Hydroquinone may prove beneficial for a maximum of five to six months. Once you stop using it, you may experience irritation on the affected parts of your body. This may lead to inflammation. This inflammation may be dangerous as your skin then begins to build resistance to the treatment after a certain time.
Yes, melasma and other types of hyperpigmentation can come back after using hydroquinone.
The effect of hydroquinone on skin pigmentation is reversible. If you stop, the melanocytes affected by treatment start to resume normal activity, causing the blemishes or spots to gradually reappear.
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.
After gradually stopping hydroquinone, you might be transitioned to alpha arbutin and alongside retinol or prescription retinoid. This will stabilise the melanin producing cells and reduce the chances of rebound hyperpigmentation.
In rare cases, it can cause a condition called ochronosis. This presents as skin darkening or blue-black discolouration and can occur with prolonged use of high strength Hydroquinone. Therefore, it is best not to use it for more than five to six months at a time.
If there has been no benefit after 3 months of treatment, then the hydroquinone should be stopped. Management of the underlying cause of the hyperpigmentation is also recommended. When initiating hydroquinone treatment, it is advisable to: Start with a test area about 1 cm in diameter.
Adverse Effects
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.
For those patients who use hydroquinone creams and then expose themselves to the sun, there is a risk that ochronosis can develop. Ochronosis is a condition that causes the skin to darken where the cream was applied instead of becoming lighter.
Hydroquinone's FAQ. Is Hydroquinone safe to use on my face? Yes, however, specialists recommend its use only in particular areas with hyperpigmentation. Minor side effects are still possible.
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 may prove beneficial for a maximum of five to six months. Once you stop using it, you may experience irritation on the affected parts of your body. This may lead to inflammation. This inflammation may be dangerous as your skin then begins to build resistance to the treatment after a certain time.
taper the Hydroquinone. Gradual cessation will minimize any rebound increase activity of tyrosinase. o Apply only 3 times per week for 2 weeks. Then 2 times per week for 2 weeks, then stop use.
As a rule, you should stop using hydroquinone after 3-6 months of continuous use. This is because prolonged use of hydroquinone can lead to adverse effects on the skin, such as ochronosis, skin irritation, and sensitivity.
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.
Alternative lightening agents including mequinol, arbutin, kojic acid, and others have shown comparable efficacy to hydroquinone in treating hyperpigmentation with less concerning side effects.
Turegano and Dr. Chan both agree hydroquinone does not play well with benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, or other peroxide products. Not only will pairing them cause irritation and dryness, but it can also temporarily stain your skin.
While oral consumption probably is not related to topical application, hydroquinone remains controversial because it actually is toxic to melanocytes. Hydroquinone, a phenolic compound chemically known as 1,4 dihydroxybenzene, functions by inhibiting the enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine and phenol oxidases.
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.