Pigmentation, Hyperpigmentation and Solutions
Menu Pigmentation, Hyperpigmentation and Solutions
4-Hydroxyanisole-Tretinoin Formulation
Sunday, November 14th, 2010The addition of 0.01% tretinoin to 4-OHA is shown by several studies to significantly enhance the skin depigmenting effect of 4-OHA. This combination is a very potent skin depigmenting formula and is used for the treatment of liver spots (senile lentigo). Liver spots are usually very resistant to depigmenting agents and are very hard to […]
Arbutin
Saturday, November 13th, 2010Arbutin is a hydroquinone derivative found in the bearberry extract. This agent was long believed to act as a depigmenting agent. However, there are no human or even animal studies that confirm the efficacy of arbutin as a skin whitener. In addition, recent in vitro studies have cast doubt on its efficacy as a depigmenting […]
Azelaic Acid (AZA)
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010AZA is a dicarboxylic acid synthesized by the fungus Malassezia fur fur. Cutaneous infection with this fungus causes a significant and long lasting depigmentation in the affected areas, which is believed to be induced by AZA. AZA is an inhibitor of the enzyme tyrosinase, the key melanogenic enzyme in melanocytes. When applied to the skin […]
Hydroquinone
Sunday, October 31st, 2010Hydroquinone (HQ) is the most widely used skin depigmenting agent. This agent has a moderate skin depigmenting effect and acts by reducing the number of melanin synthesizing cells in the epidermis. Formulations containing up to 2% HQ are allowed by FDA to be used for skin whitening in normal individuals. These formulations can be purchased […]
Monobenzone 20% (Benoquin)
Saturday, October 30th, 2010This product is known as Benoquin. Benoquin is a very potent skin whitener and may cause complete and permanent skin depigmentation. Benoquin must never be used on normal skin to produce a white complexion nor is it allowed to be utilized for the treatment of hyperpigmentary disorders as melasma, freckles, liver spots… The sole indication […]
Monobenzone 40%
Friday, October 29th, 2010This product is believed to be more potent than the ordinary benoquin ointment. Monobenzone 40% is not manufactured by any companies and is solely formulated by the pharmacies upon the physician’s request. Monobenzone 40% has the same side effects as benoquin (monobenzone 20%, see above) and must not be used by those who do not […]
Whitening Pills
Thursday, October 28th, 2010Recently, some oral medications are claimed to induce skin depigmentation. Such medications include glutathione or arbutin containing pills. Glutathione is known to inhibit melanin synthesis in the test tube, but data confirming its efficacy as a skin whitener in human are lacking in medical journals. On the other hand, the safety of the long-term use […]
Mercury Salts
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010Mercury salts are hazardous agents which have been used for the purpose of skin whitening for a long time. Mercury salts can be absorbed into the blood stream after topical application on the skin and may cause serious damages to several organs as kidneys. You are strongly advised to avoid any products (creams, soaps…) that […]
Bibliography
Monday, October 25th, 2010Jimbow K, Quevedo WC Jr, Prota G, Fitzpatrick TB: Biology of melanocytes; in Freedberg IM, Eisen AZ, Wolff K, Austen KF, Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, Fitzpathrick TB (eds): Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1999, pp 192-219. d’Ischia, M., A. Napolitano, et al. (1991). Peroxidase as an alternative to tyrosinase in the oxidative […]
Vitiligo
Sunday, November 29th, 2009Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland What is vitiligo ? Vitiligo is a skin disorder which presents as white spots and patches on the skin. This is due to a progressive loss of the pigment, melanin, which gives us our skin colour. The loss of pigment occurs when pigment cells (melanocytes) are destroyed and […]
