Hydroquinone is generally used to treat hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation (also known as melasma, age spots, or freckles) is a condition that leads to the development of dark patches on the skin. The causes of their development vary from person to person, but usually, they are caused by hormone medicine, birth control pills, pregnancy or mild injuries to the skin.
Once one of these scenarios happen, the skin starts producing excess melanin. This substance can eliminate those dark patches by stopping the process through which the skin triggers discoloration. More exactly, it brings melanin production back to normal levels. Obviously, hyperpigmentation is quite difficult to conceal through conventional means, so most people who have it use special creams. Since there are many options on the market, we have comprised a short guide with tips which will hopefully help you make the right choice. Here is how to pick the right hydroquinone cream.
Determine How Sensitive Your Skin Is
The strongest and most potent creams contain a large combination of ingredients that contribute both to the lightening and exfoliation of the skin. This seems all good and fair – you can kill two birds with one stone. But its potency is also the same thing that can cause mild to medium irritations, especially if you have a particularly sensitive skin.
That is why it is important to determine how sensitive your skin is and to choose the appropriate products. Luckily, you can find many over the counter brands targeted towards people with sensitive skin, which contain soothing ingredients that will prevent irritations from developing. Brands such as the Crusader Skin Lightening Cream, Divine Derriere Skin Lightening, as well as Emma Cardinelli’s Skin Lightening Formula are a few top-quality choices. If you want more information about these products and how they work, make sure to read here on Beauty Essential, a reputable online source that covers skin care and other beauty products.
A good rule of thumb is to test several products before deciding on a particular brand. Hydroquinone creams are generally safe regardless of skin type, but it is a good idea to start with applying small amount on your neck and arms before using it on the face. Further on, if you are buying the product online, check whether or not the company itself employs a ‘’money back guarantee’’ policy in case the cream is not good for your skin and you want to be reimbursed.
Check If you have Other Skin Issues
The first thing you should determine before opting for a particular product is whether or not you have other skin issues besides hyperpigmentation. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, the ingredients from a particular brand of cream might interact negatively with each other, and lead to other skin problems. For instance, if you are dealing with blemishes or a severe case of acne, you might be already applying benzoyl peroxide to treat them.
Combining benzoyl peroxide with hydroquinone cream is a big no-no unless you have stopped using the former for a while. This combination of substances could prove toxic for your skin, and lead either to the worsening of your preexisting issues, or temporary stains on the skin.
Going further, the most important products to avoid while using this compound is arguably resorcinol. This ingredient, which is more commonly used for the treatment of warts and acne, is quite safe on its own, but in combination with hydroquinone, it can trigger some unpleasant side effects, many of which we have already covered above.
Other products that should not, under any circumstances, be combined with hydroquinone cream are products that treat dry or aging skin. Ideally, in this case, you should be looking for fade creams that are chockfull of nutritional ingredients, natural oils, and properly hydrate your skin.
One important thing to remember is to not use hydroquinone long term. Once the skin returns to its normal, natural shade, users are advised to stop the treatment. Moreover, you should not use these compounds for more than three months. During the three-month pause, you can use other skin lighteners to temporarily inhibit the skin’s rate of melanin production and maintain the positive effects of hydroquinone.
Conclusion
Hydroquinone cream is a safe and incredibly efficient ingredient that you can use for treating dark spots, or hyperpigmentation, as it is called by experts. Finding the best hydroquinone cream for your skin can be tricky because there are several variables that should be taken into account. If you have a particularly sensitive skin, make sure to pick the products that are specifically targeted toward this demographic. On a final note, you should not, under any circumstances, use hydroquinone in combination with other skin care products that deal with warts and acne, such as benzoyl peroxide or resorcinol.