Dentist and Skin Care Blog from Boston's Area Leading Dental Office

Bright, smooth and young-looking skin is all the rage, but few people are lucky enough to be blessed with such attributes naturally. Most people need a little help at one point or another and turn to professional skincare services or products for a boost. One of the most important choices you will make regarding your skin can be made by reading the ingredient list carefully. Hydroquinone is an ingredient that appears frequently in both over-the-counter and professional-grade bleaching creams.

About Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is a bleaching agent that can effectively eliminate the sporadic skin darkening called hyperpigmentation that develops in response to sun damage or simply the process of getting older. But the reality of hydroquinone is harsh – literally.

Like a household bleach works to strip the color out of your laundry, repeated use of hydroquinone lightens your skin, but at what cost? The potent chemical is added to face creams in concentrations ranging from 2 to 4 percent and carries a host of warnings about possible side effects, including:

• Irritation, stinging or burning
• Swelling, itching or crusting
• Blue or black pigmentation of the skin with prolonged use
• Unsafe for women who are pregnant or nursing

In short, hydroquinone is not the most natural way to go about achieving brighter, healthier skin. Antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, like hydroquinone, reduce hyperpigmentation of the skin and give you the added benefits of hydration and protection against free radical damage.  Vitamin-based skin care products also promote the production of collagen and elastin, the support systems beneath your skin that breaks down as you age. Collagen and elastin keep your skin smooth and wrinkle-free.

Contact Smile and Skin’s offices at (781) 893-7500 to schedule an appointment or to learn more about natural skincare treatments to rejuvenate your skin.