5 Clever Ways to Use Hydroquinone for Uneven Skin Tone
Uneven skin tone can be cause for self-consciousness which can greatly affect your confidence. Not to worry though; there are products you can use to get rid of it. One of them is hydroquinone. Hydroquinone has been used for over 50 years in the treatment of skin discoloration issues. Depending on how you use it, hydroquinone can work for or against your skin.
In this article, we will share with you 5 clever ways to use hydroquinone to treat uneven skin tone.
1. Break your 4-Month Cycle Hydroquinone use with an Alternative
When you are using a cream that contains hydroquinone it’s advisable that you don’t use it for more than 4-months. This is because prolonged use of hydroquinone for more than 4 months at a time may lead to exogenous ochronosis, a bluish-black skin discoloration.Exogenous ochronosis is very stubborn to treat and is most of the time permanent. It is more common among dark-skinned individuals and has been reported in both low and high concentration hydroquinone use.
So, where does that leave you? If you still want to tap into hydroquinone efficaciousness, it’s recommended that you break your 4-month cycle use with an alternative to hydroquinone.
A good example you can choose is kojic acid or arbutin. They work the same way as hydroquinone by inhibiting the production of melanin, but they are milder and are not associated with extreme side effects.
2. Use Hydroquinone with Sunscreen
Using skin lightening products may cause it to become more sensitive to sunlight and hydroquinone is no exception. A clever way to deal with this and avoid damage from UV rays is to use sunscreen on your skin generously and religiously. Exposure to sunlight may cause sunburns or photodamage and worsen your uneven skin tone.It’s best that you use a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher. To avoid interfering with hydroquinone, once you apply hydroquinone on cleansed dry skin, give it a few minutes to be absorbed before applying sunscreen and other skin care products.
You should also choose a sunscreen that provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays for extra protection. If your skin is the overly sensitive one, boost your sunlight protection by wearing clothing that covers your exposed skin like the face, arms and legs.
3. Combine Hydroquinone with Milder Alternatives
Hydroquinone helps you lighten dark patches on your skin but you may also opt to mix it with other ingredients to increase its effectiveness in dealing with your uneven skin tone and also lessen the side effects. Examples of milder alternatives that you can combine hydroquinone with are tretinoin and kojic acid.Tretinoin is a form of vitamin A that helps the skin cells to regenerate quickly and boosts collagen production. This leads to eventual fading of hyperpigmentation. It is also an effective acne treatment which would be a great choice if you are dealing with both uneven skin tone and acne.
Kojic acid is natural skin lightener that can be extracted from several species of fungi or gotten as a byproduct of rice fermentation. Its skin lightening abilities equal those of hydroquinone, albeit with milder side effects. When used in combination, hydroquinone and kojic acid have been shown to produce great results.
4. Do not mix Hydroquinone with Peroxides and Resorcinol
When you are using hydroquinone creams it’s advisable to avoid peroxide products like benzoyl peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. This is because when the two are mixed together they may cause staining of the skin. While the staining may easily be washed off with soap and water, it’s best to avoid these products when using hydroquinone.Another ingredient you should also avoid is resorcinol. Resorcinol, a known skin lightening ingredient is also linked to the darkening of the skin as explained earlier; exogenous ochronosis.
The last thing you need in your skin lightening regimen is any product that increases your risk of discoloration. In any case, you already have hydroquinone to deal with. Simply put, these two products should be used separately.
5. Only use Hydroquinone with Recommended Strength
Hydroquinone creams vary in concentration; the higher the percentage the stronger the formulation. Hydroquinone 2% is readily available in OTC creams and is considered enough strength for treating uneven skin tone and other forms of hyperpigmentation. It is the highest strength allowed to be purchased without a prescription.Hydroquinone that is 4% is the highest concentration that you will find in over the counter creams. It’s considered safe and more effective in treating persistent scars and dark spots. Nevertheless, it should only be bought with a prescription from a certified physician.
Other hydroquinone concentrations are 8% and 10% which are only formulated by compounding pharmacies with a prescription and used under strict monitoring by a dermatologist. The higher the concentration of hydroquinone, the severer the side effects so, stick to the advice of your dermatologist for your own good.
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