Is it really OK to do this? I want to lighten my entire body about 5 shades over 2 years of HQ 4% by using every other day. I don't like the sun whether I am lightening or not, so its not like I would be going out of my way to prevent darkening/tanning. If I use a parasol on those scorching days, use strong sunblock and overall not expose my skin to DIRECT sunlight will I be fine to do HQ 4% all over?

Some people here have said HQ is for spot treatment and not whole body lightening. Well, WTH else is out there? Arbutin?
Those are the ONLY two that have been giving results. So if there is nothing else, HQ will be it

Poor kidneys! :(

I hate the heat too! Winter is my favorite.I don't see why it wouldn't be okay to do that, LOL. Personally,I never tried HQ at 4% but I plann to. My mom is black with mixed ancestry and my dad is mixed with black and also has mixed ancestry. I am about actress Essence Atkins complexion, which means that I am way darker then you are.Once I tried this bleaching cream called Crusader.It had only 2% HQ in it ,it comes in a green box.Well anyway I used that cream for about a month all over my body and it lightened me about 4 shades. So you should definitely get results by using 4% HQ!! Just make sure you use a good exfoliating soap or a good skin whitening soap.They also have soaps that lighten and exfoliate ,but I would get it separate because you shouldn't use the exfoliating soap every day.LOL I used the fair and white AHA exfoliating soap that comes in an orange box every day like a dummy and let me tell you I regretted it!! My skin was raw to the point where it couldn't peel anymore.That happened because I kept using it for like everyday 2 weeks straight.Really you should only use it everyday every other week so that you can give your skin time to build back up.But it is OK to use a lightening soap everyday.It may not seem like it but this will help you lighten up even more. I used to wash my entire body and then lather the soap and put it all over and let it sit on my skin for at least 5 minutes-10minutes.Then I used to rinse off with ice cold water because for some reason I look lighter when I rinse off with ice cold water. When I rinse off with hot water I notice that I don't look as light. Just test the HQ on a certain part of your body first.Like test it on your foot first or your knee just to make sure your not allergic or it won't scar you or make you dark. I remember you saying that you were mixed and your about Tyra Banks complexion so your skin should lighten easily and your results should come out really good since you are already somewhat light.My mom friend had a jar of HQ4% that he got from a doctor.I took a peek at it when he was'nt home and on the front it said that he could only use it for 3-4 months.Also I heard on the internet you should only use it continually for that period. So use it for 3- 4 months and then try to take a break for at least a week. Always wear sunblock and never stand directly in the sun and try to avoid the heat because standing directly in the sunlight or in extreme heat.If you do that while having a bunch of HQ on your body you will get darker.

Lol I went to the doctor recently and he said that my kidneys were perfect. So I think that as long as you do use it continually for long periods.And make sure you take breaks every now and then.You should be OK.

Also if you regularly use hydroquinone but get sun exposure, the hydroquinone in your skin would work as a bronzer, right? Making you darker than ever... I heard somewhere something like that about people who use hydroquinone go on vacations and come back darker than ever.

I meant as long as you don't use it continuously. Sorry I am at work LOL.

Well I have never used it and let me tell you that I went to Cocoa Beach and came back like Wesley Snipes. You come back darker? If so, I highly doubt it's that much darker. And using arbutin along with it would prevent that. What I am going to do is reduce existing melanin and inhibit the production of new melanin.
I drink pure water all day every day and take steam detoxification... the MERCURY in some creams causes liver damage... and with the potential to use HQ on a large area of the body, I'm sure it wouldn't be proscribed by doctors if it was a huge health hazard. PS Im already medium/light brown. I won't need drastic use of it.

Yeah I am about light brown skin now because I did not get a tan this summer.I hid from the sun like a vampire this summer!! LOL But yeah tell me why when I went to Virginia Beach I fell asleep in the sun and when I woke up... I was really dark and red.When I came home everyone was like Oh my goodness you look like a Lil martian how did you get so dark?LOL I was so embarrassed.

With using Hq I believe you should give yourself longer than a week break, right? Good to use along with tretinoin.

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the MERCURY in some creams causes liver damage...

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Vanilla are you using products with mercury in it? If so you should trash it asap. That stuff is toxic

I forgot to say when I did applied Othine HQ 3% all over my body those 2 evening, the next morning my pis was dark! :(

Isn't 2% maximum allowed?How do they get away with the extra 1%?

I noticed the beauty supply owner marked over the 3% with a magic marker. Like hiding it. Probably in case inspectors come into the store?

