Can hydroquinone make pigmentation worse?

Hydroquinone may cause local skin irritation, however, and thereby leading to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, making the skin pigmentation worse.

Does hydroquinone make hyperpigmentation darker?

Hydroquinone is an organic compound that is highly effective in skin lightening. They have a whitening effect and treat hyperpigmentation on the skin. However, if used incorrectly, hydroquinone compounds can still make skin darkening and hyperpigmentation more severe and lasting.

Does hydroquinone cause rebound pigmentation?

Hydroquinone is an inflammatory agent that can become allergenic after 5 months of use. Hydroquinone-induced inflammation can cause rebound hyperpigmentation and reduced tolerance to hydroquinone itself. Pulsing hydroquinone use can prevent this, but quitting 'cold turkey' can trigger rebound pigmentation as well.

Does hydroquinone get worse before it gets better?

When Can Using Hydroquinone Cause Hyperpigmentation? While a temporary darkening is normal with typical use, there will be cases where it seems that Hydroquinone can cause hyperpigmentation to become even worse for the long term.

How do I know if hydroquinone is working?

After one to three months, you should start to see your hyperpigmentation fade away. At the three-month mark, you should set it aside.

Is hydroquinone safe? Q

How long does hydroquinone take to fade hyperpigmentation?

In cases of hyperpigmentation, more melanin is present due to an increase in melanocyte production. By controlling these melanocytes with hydroquinone, your skin becomes more evenly toned over time. It takes about four weeks on average for the ingredient to take effect.

When should I stop using hydroquinone?

What happens when you stop using hydroquinone cream? 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.

Why you should not use hydroquinone?

FDA has received reports of serious side effects including skin rashes, facial swelling, and ochronosis (discoloration of skin) from the use of skin lightening products containing hydroquinone.

Does hyperpigmentation get darker before it fades?

Yes. Active treatment accelerates cell turnover, pulling pigmented cells to the surface at a faster rate. This increases the concentration of melanin in the epidermis, which can create a temporary darkening of the spots. The darkening means the pigment is coming up and is ready to be shed away.

What happens if you use too much hydroquinone?

Excessive hydroquinone concentrations may induce toxic or shocking effects on melanocytes, forcing them to regroup and increase their melanin production (resulting in rebound hyperpigmentation). Additionally, high concentrations of hydroquinone may provoke skin inflammation.

What does it mean when hydroquinone turns brown?

Finally, when the color of products containing hydroquinone has turned brown, that indicates the product has oxidized, and thus is no longer active. Oxidized products should be discarded.

What happens if you use hydroquinone too long?

Long-term use of hydroquinone could give rise to ochronosis. Ochronosis causes a blue-black pigmentation and caviar-like spots to develop on the skin.

Why is my hyperpigmentation getting darker?

What causes hyperpigmentation? Skin gets its color from a substance called melanin, which is made by skin cells. When those skin cells are damaged or unhealthy, they can produce too much melanin. The melanin can clump, causing that area to appear darker.

What makes hyperpigmentation worse?

What triggers hyperpigmentation? Triggers include sun exposure, hormonal changes, and trauma to the skin, for example, due to acne or an injury. Picking at scabs and spots may make it worse. Some face creams can irritate the skin, leading to further hyperpigmentation.

Why won't my pigmentation go away?

Some cases of hyperpigmentation may never go away completely. If hyperpigmentation is caused by injury, then as the skin heals the discoloration will lessen as melanin is absorbed into the tissue surrounding the injury.

Is there anything better than hydroquinone?

There are several safe alternatives to hydroquinone that can be used long-term. You can find them in a variety of skin care products. Other safe, natural alternatives to hydroquinone include brightening ingredients like kojic acid, vitamin C, mushroom, licorice/glycyrrhizin, azelaic acid, and niacinamide (vitamin B3).

Can I stop hydroquinone abruptly?

It is extremely important to not abruptly stop using hydroquinone. This can cause the melanocytes to react poorly and cause rebound hyperpigmentation. Overuse of hydroquinone (at excessive strengths and/or used indefinitely) can also cause an irreversible condition called ochronosis, a bluish discoloration of the skin.

Why did the FDA ban hydroquinone?

With continued use, hydroquinone and mercury can build up in your body, which may cause harm. The FDA has received reports of serious side effects from the use of hydroquinone, including rashes, facial swelling, and permanent skin discoloration (ochronosis).

Will dark spots return if I stop using hydroquinone?

Although hydroquinone use is undoubtedly effective in lightening melasma, it is possible for the dark spots to return after stopping the treatment, especially with sun exposure. This is one reason why it is so important to wear sunscreen every single day — especially if you're prone to hyperpigmentation.

What not to mix with hydroquinone?

DON'T mix hydroquinone with these ingredients

Turegano and 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.

What happens if hydroquinone does not work?

If no visible changes occur after 3 months of treatment, you should stop using hydroquinone and consult with your dermatologist about alternative treatment options.

How do you speed up hyperpigmentation fading?

Why does my hyperpigmentation take so long to fade?

Fading Over Time

The length of time it takes for PIH to fade depends on how dark the spot is compared to the surrounding skin. The bigger the contrast between the dark area and your natural skin tone, the longer it will take to fade. PIH doesn't always fade away on its own.

How long does it take to see hydroquinone results?

When using hydroquinone, patients should not expect to see drastic results right away. It can take approximately 4-6 weeks of daily (or even twice daily) hydroquinone application before dark spots will begin to fade. After 8-12 weeks, optimal results should appear and overall skin tone will become more even.