Hey guys.. my doctor prescribed 4% hydroquinone for dark spots on my skin. Can someone tell me when I will start to see results? Or do I have to use a sunblock? I really want this to work. I have marks on my legs and arm. Or does anyone have any other suggestions for these marks on my skin. I am tired of wearing along clothing all the time. Thanksguys:o

2% hydroquinone takes about 4 weeks
4% about 1 week
That's my experience.

Since hydroquinon is said to be carcinogenic,why don't you just avoid using it and turn to something else.

I use a 10% hydroquinone cream on my face only and my face went extremely pale within two months. 4% will take a little longer. Make sure that you apply after washing your face or taking a shower, when your pores are open. After applying, use a strong sunscreen like Neutrogena 90-100+. Also, be sure to be aware of the side effects of hydroquinone, like your skin turning hard and dark. If you see any of this, stop using immediately.

I use a 10% hydroquinone cream on my face only and my face went extremely pale within two months. 4% will take a little longer. Make sure that you apply after washing your face or taking a shower, when your pores are open. After applying, use a strong sunscreen like Neutrogena 90-100+. Also, be sure to be aware of the side effects of hydroquinone, like your skin turning hard and dark. If you see any of this, stop using immediately.

Clueless2008 did the hydroquinone cream make you a natural lighter complexion with a yellow undertone, or did it make you pale as in unnatural lighter tone? What's the name of the 10% Hq?

Golden, that is a good question. I have noticed that with hydroquinone, my skin lightened with more of a natural yellowish undertone. Like Mariah Carey, not stark white as sometimes seen with monobenzone. However, it is not permanent and it is a must to wear sunscreen. But, I only use it on my face cause it is so expensive.

That's good that it gave a natural look. How many shades total did it lighten you and can you tell me the brand or pm it to me?

I have been reading that when used properly and temporarily a person can lighten well with Hq and then switch to something else to maintain?

Golden- It get it from a doctor, who has it compounded with retin-a. Although it is pricey, it is very worth it. I went from about Beyonce's color to Mariah Carey, but in the face only. I am using mono for the rest of my body to get lighter, cause I can't afford the hydroquinone on the rest of my body. So, right now I look like a white girl with a dark body tan. It's a little odd.

I see, so the Retin-A helps the Hq to penetrate through the skin. Wow, it really lightened you up. I would be very happy if I could lighten up to Beyonce and maintain! Most of my complexion is like Toni Braxton's. Do you think the 10% hydroquinone cream will be able to lighten me up to Beyonce's. Also, wouldn't the mono make your body pale without color?

Yes, the retin-a is the key ingredient that sheds the old skin faster and helps the lightening process. Yes, with 10% you could definitely go from Toni's color to Beyonce in some months. You would need to be consist in applying it twice a day. I don't think that anything less than 10% would work. Also, you would need to wear a very strong sunscreen and try to stay out of the sun. About mono, I'm not sure how it will make my body turn out. It is so unpredictible.

Hmmm... so I'll definitely will have to get some Retin-A. What's best to start with, the Retin-A .05% or the .1%? And how can I get it without a prescription? Maybe getting the generic Tretinoin would be best since it would cost less. Well, be careful with the mono because it may put white patches on your skin.

I was thinking if I did try out the Hq/R-A to lighten, and then switch to something else more natural or safer to maintain. I wonder if Alpha Arbutin, Kojic Acid, and/or Sepiwhite would help me maintain? I like the Neutrogena SPF 85+ because it helps a lot.

Hi All,

V.interesting thread.I got lot of information.I am presently using HQ in a regular moisturizing cream with salacilyic Acid,which is a AHA so I have No clue how long will it take for the colour to improve.I have made it at home, 1tsp of HQ,2tsp of moisturizer,n half tsp of Salacilyic acid.I have no idea regarding the % at all.

I am using it only from past 2days.I'll keep you all posted.

Whoaa!! Fatima, you're using nearly 50% hq!! :eek:

Yeah, that is quite a lot. You don't want to use too much. Best to figure out the proper percentages first before use so that it is properly formulated, that way it is safer to use.

Yes, the retin-a is the key ingredient that sheds the old skin faster and helps the lightening process. Yes, with 10% you could definitely go from Toni's color to Beyonce in some months. You would need to be consist in applying it twice a day. I don't think that anything less than 10% would work. Also, you would need to wear a very strong sunscreen and try to stay out of the sun. About mono, I'm not sure how it will make my body turn out. It is so unpredictible.

Where did you buy your hydroqinone 10%?

Gr8stuff & Golden:
I have no idea what are the proper percentage to use can anyone tell me?
Its 5 days now that I am using it,I still don't see any change in my skin color :( how long will it take it to improve??
Oh yes! that popular method o the other tread to dissolve HQ in glass jar I boiling water.I tried that however the whole cream was at first watery then crystalline kind and then brown. While boiling I flt the cream for the crystals it was completely dissolved but then it turned brown :((.
Is there any other alternative to dissolve HQ? I also tried dissolving it in distilled water but then its again turning brown?

