Do you need to STOP HYDROQUINONE? 🤔 Dermatologist @DrDrayzday on hydroquinone cream side effects. In this video I discuss taking a break from hydroquinone and the hydroquinone side effect of exogenous ochronosis
Melasma mistakes
Hydroquinone free melasma treatments
Mercury in skin bleaching creams
References
Searle T, Al-Niaimi F, Ali FR. Hydroquinone: myths and reality. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2021 Jun;46(4):636-640. doi: 10.1111/ced.14480. Epub 2020 Nov 7. PMID: 33159818.
Grimes PE, Bhawan J, Guevara IL et al. Continuous therapy followed by a maintenance therapy regimen with a triple combination cream for melasma. J Am Acad Dermatol 2010;62: 962–7.
Tse TW. Hydroquinone for skin lightening: safety profile, duration of use and when should we stop?J Dermatol Treat2010;21: 272–5.
Levin CY, Maibach H. Exogenous ochronosis: an update on clinical features, causative agents and treatment options.Am J Clin Dermatol2001;2: 213–17.
Burke P, Maibach H. Exogenous ochronosis: an overview.J Dermatol Treat1997;8:21–6
💜Shop my Amazon store
💜Follow me on liketoknowit
💜Social media
Instagram @drdrayzday
Pinterest
Facebook @DrDrayzDay
Twitter: @drdrayzday
Tiktok: @drdrayzday
Disclaimer: This video is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. Content provided on this Youtube channel is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment options. Information on this Youtube channel should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. The statements made about specific products throughout this video are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
Happy Tuesday, Doc, and fellow Dray lovers! 💐
😊
You too!!
I used hydroquinone several years ago, didn’t really see much difference in the discoloration of my skin. After using for several months, I stopped. I’ve had better results from my otc retinol cream and sunscreen. 😊 Happy Tuesday!! 🌸
Sunscreen alone can really do a lot for hyperpigmentation
My derm said to only use for a month then give it a rest for a month because apparently it can cause the scar to turn purple.
i have type 5 skin and hydroquinone 4% gave me a black patch on forehead only with 4 uses. retinol, microdermabrasion, laser toning have been helpful for my hyperpigmentation tho
How often did you get microdermabrasion done ? What was the lasers name ?
I love hydroquinone, but I did use it incorrectly for several years. I didn’t pay attention to the directions, and I used them for more than three months at a time. I also used various skin lighteners in my teenage years. It wasn’t until I came across your video a few years ago on the original differin dark spot corrector that i realized I needed to take a break from it. Now I make sure to do so. I consider myself lucky that I never experienced side effects because I definitely put myself at risk all those years. I do use Apostrophe to get prescription hydroquinone, and I’ve had fantastic results! I’m extremely pleased. I don’t think they let you get another three month supply until after a three month break, so at least they have some safeguards, but I can see where we should be concerned.
Did your natural skin lighten from hydroquinone? Or just the hyperpigmentation?
Perfect timing for me! Thank you for another wonderfully informative video, Dr Dray!
Great video. I’ve been using Agency Dark Spot Formula with hydroquinone. That service alternates hydroquinone every two months to a non-hydroquinone formula. i.e., two months on, two months off. However, I used a formula from a popular skincare brand for several years and I did get negative outcomes that lead to my stopping that product (2%). These outcomes included pronounced skin lightening around the targeted dark spot. That did stop when I quite using the product.
My dermatologist prescribed me a customized lightening cream from Skin Medicinals and I was skeptical first but soon blown away by the amazing result. No side-effects. The cream is composed of:
Hydroquinone 8%
Tretinoin 0.025%
Kojic Acid 1%
Niacinamide 4%
Fluocinolone 0.025%
That fluocinolone will burn anything off the face. My dad’s derm had him use it to burn off possible precancerous spots. My son’s derm had him use it for warts – it took 3 days and it burned his flesh off. 😱
@Miko Sato That’s awesome it worked for you so fast! I have melasma on my forehead and I have treated it with hydroquinone and tretinoin for many years. It’s faded but still there. I’ve had to wean off hydroquinone and now I’m using tretinoin and azelaic acid. I have been planning on adding arbutin too. Always a constant battle.
