Acne Treatment Q&A
92%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers
that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not.
See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings
or Add Your Review
View Before and Afters
Average Acne Treatment Cost: $191
Learn about Acne Treatment
384 people and 133 doctors are talking about Acne Treatment
Get Free Email Updates
Is it Safe to Combine Tretinoin 0.05% Cream and a Over the counter Hydroquinone Gel 2%?
asked 7 months ago by kd42 in Tallahassee, FL
Latest answer by Dina D. Strachan, MD
Question viewed 153 times
Tags: combination, hydroquinone, safety, tretinoin
Is it safe to use prescription Tretinoin 0.05% cream and a overthecounter hydroquinone gel 2% together? I am trying to lighten dark spots and rid some acne.
3 answers to Is it Safe to Combine Tretinoin 0.05% Cream and a Over the counter Hydroquinone Gel 2%?
+1
Hydroquinone can complement acne treatment
Yes, it should be safe to use hydroquinone with tretinoin if you get hyperpigmentation from acne but remember to focus on the use of tretinoin. Prevent the acne and there will be no blemishes to treat. The combination may increase your risk of irritation so be sure to use a high quality moisturizer.
Dina D. Strachan, MD
New York Dermatologist
New York Dermatologist
+1
Hydroquinone and Tretinoin
Yes, this is entirely safe. In fact the most popular de-pigmenting agent ( Tri-Luma) contains the same main ingredients with a mild steroid thrown into the mix.
My one suggestion, however, would be to use a hydroquinone cream rather than a hydroquinone gel ( or better a tretinoin gel and hydroquinoine gel, since this is a more potent combination). Gels and creams tend to "crack" and it is better to stick with one or the other: either a cream or gel.
more
Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Virginia Beach Dermatologist
Virginia Beach Dermatologist
+1
Yes you can use both
Some compounding pharmacies actually make a special Rx compound of both of these together, so yes, you can use them. I would suggest NOT using them at the same time if you've not been instructed to do so by your physician. So I would use one at night, and one in the morning. Or even use the hydroquinone product just a few times a week.
