See Tables 3, 4, and 5.
PHENOLIC DEPIGMENTING AGENTS Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone, a phenolic compound, is considered the gold standard depigmenting agent. Multiple studies have shown its efficacy in the treatment of many different types of hyperpigmented lesions (3).
Monomethyl of hydroquinone, also known as 4-hydroxyanisole, mequinol, 4-methoxyphenol, hydroquinone monomethyl ether, and p-hydroxyanisole, is a substance widely used in France
Table 3 Cosmeceutical Skin Lightening Agents Aloesin
Alpha-lipoic acid Arbutin and bearberry Ascorbic acid Azelaic acid Emblica Glycolic acid Helix aspersa miiller Hydroquinone Idebenone Kojic acid
Licorice extract—glabridin
Linoleic acid
Liquiritin
Melatonin
Niacinamide-niacin
Oleic acid
Paper mulberry
Retinoids
Soy extract
Tyrostat
Unsaturated fatty acids, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid Vitamin C
for melasma and PIH, and throughout the European Union as an alternative to hydroquinone. It was recently approved in the United States for the treatment of lentigines. Reported side effects include contact dermatitis, hypomelanosis at distant sites, leukoderma, and PIH. In a recent study of mequinol in the treatment of solar lentigines, two women diagnosed with solare lentigines were successfully treated with a combined regimen of mequinol 2% and tretinoin 0.01% (4).
Table 4 Prescription Skin Lightening Agents
Hydroquinone
Mequinol
Retinoid monotherapy, tretinoin (all-trans-retinoic acid), tazarotene
Azelic acid
Combination products
Hydroquinone, retinoic acid and steroids
Hydroquinone, retinol
Hydroquinone, retinol and vitamins
Other depigmenting agents
4-N-butylresorcinol
4-Isopropylcatechol
Kojic acid
Monomethyl of hydroquinone N-acetyl-4-S-cystalminylphenol Polipodium leucotomos
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