Help!

Gr8stuff & Golden:
I have no idea what r the proper percentage to use can anyone tell me??
its 5 days now that i am using it,i still don't see any change in my skin color :( how long will it take it to improve???
Oh yes!!that popular method o the other tread to dissolve HQ in glass jar i boiling water.I tried that however the whole cream was at first watery then crystalline kind and then brown. while boiling i flt the cream for the crystals it was completely dissolved but thn it turned brown :((.
is there any other alternative to dissolve HQ??I also tried dissolving it in distilled water but thn its again turning brown??

help!!

Hi Fatima, I never made hq before. But I know that it is an unstable ingredient when used in cosmetics, so it can oxidize very quickly and turn brown due to air, moisture, light, and imprper formulation. You only need 4% hq to get nice results, some use higher but 4% to me is good enough when used along w/ retina. Kligman's formula. There is the Kligman's Formula which uses 5% hq, formulated by a well-known dermatologist. I had posted it here somewhere a few months back.

You can take a look at these:
If you scroll down half-way, you'll see the formula:http://dermatology.cdlib.org/rxderm-archives/depigmentation

http://chestofbooks.com/arts/photography/Practical-Photography/Metol-Hydroquinone-Formula.html
http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/111/1/40http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118959875/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Hi golden,
Thanks it helped.I just got bottle f propylene glycol to mix HQ crystals.hope tomorrow they are not going turn brown again.however I notice my skin is a shade of f red?is this a bad..?

You can do a patch test for a period of days and continue to observe how your skin reacts. My skin was a bit red for a few weeks using the hq/ra. Much luck to your formulation and results, let me know how it works out.

Hi Golden,

Well,I was too excited and in a rush to turn white.. :D. well my skin is still red and sore. Its has however turned a shade lighter.latest thing is that skin has started peeling is this because of HQ or lactic acid.. I m wondering.. after this peeling should I still continue the solution..? or shd I wait for a day or two..?

Well, you can continue to check how your skin reacts to this and if irritation worsens you can cut back on how often you use. Did you measure everything properly?

2qwsqq

This is really really sad. Why do you want to bleach your skin? Why are you so openly brainwashed. Anyone will take one look at your family and/or old pictures and see what you've done and be disgusted.

Gr8stuff & Golden:
I have no idea what r the proper percentage to use can anyone tell me??
its 5 days now that i am using it,i still don't see any change in my skin color :( how long will it take it to improve???
Oh yes!!that popular method o the other tread to dissolve HQ in glass jar i boiling water.I tried that however the whole cream was at first watery then crystalline kind and then brown. while boiling i flt the cream for the crystals it was completely dissolved but thn it turned brown :((.
is there any other alternative to dissolve HQ??I also tried dissolving it in distilled water but thn its again turning brown??

help!!

I read in another thread you use alcohol doroless started it look it up.

Cluess2008 where did you get the 10% cream I only have 4% and I am trying to lighten the dark patches on my back and stomach please do tell thanks

I have tried everything, and thanks to my dermatologist, I finally found something that works!

ACNE - I don't have acne, but occasionally, usually near my menstural cycle, I'll have one or two break outs. They leave dark scars when they go away. So, month after month, thyy pop uo in the same places, so it never really seems like the scars fade & they pop uo near the old ones, so I have all of these small dark scars that seem to never fade.

So, if you live in Los Angeles, the dermatologist I go to is 818-505-9300 & they are on Ventura Blvd.

They prescribed this, and it works great!

NeoStrata - Antibacterial facial cleanser

Epiduo - for your face to treat any acne & prevent any future acne (I'd get about 2 pimples a month)

Solodyn - these are blue pills to clear bacteria so you don't have future break outs. I only had 2 refills & my insurance covered it, but ask your doctor for a card because it allows you to get it for $10.

NeoStrata - oil free lotion with spf 15

Fade Cream with 6% hyrdoquinone - the label has the dermatologists label on it, so I don't know the brand. I think that maybe they might make it. But here's the thing. When I lived in GA, this dermatologist gave me hydroquinone 4% & it was in an amber colored bottle & it was like oily live the consistency of vitamin E oil. This stuff that my derm gave me though is creamy, and it actually works.

Here's the thing though. I didn't know at first, so I was only putting the hydroquinone cream only on the dark spots. I noticed that the dark spots were turning red and then fading really fast. But then afterwards it made the skin outlining the dark spots lighter than the rest of my skin. So on my next visit (I go once a month for checkups) the derm said that I was supposed to put the Epiduo on my whole face, wait 10 minutes & then put the hydroquinone cream on my WHOLE face, not just the spots. I noticed that my whole face evened out, but it seemed like the dark spots weren't fading as fast anymore. Maybe it is but I just don't notice it as much.

