Is Hydroquinone (HQ) safe ? (For professionals)

• Hydroquinone is the Gold Standard for treating Melasma (Chloasma, Pregnancy Mask).
• Numerous concentrations are used but a concentration of 4% in practice begins to be effective (and to have side-effects).
• Side effects include:

1. erythema
2. burning
3. exogenous ochronosis
4. confetti-like depigmentation

• In practice it is safe to use at 4% when closely supervised medically.

Contributors:

Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Source of Information: 2012 (09) – Sachdev M. 21st Annual Congress of the EADV (European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology) – Prague (Praha), Czech Republic (česká republika)