FYI: Skin Lightening Creams and Hydroquinone
Labels: Skin Care 10 commentsIn the light of my ranting on fair and lovely, I thought I’d start my come-back to blogging about hydroquinone. This chemical is often found in fairness creams or any cream that can actually lighten skintone. I’m not trying to make you hyperventilate in panic and hysterical paranoia, but just to inform you on the effects hydroquinone can have.
What is Hydoquinone?
Hydroquinone is a type of phenol (if that means anything to you at all) that is found in many topical creams that bleaches skin discolouration gradually.
Where can it be found?
This is found at a strength of 2% in over the counter cream and at 3-4% in prescription creams that claim to lighten skin tone and discoloration.
What are the side effects?
Since you probably feel I’m being all preachy, let me get right to it. Hydroquinone has been known to cause blood cancers such as leukemia and kidney damage in animal studies. What happens when hydroquinone is applied to the skin is that it gets absorbed into the blood stream and excreted via the kidneys but at a slower rate. Essentially, this means that that hydroquinone accumulates in the body and is broken down in the bone marrow to p-benzoquinone. This is where long term damage may originate. Several countries, such as
What precautions should be taken?
If you are using a skin lightening cream containing hydroquinone, it is best to avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays. Also, always use a sunscreen with a minimum of SPF15.
sources: www.skinmed.co.uk, www.cdc.gov
2:32 AM
i am thrilled to read all your advices.i have one question i am 24 in age and i am fair complexion girl but due to herediatry i am some frackles in my checks which make me tense sometimes suggest me what to apply.
9:21 AM
for freckles im sure you'd fine with a good liquid foundation base... probably not significant enough to risk the dangers of using any hydroquinone product.
12:43 AM
Hey Neha
Sorry I didn't see your post earlier.
Well, to be honest I would suggest a very good broad spectrum ppd sunscreen for daily use. Apply it about 1/2 an hour before you leave the house (i know it's a pain but this way you really reap the benefits). You could try a very gentle chemical exfoliant that will help lift your freckles. I had a few spots that I lifted successfully this way (kojic acid and lactic acid helped a lot for me). What helped for me was the BOdy Shop's vitamin C range. I used their itensive night treatment. Itched a bit but singficantly lightened any spots i had. Just be careful you dont break out or are too sensitive to them.
If you REALLY want to use hydroquinone, you could use the Black opal fade cream, which is a very good fade cream. Be sure to apply sunscreen with this at all times. I would advise against using this for an extended period of time and try the abovementioned possibilities before trying out the fade cream.
And as anonymous said, you could also cover up with a good foundation while combating the freckles.
2:47 PM
whats a really good sunscreen thats atleast spf20+ and doesn't leave a white cast on your face (especially if you are south-asian) and doesn't clog your pores???
Thanks for your help!
3:02 PM
hey msjamie:
i'd recommend la roche posay anthelios xl with spf 15. it doesn't clog pores, it as mexoryl so it provides excellent uva and uvb protection, and doesn't leave a whitish cast. i know it's spf 15 but it's *very* broad spectrum and provides really good uva protection and it's photostable. otherwise try the aveeno continuous protection with spf 30. it's photostable, doesn't clog pores, well priced and doesn't have much of a whitish cast. it is a bit thick but it does a great job of protecting the face.
i also like the neutrogena dry touch sunscreen with helioplex but i find that it does give a whitish cast.
of all of them i REALLY like the lrp sunscreen the most.
9:30 AM
Well, I will have to try the lrp or the aveeno one for sure then!! .. i think the lrp has a version thats above spf 15 as well.
Anu, my foundation my mac has spf 15 in it... do I still have to wear a sunscreen underneath??
You know the itensive night treatment by The body shop that you used... Did you use it all over? or just on your spots? Do know of any other serums/gels/moisturizers that would help with an even skin tone??
GOD, I ask a lot of questions! lol..
I must really hate my skin :|
9:34 AM
P.S: :P Do you use a moisturizer under your lrp sunscreen?? What type of skin do you have again...?? I have normal/combination.
P.P.S: I think visiting your blog is becoming my new addiction
8:18 PM
HI Anu...I've noticed over the past 8 months, my skin has become extremely dull in colour, and my colour has gotten darker as well. Itried all these natural rememdies. yes, the condition of my skin has improved but I havent gotten my original colour and glow back. In my desperation, I've resorted to a fading cream called "Ban A Tan", which my cousin was prescribed by her dermotologist in India. I thought I would give it a try.
What do u think I should do????
thanks so much. Im a huge fan of ur blog!!!!
12:31 AM
omg: msjamie so sorry for not replying to your comment:
yes! sunscreen in your foundation is not enough. apply a sunscreen before foundation (make sure it's photostable) and wait 10 mins. after that apply foundation.
look for products which have a stable concentration of vitamin c in them i find that this really helps brighten the skin and evens out my skin tone. i applied the body shop cream all over my face. i really liked the results but make sure you can tolerate it.
also, the aha souffle from alpha hydrox is amazing. just ease it in slowly because it is very potent.
12:35 AM
hey ishreth:
i'd really recommend the 3 pillars of skincare (in my opinion) sunscreen, a good aha or retinoid and some vitamin c products. make sure your sunscreen is photostable and has broad spectrum protection (meaning it wont degrade to nothing in sunlight and it has uva and uvb potection). the ease in an aha product to exfoliate. i LOVE the aha souffle. it's cheap and so effective. be sure to use it only at night. and then i'd alternate days where you use ahas at night and days where you use vitamin c product under your sunscreen and maybe a vitamin c product at night. i find that this combination does wonders for my skin. try to stay away from products with harmful ingredients such as hydroquinone.