DESPERATELY SEEKING "pregnancy safe" hydroquinone
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Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:48 pm

i developed melasma after switching oral birth control brands...tried hydroquinone products with some success...i am now trying to become pregnant so would like to find an effective and safe substitute. because i am very self conscious about the "dark spots' i am hoping to find a product that i can use now and once i do conceive.

i appreciate any and all suggestions.

thanks so much!

free skin care · Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:28 am

You must find a safe and effective sunblock first and foremost. Avoid ingredients which may have potential to cause hormone disruption in your body. Most evidence points to oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) as being a possible hazard so you must not use any sunblocks with this ingredient. Which includes many US sunscreens (e.g. Neutrogena, Banana boat, Hawaiian tropics, etc). Perhaps you would be safer to use a physical sunscreen rather than a chemical one.

Avoid the lightening ingredient called ARBUTIN as it is actually hydroquinone in disguise (your body converts it to HQ). And some of the so-called "organic" or natural brands have this in their lightening products. It is also present in bearberry extract and some of the plant-derived skin lightening extracts. So don't buy anything you haven't checked up on.

Licorice extracts are probably safe. Maybe you can also consider azelaic acid products which need a prescription (e.g. Finacea). I am not sure if Finacea is safe in pregnancy or not. Please consult and discuss with your doctor.

To give you added sun protection, you can invest in a good vitamin C serum to be used in the daytime under sunblock. Do a board search on these.

Good luck!

free skin care · Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:40 am

ginaann wrote:

i developed melasma after switching oral birth control brands...tried hydroquinone products with some success...i am now trying to become pregnant so would like to find an effective and safe substitute. because i am very self conscious about the "dark spots' i am hoping to find a product that i can use now and once i do conceive.

i appreciate any and all suggestions.

thanks so much!

I am not sure if this is safe during pregnancy, but you could check into Vivite Vibranc. I used and loved Obagi Nu Derm, but I am trying to move away from the Hydroquinone and am giving the Vibrance a try. Another product you could check into is Dermalogica's ChromaWhite to see if that is safe, as well. I actually am using the Vibrance first, with the Dermalogica C-12 concentrate on top. Just 2 products I can think of that "should" be safe, but, again I would check them out and if interested you could check with your doc about them.

Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:12 am

has anyone had success with Mama lotion in treating melasma? any info whether or not it is safe to use during pregnancy??? Its ironic Im considering using this when hoping to become a "Mama" myself Wink

thanks for the info thus far...

Mon Feb 02, 2009 2:47 pm

I have the same problem. You could try Epidermx II, it has helped me so much. It is a natural skin lightener as it removes the top skin. It is very gentle, natural no parabens or silicones and the crystals are inert. EDS has it Smile

free skin care · Mon Feb 02, 2009 3:03 pm

I wouldn't hesitate to talk to my OB/GYN, if I were you! I went through an entire list when I got pregnant with my daughter. He didn't seem to mind and was really well informed about his answers.

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