Hydroquinone: should you be afraid of it?

Hydroquinone, due to its chemical properties, has the ability to block the key enzyme responsible for the production of melanin (pigment) in the body, which is responsible for your skin tone.
Hydroquinone is able to permanently remove pigmentation, provided that you take proper care after the treatment. Studies have shown that the combination of hydroquinone with retinoids leads to rapid lightening.
On average, it takes about four weeks to see a visible effect. It may take several months of continuous use before you achieve permanent changes in your skin.

Where is hydroquinone contained?

Creams use a fairly low concentration of the component - most often 2-4%, which is completely safe for your skin. Creams with hydroquinone should be applied 2 times a day, but it is recommended to use them for no more than 3-4 months. After the course of treatment, the skin needs a break from the chemical. In addition, it is imperative to use a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every day, both during and after the treatment. This will help prevent the reappearance of hyperpigmentation or darkening of the skin.

How to use it?

When using hydroquinone, discomfort such as mild flushing, dryness, tightness, and burning sensations may occur after application. This is more common in those with dry and sensitive skin, while patients with normal to oily skin are much less likely to experience these reactions. All of this is considered normal during the adaptation period of hydroquinone treatment, and these negative effects can be reduced by choosing the right basic care with your aesthetician or dermatologist.

If you are still afraid to use hydroquinone in your home care, you can always find an alternative, for example, take a course of professional peels with hydroquinone from a cosmetologist, and take retinol or another lightening agent as prescribed by your doctor. But you don't need to completely reject this component and believe all the myths that are spreading on the Internet about its extremely harmful effects. Still, the effectiveness usually outweighs the minor negative consequences.

So trust your doctor and let your skin always be radiant and without hateful pigmentation!

Author: Cosmetologist Natalia  Petryshyn