What is hydroquinone?
Hydroquinone is a skin-lightening agent used topically for the treatment of hyperpigmentation.
Who uses hydroquinone?
Hydroquinone is most commonly used in bleaching creams by patients aged 13 years and over with a dark skin type. It can be used, often in combination with other medications, to treat:
- Melasma
- Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation such as subsequent to acne
- Freckles and lentigines
- Poikiloderma of Civatte
- Drug-induced pigmentation due to chemotherapy agents
- Folliculitis barbae and pseudofolliculitis barbae
Hydroquinone may also be used as a pretreatment before fractional laser therapy or chemical peels.