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Topical hydroquinone 4 percent cream contains 40 mg of hydroquinone per gram and is applied externally to areas of excess pigmentation. Current DailyMed listings describe use for gradual bleaching of chloasma, melasma, freckles, senile lentigines, and other unwanted areas of melanin hyperpigmentation. Current single-ingredient listings can carry an unapproved drug status.
read more about topical hydroquinone ...Hydroquinone inhibits oxidation of tyrosine to dopa and suppresses other melanocyte metabolic processes. This reduces melanin production in treated areas and produces reversible skin depigmentation. Continued ultraviolet exposure can reverse the lightening effect.
Topical hydroquinone 4 percent is used on limited areas of hyperpigmented skin under prescription labeling. A history of allergy or sensitivity to hydroquinone or product ingredients is a contraindication. Safety is not established in children age 12 and younger or during pregnancy.
Affected areas are treated twice daily, in the morning and before bedtime, with the cream rubbed in well. A small amount is tested on unbroken skin before broader use to check sensitivity. If no improvement appears after two months, current labeling directs discontinuation.
Topical hydroquinone can cause redness, burning, stinging, dryness, fissuring, contact dermatitis, and exogenous ochronosis. Contact with the eyes and mucous membranes is avoided. Broad-spectrum sunscreen or protective clothing is used during treatment since sunlight can cause repigmentation.
Current labeling directs application twice daily, in the morning and before bedtime.
Current labeling directs discontinuation when no improvement is seen after two months.
Yes. Current labeling directs a small test on unbroken skin before broader treatment.
Yes. Ultraviolet exposure can cause repigmentation of treated areas.
DailyMed - HYDROQUINONE 4% cream. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=595dfc50-ee6f-41b5-ab5b-4c293aee342b. Date Accessed October 1, 2026.
FDA Warns Consumers of Skin Products Containing Mercury and/or Hydroquinone. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/fda-warns-consumers-skin-products-containing-mercury-andor-hydroquinone. Date Accessed October 1, 2026.
Hydroquinone. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500669/. Date Accessed October 1, 2026.
Hydroquinone. PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Hydroquinone. Date Accessed October 1, 2026.
Hydroquinone. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539693/. Date Accessed October 1, 2026.