What to expect from hydroquinone treatment for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is extra colour left after irritation, acne, injury, or another inflammatory skin problem. Hydroquinone acts on pigment production in the marked skin; it does not remove the underlying cause. If acne, eczema, shaving irritation, or picking continues, fresh marks can appear while older ones are fading.

Your clinician may assess whether the colour is mainly in the surface skin or deeper layers and whether hydroquinone is suitable for the location. Fading can be uneven at first, especially when several marks formed at different times. Treatment is adjusted if the skin becomes inflamed.

Use the prescribed amount on clean, dry skin and apply it only to the marks or area your clinician identified. Avoid cuts, scabs, active rashes, and mucous membranes. A gentle cleanser, moisturiser, and regular broad-spectrum sun protection can reduce new darkening and make the response easier to judge.

Do not scrub, peel, or layer several strong products over the same area unless advised. Burning, persistent redness, scaling, or swelling is a reason to stop and ask for instructions. Keep follow-up appointments so the clinician can decide whether to continue, change, or end the course.

Contact the prescriber if irritation does not settle, the treated skin becomes very dark or blue-black, or pigment spreads beyond the original marks. Urgent assessment is needed for facial swelling, widespread blistering, eye involvement, or breathing difficulty.

Ask what caused the inflammation, whether it is still active, where to apply the medicine, and what routine will protect the area from new marks. Clarify when progress should be reviewed and which symptoms mean you should stop.