can have a online consultation with a dermatologist. After the consultation they will issue a prescription containing for hydroquinone cream if it's safe and medically appropriate for you.
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.
Avoid using hydroquinone with peroxide products such as benzoyl peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, which can cause discoloration. 3. Avoid alpha hydroxy acids. The combination of hydroquinone and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) can irritate your skin.
The best alternative to Hydroquinone is a product called Cyspera, which effectively reduces pigmentation marks and banishes melasma, leaving a naturally clearer complexion. Its key active ingredient is cysteamine, which is proven to be even more effective than Hydroquinone.
Hydroquinone (HQ)
HQ is the agent of choice for skin lightening. Combining HQ with a steroid cream and tretinoin have superior efficacy when compared to HQ alone. Although it's considered safe, there may be side effects and is subject to pre-market approval by Health Sciences Authority (HSA).