Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.
Thank you for your question. I would recommend giving your skin a break from Hydroquinone as it does have side effects with continual unsupervised use. I would recommend getting being treated under the supervision of a Board Certified Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon for safest and best treatment option. I hope this helps.
Hydroquinone and non HQ based topicals are great and I recommend Melarase cream which has HQ system (PM) and non HQ components (AM). I also recommend an Opti-Ceramide cream to proper hydration and moisturization of the skin (Elevase) and sun block and UV protection (Spectrase). You can get all of these in the Brihtening Kit (see below) which makes it easy to use and follow os a daily regimen.Best
Obagi CRx is a great system for all patients who are starting to show the effects of age and sun damage to their skin. It is not as aggressive as Nu Derm and is easier to adjust to. I still feel that Hydroquinones are the gold standard in the treatment of pigmentation and are the only products which can give you predictable results. Once you have achieved the lightening you desire, it is wise to take a vacation from HQ products for awhile. I also like to encourage patients who are eager to improve pigmentation to use a retinoid(Retin A or Tazorac) at nighttime and to be sure to use physical sunlblocks every day.
Prescription strength 4% hydroquinone is better than any OTC product for lightening dark spots in the skin. It is perfectly safe to use on the face but I recommend stopping every four months to give your skin a break. These dark spots are typically due to chronic sun damage so daily use of sunscreens is essential in your treatment. Hydroquinone is still the "gold standard" treatment for facial pigmentation.
If you are using the full system, I would recommend stopping the Retin A for a week prior and restart this a few days after treatment. Retin A can impact healing and skin repair thus we always stop it prior to any aggressive laser treatment. Laser hair removal can cause...
The ingredient that causes most of the peeling in Obagi Nu Derm is the Retin A used at night-time. If you have already used Retin A in the past, you may not have as much reaction as newbies to Obagi. Make sure it is Retin A 0.1% and consider applying it with your blender in a...
Consult your surgeon, he/she can see, examine your skin and give you a good advise. We can only speculte since we can not examine you.