Hydroquinone is an ingredient generally present in pores and skin lightening lotions and is used to deal with hyperpigmentation and fade darkish marks. It really works by limiting the motion of melanocytes (melanin producing cells) within the pores and skin in order that much less pigment is produced.
You might be fearful in regards to the related risks of hydroquinone based mostly merchandise and in search of hydroquinone free lotions to deal with your pigmentation woes.
Why is it Harmful?
Extended use of hydroquinone has additionally been proven to trigger a situation referred to as Ochronosis. Ochronosis is a situation the place the person develops patches of thick darkish brown pores and skin or blue-black patches on darker pores and skin.
It has additionally been mentioned that hydroquinone is carcinogenic, which means it could possibly trigger most cancers. This has been revealed in laboratory checks on rodents however there’s not but any actual proof to indicate that it’s carcinogenic to people.
Does That Imply I Should not Use It?
Utilizing pores and skin lightening lotions with low concentrations of hydroquinone (lower than 2%) for brief durations of time minimizes the chance of those harmful negative effects. Utilizing increased concentrations equivalent to 4-6% or utilizing any focus for a number of months or longer means you might be extra uncovered to the chance of pores and skin most cancers or growing worse pigmentation issues.
It is usually vital to keep in mind that the sale of hydroquinone based mostly lotions is banned in most elements of the world. You should buy lotions containing low concentrations of hydroquinone over-the-counter in the USA the place you can too receive increased concentrations by prescription from a dermatologist.
Though there is no such thing as a concrete proof to indicate that it could possibly trigger most cancers in people, you may not wish to take that likelihood! In case you require a pores and skin lightening cream to be used over an extended time frame (various weeks), you might be higher off taking a look at hydroquinone free lotions instead.
What Hydroquinone Free Alternate options are Accessible?
There are numerous secure, pure components that can be utilized for pores and skin lightening. Frequent components are arbutin (bearberry extract), kojic acid, lactic acid, licorice extract and citric acid. Discovering a product that comprises these components is a safer method of giving you a similar finish consequence.
The effectively publicized risks of hydroquinone imply that many extra folks need to safer, buy hydroquinone cream and the marketplace for these is quickly rising.