Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.
Hydroquinone has a pretty short shelf life. After a couple of months, it can start to break down and lose its potency, meaning it becomes less effective. Other ingredients with a brief life span are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, often found in products designed to treat acne, as well as vitamin C and retinol.
Hydroquinone is applied topically just to the hyperpigmented skin only, twice daily for 3 months, after which time many patients maintain their improvement by using it twice each week. If there has been no benefit after 3 months of treatment, then the hydroquinone should be stopped.
Avoid irritants: Be mindful of other skincare products or ingredients that may potentially irritate your skin. Avoid using harsh cleansers, exfoliants, or other products that can cause irritation or sensitivity while using hydroquinone.
Once the hydroquinone has oxidized, it is no longer active and should be discarded. Prescription hydroquinone formulations have tried to increase the potency of formulations by adding penetration enhancers such as glycolic acid, sunscreens, and tretinoin as a supplemental pigment lightening agent.
A major key to hydroquinone is short-term use. You can slather it on twice daily for at least six weeks (and no more than six months). After one to three months, you should start to see your hyperpigmentation fade away.
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 you try some new products that combine hydroquinone with other ingredients, such as glycolic acid.
Do not apply to sunburned areas or if you have a skin wound in the area of application. Most cosmetics, sunscreens, and moisturizing lotions may be worn over this medicine.
Combination Tip: Combining hydroquinone with Vitamin C may improve overall efficacy, but due to potential sensitivities, this combination should only be used under the supervision of a dermatologist. Sunscreen: How It Works: Sunscreen is essential for preventing further hyperpigmentation caused by UV exposure.
Apply hydroquinone in a thin layer to affected areas of the face. Do not apply it to other areas of the face; otherwise, it will bleach that skin.
Storage: Store hydroquinone at room temperature (between 15-30° C or 59-86° F) away from moisture, heat, and direct light in its original container. You can refrigerate this medicine (between 36-46° F) but you should not freeze it.
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.
Alternative lightening agents including mequinol, arbutin, kojic acid, and others have shown comparable efficacy to hydroquinone in treating hyperpigmentation with less concerning side effects.
Hydroquinone and Retin-A (Tretinoin)
When used with Hydroquinone, it can speed up the process of fading hyperpigmentation. These two ingredients can be found together in compound preparations or used as separate products for more control.
INGREDIENTS CAN OXIDIZE:
Generally, you can tell that something has oxidized because it will turn a yellow-ish or brown-ish color. Sometimes this color shift doesn't greatly impact the efficacy of the product. But sometimes, this oxidation can be a sign that the ingredients inside the product are no longer potent.
Rarely ochronosis - ochronosis is a blue-black or gray-blue discoloration; it is rare and more commonly seen in patients that use a high concentration of hydroquinone for a long period on large areas of the body.
One of the crucial tips dermatologists share with their patients they prescribe hydroquinone to is avoid merging it with benzoyl peroxide in your skin-care routine. Together, they can do the exact opposite of what you want them to do and end up temporarily staining your skin.
4) Why does my skin look darker after using Vitamin C? If you are applying Vitamin C without sunscreen, it is likely that the Vitamin C degrades into Erythrulose, which is an ingredient you will find in many self-tanners. So please make sure you apply sunscreen always after applying Vitamin C.
Hydroquinone and retinols work well together because retinols help hydroquinone penetrate deeper into the skin to work more effectively. Retinols can also protect hydroquinone from oxidation, which can cause it to degrade.
Hydroquinone can be applied morning and night. excess pigmentation such as the neck and back of hands. Allow product to fully absorb into skin before applying moisturizer or any other skin care products.
Tretinoin is an anti-aging powerhouse, meaning it should have no problem dispatching fine lines and wrinkles. It does not work for deeper wrinkles. Hydroquinone doesn't work at all against fine lines and wrinkles, so stick to the collagen-boosting power of tretinoin.
Hydroquinone 4%
In most cases, lightening of skin should be seen after four weeks of treatment. Stop using Hydroquinone 2 days prior to any procedure.
FDA has received reports of serious side effects including skin rashes, facial swelling, and ochronosis (discoloration of skin) from the use of skin lightening products containing hydroquinone.