Anyhow, I've only been using this regimine for 3 months. My dark spots have faded, but I wish they would fade faster. THe derm said that I could do peels and facials to speed up the process, so I just do them occasionally. I am just impatient. But I notice the biggest difference when looking at photos from last year compared to my face now.

So I hope this helps. I've spent the last 5 years trying to figure out how to fade spots. Finally, I found something. Since I don't have bad acne, which is why it's even more frustrating to be dealing with these pesky spots.. . The key to my success is that the face wash stopped ALL break outs. I have not had one pimple in 3 months. NONE! So no pimples = no new dark spots so I can just focus on fading the ones that I have without dealing with new ones.

ALso, in the past I used Proactiv. I like it too & sometimes I rotate the proactive face wash with the NeoStrata. The only thing is that the Proactiv would stop breakouts but wouldn't do anything to help with the dark spots.

I also found NeoStrata online. I googled it, and the website to buy the face wash is www.neostrata.com. THere's some products with hydroquinone on there too, but I haven't tried them, so I don't know how they work. I've tried 4% in the past & it didn't work, but it might also be because it was oily and I have oily skin. The one that I use now is 6% & it works. The store stuff is 2% I think, & that stuff never worked for me at all.

Here's my derm:

Dermatology & Laser Center of Studio City
Gene Rubinstein
818-505-9300.
www.LAskinMD.com

This is really really sad. Why do you want to bleach your skin? Why are you so openly brainwashed. Anyone will take one look at your family and/or old pictures and see what you've done and be disgusted.

Firstly if you don't like bleaching don't come onto a forum that's all about it. Secondly,who cares how others feel,one thing I've learned that people will talk no matter what.
The only reason I think you could be making this comment is well you'd like to bleach but your to scared.
We bleach for the same people tan.
Your obviously the one with self hatred.
Thanks for reading.

Until I read these posts, I never knew people bleached their skin with hydroquinone. I thought it was always used for scar treatment and pigmentation problems due to sun damage, scars, ETC. so I learned something new. Anyhow, for anyone using it for acne scars, it really works. So if you've always had clear skin & don't like these stubborn scars, it's worth asking your doctor about. Read my earlier post as you should ask your doctor what the hydroquinone is mixed with & whether it's good for your skin type. I have oily skin, and so the cream works for me but the oil version did not. I only came back on to reply because I got an email that someone replied to my post, but I guess it was just a reply to the discussion thread.

Also, just my opinion, but I think that these discussion boards are a great way to get info from real people rather than what a doctor or dermatologist or product endorser wants you to get... I've tried so many things & if someone was around to share info with me, I could have saved a lot of time and money :)

hey guys.. my doctor prescribed 4% hydroquinone for dark spots on my skin. Can someone tell me when i will start to see results? or do i have to use a sunblock? i really want this to work. i have marks on my legs and arm. Or does anyone have any other suggestions for these marks on my skin. i am tired of wearing along clothing all the time. thanksguys:o

I saw fast results in the first 6 weeks. But the spots are just significantly lighter & not completely gone yet. My dermatologist said that results vary depending on being consistent, using sunblock, and skin type... but he said that typically it can take 3-6 months, and sometimes 9 months to a year for some people to completely get rid of all of the spots granted no new ones pop up... this is why he prescribed antibacterial fase wash. I found it online though at NeoStrata.com. It's just regular antibacterial fase wash, but it's not like the drugstore kind. I've tried those & he said to try what he told me to do & I haven't had any breakouts in 3 months. But I use Neostrata face wash & sunblock, epiduo @ night, and a hydriquinone cream that they have at the derm.

i saw fast results in the first 6 weeks. but the spots are just significantly lighter & not completely gone yet. my dermatologist said that results vary depending on being consistant, using sunblock, and skin type...but he said that typically it can take 3-6 months, and sometimes 9 months to a year for some people to completely get rid of all of the spots granted no new ones pop up...this is why he prescribed antibacterial fase wash. i found it online tho at NeoStrata.com. it's just regular antibacterial fase wash, but it's not like the drugstore kind. I've tried those & he said to try what he told me to do & I haven't had any breakouts in 3 months. But I use Neostrata face wash & sunblock, epiduo @ night, and a hydriquinone cream that they have at the derm.

That's great Justmeee, and really good products too. Thanks. Are you using an exfoliator as well like a facial scrub, ahas, or retin-a? To help exfoliate and speed the skin cell turnover for faster results.

I called Rite Aide pharmacy today 7/12/10 and asked if they carried pharmacutical grade hydroquinone she said it only goes up to 4%. Please send me a line at [email protected] and let me know the exact name of the product you are using so I can as