Reactions to hydroquinone cream may include hives.
Hydroquinone is a medication that is usually applied to the skin to help lighten areas of brown discoloration. Depending on the country in which the person lives, they may have access to prescription or over-the-counter versions. Regardless of prescription status, however, hydroquinone can have some side effects and health professionals generally do not recommend its use in certain people.
Hydroquinone can cause darkening of the skin in people who do not use sunscreen correctly.
Melanin is the brown pigment found in the skin. Certain things, like pregnancy and sun exposure, can cause excess melanin to be produced, causing freckles, sun spots, or large areas of discoloration. While not detrimental to a person’s health, some people may find skin darkening cosmetically unsightly and seek medical help. Hydroquinone is one of the medications that health professionals may prescribe for superpigmentation because it normally reduces the amount of melanin in the skin, helping to lighten any dark spots that have formed.
Pregnant women should avoid hydroquinone.
In the United States, hydroquinone is commonly available as a prescription or over-the-counter topical medication. Prescription versions contain larger amounts of the active ingredient, usually up to 4% hydroquinone. Dermatologists and other skin care experts generally agree that these stronger prescription versions help clear skin faster. Over-the-counter versions are required by law to contain 2% or less of the active ingredient and therefore tend to take longer to work. In some other areas, such as the European Union countries, all doses of the drug require a prescription.
People with kidney disease should not use hydroquinone.
Regardless of concentration, hydroquinone can have some side effects. Common side effects that are generally considered mild may include temporary redness, itching, or burning of the skin where the medication is applied. In rare cases, hydroquinone can cause further darkening of the skin where it is applied. This is more likely to happen in people with naturally darker skin tones and those who do not use sunscreen adequately on treatment areas. In some cases, allergic reactions such as hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing may also occur.
People using hydroquinone treatment can quickly burn when exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun.
Health professionals often warn against the use of hydroquinone in certain people. This often includes people with liver or kidney disease and women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. For people with liver and kidney disease, some studies have shown that hydroquinone can cause a worsening of the underlying disease. Other studies have shown that the drug can cause birth defects in developing fetuses in animals, so it is generally contraindicated during pregnancy.