Addiction Recovery
Allergy Relief
Antibiotics
Antidepressants
Antifungals
Antiparasitics
Antivirals
Autoimmune Support
Bladder Health
Bone Health
Cholesterol Management
COVID-19 Support
Diabetes Management
Digestive Health
Erectile Dysfunction
Eye Care
Heart & Blood Pressure
HIV Management
Hormone Therapy
Men's Health
Mental Health
Neurology
Oncology Support
Pain Management
Premature Ejaculation
Respiratory Health
Skin Care
Sleep Management
Thyroid Health
Weight Management
Women's Health
Hydroquinone is a topical skin-lightening ingredient used for melasma, age spots and dark marks after acne; PockDose lists it as a 4% tube.
Hydroquinone
4%
Hydroquinone 4% is a skin-lightening tube applied to dark patches such as melasma, age spots and the marks left after acne, sold here in packs of one to five.
Skin colour comes from melanin, a pigment made by melanocytes in the lowest layer of the epidermis with the help of an enzyme called tyrosinase. Hydroquinone blocks tyrosinase for as long as it is applied, and it also damages some of the pigment-making machinery inside those cells, so less melanin is produced. Pigment that is already there is not bleached on contact. It fades as the skin renews itself, which is why change comes over weeks and months rather than days.
It works on the outer layer only. Pigment that sits deeper, in the dermis, looks slate or blue-grey and barely responds.
Melasma, the symmetrical brown patches that show on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip, is the best-known reason. Sunlight and hormones drive it, which is why it often appears in pregnancy or on the contraceptive pill and flares again in summer. It tends to need more than one measure: sun protection every day, hydroquinone, and sometimes a retinoid. Dark marks left after acne or a skin injury respond well, and often stay faded once the inflammation behind them is under control. Sun spots, freckles and age spots (solar lentigines) are treated the same way.
Other creams mix hydroquinone with a retinoid and a mild steroid. This one does not: the listing is hydroquinone alone.
Hydroquinone is a 4% tube, sold in packs of one to five. That is near the top of what pigment creams contain, which runs from low single figures to around five per cent, and irritation becomes more common above 4%. Darker skin is more prone to these marks, so everyday use is common.
Irritation (redness, dryness, stinging) is the usual price, and some people develop allergic contact dermatitis. Sunlight undoes the work and sensitises treated skin, so sunscreen is part of the treatment. Hydroquinone and benzoyl peroxide together can stain skin a temporary dark colour. Ochronosis, a blue-black darkening, has been reported after years of heavy use at high strength.
Hydroquinone can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists Hydroquinone tubes at 4%, a topical depigmenting agent. Payment is by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on a secure, encrypted payment page, or by Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Hydroquinone is priced per pack: its page lists every strength and pack size with the current price in HKD or your chosen currency.
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order hydroquinone. See the ordering FAQ for details.
Hydroquinone is sold under brand names including Eldoquin. Here, hydroquinone can be bought online as hydroquinone tubes. These are generics, not the original brand.
Used on small patches for a few months, hydroquinone is generally well tolerated, and irritation is the typical problem. The more serious reports, such as ochronosis, involve high strengths applied many times a day for years. Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established.
Hydroquinone oxidises when it meets air and light, and the product darkens as it does. A cream that has gone distinctly brown has begun to break down. Keep the cap tight and the tube cool and out of the light to slow that.
It can. Freckles, like sun spots, are made of surface pigment, which is the layer hydroquinone acts on. They tend to return with sun exposure, so sunscreen decides how long the lightening lasts.