@Convenience and Practicality could that remove old post inflammatory hyperpigmentation for good ?
A relative developed this from using Ambi Fade Cream for many years; she simply wasn’t aware of the risks and it makes me wonder why Ambi doesn’t carry a clear warning about taking breaks from the product.
My dermatologist prescribed me hydroquinone but never told me it needed to be used only temporarily. I literally used it for FOUR YEARS straight🤦♀️. It wasn’t until 1 month ago I googled melasma that I came across an article about using it for only a few months then tapering off. Needless to say I am no longer seeing that dermatologist anymore and am in the process of tapering off. So far no rebound hyperpigmentation, but I understand you’re at risk for rebound side effects up to 10 yrs after stopping. I hope it doesn’t happen. I’m so mad at my dermatologist.
Thank you for this video! I have been using a compound Hydroquinone I got from my derm back in October. I think I was very consistent the first 3 months. I didn’t see much improvement in my melasma so I continued to use it on an off almost to none by now. I think I will stop for good now 😂
I have been using Hydroquinone for two years to clear up the hyperpigmentation following cystic acne. I do use for 3 months and then rotate off for 3 months as well as retinol and lactic acid and I have had great results. The cream is hydroquinone 12%, kojic acid 6%.
I’ve battled hyperpigmentation on my face for years. I’ve achieved a nice balance of fun in the sun without compromising my skin but I notice that when I ski in really cold weather ( completely covered despite having mineral sunscreen powder over cream) my discoloration comes right back. Do cold temps impact this condition? Thanks Doc!
Thank you for this. Can you do a video discussing Eucerin’s thiamidol ingredient, and also one about how to permanently get rid of the “root” of a melanocyte umbrella (sorry I don’t know the proper terminology) that has already formed? I heard that lasers only slow down pigment production and the only way to get rid of a freckle for example is through deep chemical peels. Is this true?
I have two stubborn large sunspots. Living in Arizona, I use 4% HQ for 12 weeks in the winter, then take a break for the summer using other pigment inhibitors during that time: FADED by Topical, Vit C, etc. Works for me, but I respect the stuff and use cautiously.❤
Do you put the HQ just on your spots or all over your face?
Interesting information on this ingredient. I tried the Ambi fade cream many years ago for hyper pigmintation but never saw a bit of difference so I stopped using it. Appreciate all of your hard work as always. Happy Tuesday, Dr Dray! Hope you have a blessed evening. 💞
The only thing that worked for my melasma was total sun avoidance which took several years and life changes including using a UVA protective parasol when outside. If you see Gwen Stefani , Anne Hathaway or Famke Jannsen out in public they always use a parasol.
Me too. UV umbrella, UPF hat and wrap also. Totally nerdy looking, but I have a dark spot on my cheek, so I follow Dr Drays advice and put a round bandage over it.
@Rowan parasols are great!
I want one! Any place to order one in the US?
Lastly, I saw someone in your previous video say that cholesterol used in skincare is lanolin derived. Should someone with a confirmed lanolin allergy avoid products that list cholesterol in the ingredients? Thank you dr dray and have a good evening
I wish I could get a hold of it! A company used to make a 14 day fade gel. By the time you got to day 7 you’d have to squint to find the spot. It was so excellent a pimple would never would turn into a dark mark. I didn’t have dark under eye circles either.
I have purchased two brands of hydroquinone for PIH and too scared to start it due to potential side effects. And besides my PIH is slowly fading with 20% Azelaic Acid and strict sunscreen routine every two hours so Dr Dray is correct sunscreen plays a massive part 😊
What brand of azelaic acid are you using and how long after did you see results ? I have old PIH and using azelaic acid and sunscreen but after 8/9 months it’s still dark as ever , I am Indian with dark skin
Dr. Dray, could you make a video about wound healing, say after some trauma like surgery? Why is occlusion the best way for an incision or wound to heal? Would love to learn about skin care tips for wound healing! Also any insight you have for properly cleaning your skin when you can’t get an incision wet (C-section, back surgery, etc)