Hydroquinone is a topical lightening product found in OTC products, and is used to correct skin discoloration associated with disorders of hyperpigmentation including melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmention, sunspots, and freckles. It can be used alone, but is more frequently found in combination with other agents such as alpha-hydroxy acids, corticosteroids, retinoids, or sunscreen. Hydroquinone has come under scrutiny due to several complications associated with its use, including dermal irritation, exogenous onchronosis, and carginogenicity. As a result of these concerns, hydroquinone has been banned in the EU and UK.
Synonyms
p-Benzenediol
Hydroquinone
Quinol
1,4-dihydroxybenzene
benzene-1,4-diol
4-Hydroxyphenol
p-Hydroquinone
1,4-benzenediol
p-hydroxyphenol
Brand Names
Clear-N-Smooth PLUS
Dermaclair Skin Lightening
OBAGI-C Rx system C-CLARIFYING SERUM NORMAL TO oily SKIN LIGHTENING SERUM WITH VITAMIN C
Dermablend Advanced Fade Cream With Sunscreen and Moisturizing Aha
Seequin 2
EpiQuin Micro
Aclaro Hydroquinone
Dark Spot Lightening Cream
African Formula Black
NU-DERM CLEAR Skin Bleaching and Corrector
Glytone SunVanish Skin Lightening
Obagi Nu-Derm Sunfader
Movate Skin Lightening Lemon
Bright Malika and Khadija Brightening Spot Treatment
Nu-derm Starter Set Normal-dry Skin Transformation System
New York Fair and Lovely
Meaningful Beauty Dark Spot Correcting Treatment
Ultraquin 4% Hydroquinone Cream With Sunscreens
ZO Skin Health Pigment Control Creme Hydroquinone
Hydrocortisone 0.5% / Hydroquinone 6%
Cicatricure Skin Lightening
Topiclear Cocoa Butter
Glytone Skin Lightening
LumaSilk Emulsion Level 02
Movate Carrot
Skin Beautifying Milk
Solaquin Forte
Precious Beauty Skin Lightening
Metasol
Olivia Quido Skincare Blemish Eraser
Ambi Skincare Normal Skin Fade
Activator Light
Hydroquinone 8%
Unblemish
Corrector Light
Ultra Glow Skin Tone Cream for Normal Skin
Dr. Throwers Skin Lightening Moisturizing
Idole Carrot
Skinprint ClearTone with 8% Hydroquinone
Advanced Skin Lightening Cream
Idole Natural Organic
Seequin 4 Ids
Ultra Glow Skin Tone Cream Dry Skin Aloe Vera
Body Merry Lightening and Whitening Cream
Nuquin Hp
Condition and Enhance System Travel-size Non-surgical
Jouvence Crm 2%
OBAGI-C RX System NORMAL-DRY SKIN INTERVENTION
Image MD Lightening Rx
Esoterica Unscented Fortified W.sun Screen
Porcelana Skin Lightening Nighttime Hydration
Advanced Skin Lightening Serum
Recover Lightening Complex with 4% Hydroquinone
Teatrical Skin Lightening Skin Lightener
Teatrical Pro-Aclarant Skin Lightening
Nadinola Skin Disc.fade Crm for Dry Skin 2%
AGELESS Total Skin Bleaching Serum
Porcelana Night Skin Lightening
NeoCeuticals Post Acne Fade
Double White
Eldopaque Crm 2%
Skin Lightening Cream
Hydroquinone 8% / Tretinoin 0.025%
PLEXADERM Dark Spot Fade Gel
Artra Skin Tone for Dry Skin
OLIVIA QUIDO FIRM and FADE II
Proactiv Skin Lightening
Clear-N-Smooth UltraMax
Hydroquinone Skin Bleaching Agent Normal Skin
Esoterica Unscented
Hydroquinone 8% / Tretinoin 0.025%.
Zo Medical Zo Multi-therapy Hydroquinone System
Cenovia
Hyperpigmentation Treatment
Topiclear Carrot
Skinprint ClearTone with 2% Hydroquinone
Obagi Medical - Nu-Derm System - Normal to Dry - Skin Transformation Kit
Eldoquin
Topiclear Lemon
ZO Skin Health Multi-Therapy Hydroquinone System
Hydroquinone 4% / Tretinoin 0.025%
Ultraplus Skin Lightening Cream - 2%
Obagi Medical - Nu-Derm System - Normal to Dry - Skin Transformation Trial Kit
Superlightener
Piona
Eldopaque Forte Crm 4%
Skinprint 3D Clear Peel
Nadinola Skin Fade for Oily Skin
Epiquin Micro
Active 4
Light The Way
Idole Beauty
Indication
Hydroquinone is used as an OTC topical lightening agent for disorders of hyperpigmentation including melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmention, sunspots and freckles.
Categories
Antioxidants
Benzene Derivatives
Biological Factors
Compounds used in a research, industrial, or household setting
Drug Info/Drug Targets: DrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugs. Knox C, Law V, Jewison
T, Liu P, Ly S, Frolkis A, Pon A, Banco K, Mak C, Neveu V, Djoumbou Y, Eisner R, Guo AC, Wishart DS.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 Jan; 39 (Database issue):D1035-41. | PMID:21059682