What’s Better For Your Skin: Hydroquinone Or Laser Treatments? by What’s Better For Your Skin: Hydroquinone Or Laser Treatments?There are several ways to treat dark spots and hyperpigmentation that show signs of sun damage. It can be difficult to choose what's the right treatment for you or what the difference between all of them even is. Two options that are highly recommended by dermatologists and skincare experts are topical hydroquinone treatments and lasers. Hydroquinone Hydroquinone has been the gold standard of topical skin lightening products for over 50 years. You can find this ingredient over the counter in concentrations of 2 percent or less, whereas the prescription has 4 percent or greater. Hydroquinone works by blocking the production and speeding up the breakdown of melanin in the cells. It also helps to inhibit the cell’s ability to store up the pigment, which helps to prevent further discoloration from occurring. In some cases, the effects of hydroquinone can be seen in as little as two weeks. However most should anticipate 4 to 12 weeks of use to see a visible difference depending on a few factors (think, the extent of the hyperpigmentation, how deeply it penetrates, how long it’s been there, etc.). As with any product that's applied to the skin, hydroquinone can cause dryness, redness, and burning. However, these side effects will subside as your skin adjusts to the ingredient. Lasers Lasers are a very impactful, yet very expensive treatment to reduce dark spots. “These use a focused beam of light that has a specific target or chromophore (pigment) to break up and eliminate the pigment particles in the skin,” explains dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon, and director of Skin Specialty Dermatology Fran E. Cook-Bolden, M.D. “IPL (intense pulsed light) can treat unwanted pigmentation. However, it delivers less focused light and may have an unwanted effect on the surrounding skin, especially in darker or tanned skin.” Expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $2,500 when getting a laser treatment. You should also anticipate 1-6 treatments (possibly more) every 3-4 weeks, in-office only. Overall, both treatments are successful in dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and sun damage. However, laser treatments have a longer recovery time and there are more risks involved. Talk to your doctor about which treatment may be right for you before you make any decision.