- LegitScript Certified
- US-licensed pharmacy
- Ships in 3 to 5 days
Common questions
Hydroquinone 8% Cream
For the dark spots that stay.
Hydroquinone 8% cream · With tretinoin, vitamin C and niacinamide
- Prescription-strength hydroquinone
- Four actives, one cream
- Cycled course, not continuous
- Provider-reviewed
Find the plan that fits you.
Answer three quick questions to match your priorities and budget. Get your recommendation and free skin treatment guide by text. No card to start.
Purchase type
Save 10% today and on every refill. Auto-renews at your selected cadence, pause or cancel anytime.
Cadence
Strength set by your provider. They confirm the right strength and dose after reviewing your required post-purchase intake.
Payment does not guarantee a prescription. Complete the required pharmacist intake after purchase.
What's included
- ✓Medication and supplies
- ✓Provider visit and unlimited follow-ups
- ✓Free expedited shipping
Pause, change, or cancel anytime from your account.
After checkout you complete a short medical review in your member portal, and a US-licensed provider reviews it before your hydroquinone cream ships.
Four actives on the pigment pathway
Prescription hydroquinone is compounded with tretinoin, vitamin C, and niacinamide, so your cream works on several points in melanin production at once instead of just one.
Prescription strength, above the drugstore
At 8 percent, the hydroquinone in your cream is stronger than anything sold over the counter, dispensed by a US-licensed pharmacy on a provider's prescription.
A cycled course, not forever
Hydroquinone is used in defined cycles rather than continuously. Your provider sets the length and the breaks so you get results without overusing it.
A provider reviews your skin
A US-licensed provider confirms this cream is appropriate for your pigment concern and skin type before it ships. Real pricing, shown up front.
About Hydroquinone 8% Cream
Over-the-counter brighteners cap out below the strength that moves stubborn pigment. This is prescription hydroquinone compounded with tretinoin, vitamin C and niacinamide, targeting three points in the pigment pathway at once. It runs as a cycled course, not indefinitely, and your provider tells you when to pause. Compounded by a US-licensed pharmacy.
- Prescription strength, above drugstore brighteners
- Four actives on the pigment pathway
- Cycled course, guided by your provider
- Real pricing up front, discreet shipping
Hydroquinone reduces melanin production; tretinoin speeds turnover, niacinamide limits pigment transfer, vitamin C supports brightening. Compounded by a US-licensed pharmacy.
Hydroquinone slows new pigment
It inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme your melanocytes use to make melanin, so less new pigment forms.
Tretinoin speeds cell turnover
The retinoid moves pigmented cells up and out faster and helps the other actives penetrate.
Vitamin C and niacinamide support the effect
Vitamin C limits pigment production and niacinamide slows the transfer of pigment into skin cells.
Less new pigment forms, and existing spots can gradually fade over a provider-guided course.
How to get it
Today
Take the quiz
Answer a few questions about your skin, your pigment concern, and your history, and add photos if you are asked.
Next
A provider reviews
A US-licensed provider reviews your intake and prescribes your cream if it is appropriate for you.
3 to 5 days
The pharmacy ships
A US-licensed pharmacy compounds your formula and ships it free in discreet packaging.
Ongoing
Stay on track
Message your care team anytime, and your provider guides your cycle and adjusts your plan as your skin responds.
What the research shows
The actives in your cream have each been studied on their own for melasma and hyperpigmentation. This exact compounded combination has not been tested as a single product, so the research below reflects the individual ingredients, studied at their own strengths.
93%
In a double-blind randomized melasma trial, hydroquinone 4% produced good to excellent improvement in 93 percent of patients by clinician and patient assessment.
Espinal-Perez et al., Int J Dermatol 2004
44%
In a separate double-blind randomized melasma trial, niacinamide 4% produced good to excellent improvement in 44 percent of patients, with fewer side effects than hydroquinone.
Navarrete-Solis et al., Dermatol Res Pract 2011
References
- Espinal-Perez LE, et al. A double-blind randomized trial of 5% ascorbic acid vs. 4% hydroquinone in melasma. Int J Dermatol. 2004;43(8):604-607.
- Navarrete-Solis J, et al. A double-blind, randomized clinical trial of niacinamide 4% versus hydroquinone 4% in the treatment of melasma. Dermatol Res Pract. 2011;2011:379173.
Compounded hydroquinone cream or Over-the-counter brighteners
Two ways to approach stubborn dark spots
| Compounded hydroquinone cream | Over-the-counter brighteners | |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription hydroquinone | Yes, at 8 percent | Not sold over the counter |
| Number of actives | Four, across several pigment steps | Usually one or two |
| Provider oversight | Reviewed and titrated by a provider | None |
| Use pattern | Cycled course with planned breaks | Continuous and indefinite |
| Strength grade | Prescription grade | Cosmetic grade |
| Cost up front | Higher, provider and prescription included | Lower |
What to expect
Discrete spots often lighten around week four to eight; melasma takes closer to three or four months. Daily sunscreen is essential, or pigment returns.
- Weeks 1 to 2
Start your cream
Begin nightly application after your provider confirms your prescription. Some mild dryness or flaking from the retinoid is normal as your skin adjusts, and daily sunscreen starts now.
- Weeks 4 to 8
Discrete spots lighten
Individual dark spots and post-acne marks often begin to fade first. Keep using sunscreen every day, or pigment can return.
- Months 3 to 4
Melasma responds
Broader melasma tends to take longer and improves closer to the three to four month mark with consistent use.
- Ongoing
Cycle and maintain
Your provider guides breaks in your course to protect your skin, then sets a maintenance plan to hold your results.
Safety and side effects
Not prescribed in pregnancy. Used in cycles rather than continuously, because long unbroken use can cause a paradoxical darkening called ochronosis. Stop and contact your provider if skin darkens.
Common
- Mild redness or irritation
- Dryness, flaking, or peeling from the retinoid
- Temporary stinging on application
- Increased sensitivity to the sun
Less common
- Contact dermatitis
- Temporary darkening from irritation
- Dryness severe enough to need a break in your course
Seek care
- Ochronosis, a bluish-gray darkening of the skin, with prolonged uninterrupted use
- Severe allergic or blistering skin reaction
This is not a complete list of side effects. Hydroquinone is used in time-limited cycles, not indefinitely, because long unbroken use can cause ochronosis, a paradoxical darkening of the skin. Wear sunscreen every day or pigment can return. This cream is not used in pregnancy because it contains a retinoid. Tell your provider about every product you apply and any history of skin reactions before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Other prescription skincare options
Approval is never automatic.
An independent US-licensed clinician reviews every request. If they decide the treatment is not right for you, you get a full refund for the medication.
Prescriptions are filled by a US-licensed pharmacy and shipped free, in discreet packaging, on every plan.
LegitScript-certified · Cert 50087439
Compounded medications are prepared by a US-licensed pharmacy and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety or effectiveness. Products are dispensed only after a licensed provider determines they are appropriate. Information here is educational and is not a substitute for medical advice.