That's strange. You probably should have had it tested from a doctor because you never know. 2% is supposed to be the minimum for over the counter. I don't know how the got a way with it being stronger than that. I think the fair&white exclusive gel also has way more than 2% and that's whay it is more effective I'm sure.

Well I did try Rosance couple years ago and it did same thing, make it dark, come to think about it. There are soooo many inffective products out there dang... most are just crap!
I don't want to go through this again this time around. Im not a product junkie.

Anymore.

So did the Rosance lighten you any?

Oh no I would never put mercury in my skin gross!

Even after a course of 2 years of lightening and reaching your goal, it's probable that you may begin to regain skin color despite any lack of UV-radiation.

Hydroquinone mainly works by breaking down current melanin, and therefore you might even reach your goal earlier than 2 years. Of course, you'll have to continue treatment every once and a while, assuming that you do continue to use Hydroquinone over a course of over a year, you will be susceptible to skin damage, hyperpigmentation, or uneven skin darkening. Most sources of Hydroquinone also contain cortosteroid, while new research suggests that Hydroquinone itself can be considered a source for similar effects as corticosteroids.

If you honestly plan to use a given solution for 2 years, it should be something other than Hydroquinone. Any skin lightener including Alpha Arbutin and Kojic acid are bound to give you good results in that amount of time.

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Originally Posted by lilgreg1

Even after a course of 2 years of lightening and reaching your goal, it's probable that you may begin to regain skin color despite any lack of UV-radiation.

Hydroquinone mainly works by breaking down current melanin, and therefore you might even reach your goal earlier than 2 years. Of course, you'll have to continue treatment every once and a while, assuming that you do continue to use Hydroquinone over a course of over a year, you will be susceptible to skin damage, hyperpigmentation, or uneven skin darkening. Most sources of Hydroquinone also contain cortosteroid, while new research suggests that Hydroquinone itself can be considered a source for similar effects as corticosteroids. If you honestly plan to use a given solution for 2 years, it should be something other than Hydroquinone. Any skin lightener including Alpha Arbutin and Kojic acid are bound to give you good results in that amount of time.

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The more I learn, the more it seems hydroquinone is the most "spiteful" lightening agent out there, exploited by the skin lightening industry to the fullest.

LilGreg do you really think alpha arbutin and kojic acid will be able to lighten me say 4-5 shades within about a year? I want to be able to lighten my body effectively but without the risk of getting stretchmarks or ochronosis.

Golden Boy- I agree HQ may be exploited, but sometimes there is a mass frenzy created over certain products just to boost the sales of another product. The FDA will not allow otc HQ if it was that dangerous, and doctors would not prescribe higher percentages if it was, but I do agree HQ cannot be used for long periods of time; something else may need to be used to maintain after using it for a few months.

Golden_Girl: I have read that there has only been 30 cases of ochronosis reported in North America and this "disease" is more prevalent in Africa, more specifically South Africa. I doubt you will ever get ochronosis in your lifetime as you sound like that type of person that practices safe skin lightening and I respect the fact that you take caution before using just any product

I'm trying now to become more informed. It's not fun learning the hard way.. lol

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Originally Posted by Golden_Girl

I'm trying now to become more informed. It's not fun learning the hard way..lol

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Yeh its sad that some people have to be the lab rats for other people to take heed of certain warnings.

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Originally Posted by Golden_Girl

LilGreg do you really think alpha arbutin and kojic acid will be able to lighten me say 4-5 shades within about a year? I want to be able to lighten my body effectively but without the risk of getting stretchmarks or ochronosis.

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You can at the very minimum, lose shades of between 1-2. I'm assuming you've used lightening creams or lightened your complexion in the past of course, so you're very likely to lose even more, if not 4-5. I'd go for it of course. Alpha Arbutin is a lot cheaper than most other lightening creams, and is a great skin maintainer, preventing major melanogenesis through it's inhibitory processes.

As for stretchmarks or ochronosis, Alpha Arbutin is a good combatant towards removing stretchmarks, so the chances of it causing more is quite unlikely. Alpha Arbutin doesn't seem to have any relation to excesses in homogentisic acid nor metabolic acids, therefore I doubt it would cause ochronosis either.

Thanks Greg, when I start lightening the shole body I'm going to try mixing my own. Alpha-arbutin does have a really good reputation.

Thanks Greg, when I start lightening the whole body I'm going to try mixing my own. Alpha-arbutin does have a really good reputation.