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Compare Tri-Luma vs. Hydroquinone

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

  • Tri-luma
    Hydroquinone cream
  • Tri-luma
    Hydroquinone cream

  • Summary of Tri-Luma vs. Hydroquinone

    Summary for Corticosteroid / Melanin synthesis inhibitor / Retinoid
    Prescription only

    Tri-Luma is a cream that's used to treat adults with melasma, or dark skin patches, on the face. The cream contains three active ingredients: fluocinolone (a steroid to lessen inflammation); hydroquinone (a melanin synthesis inhibitor to lighten skin color); and tretinoin (a retinoid to help with new skin growth). You apply Tri-Luma onto the dark patches on the face once a day, but side effects like skin redness and burning are common. It can take about 1 to 2 months to see results after you start treatment. Tri-Luma isn't approved to treat areas of hyperpigmentation that isn't related to melasma.

    Summary for Depigmenting Agent
    Prescription only

    Hydroquinone cream is used to bleach dark spots or patches on your skin (hyperpigmentation, or skin discoloration) from certain skin conditions, such as freckles, melasma, and aging. Hydroquinone cream is applied to the skin, typically twice daily. It's important to protect yourself from the sun while you use this skin-lightening medication because it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. The most common side effects of hydroquinone cream include redness and stinging on the skin. Currently, hydroquinone cream is available by prescription only. The FDA no longer approves the sale of over-the-counter (OTC) hydroquinone cream.

  • Indications of Tri-Luma vs. Hydroquinone

    Indications for
    •Melasma of the face
    Indications for
    •Lightening or bleaching of dark spots on skin (hyperpigmentation)

  • Pros and Cons of Tri-Luma vs. Hydroquinone

    Pros and Const for Corticosteroid / Melanin synthesis inhibitor / Retinoid
    Pros
    •Only need to apply once a day
    •Easier to use a combination cream instead of two or three separate medications
    Cons
    •Might take 1 to 2 months to see results
    •No lower-cost generic available
    Pros and Const for Depigmenting Agent
    Pros
    •Available as a lower-cost generic medication
    •Applied to the skin
    •Can be stored at room temperature
    Cons
    •Can cause skin dryness, redness, and stinging
    •Can cause blue-black skin discoloration, especially in black people
    •Must use sunscreen because exposure to sunlight can reverse effects of the medication

  • Common Side Effects of Tri-Luma vs. Hydroquinone

    Common Side Effects for
    •Skin redness (41%)
    •Skin peeling or flaking (38%)
    •Burning sensation on the skin (18%)
    •Dry skin (14%)
    •Itchy skin (11%)
    Common Side Effects for
    •Skin dryness
    •Skin redness
    •Cracking of the skin
    •Stinging

  • Warnings of Tri-Luma vs. Hydroquinone

    Common Side Effects for
    •Allergic reaction
    •Blue-black darkening of the skin
    •Change in adrenal hormone levels
    •Skin irritation and other skin reactions
    Common Side Effects for
    •Allergic reaction
    •Blue-black skin discoloration
    •Skin darkening

  • Prices with our coupons for Tri-Luma vs. Hydroquinone

    Learn more about Tri-luma
    Learn more about Hydroquinone cream

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