Skin-Lightening Agents: An Overview of Prescription, Office-Dispensed, and Over-the-counter Products

Not so long ago, there was a limited number of skin-lightening agents, with hydroquinone (HQ) being the most efficacious. Currently, there are a plethora of agents, some as effective as HQ; some are avail­able over-the-counter (OTC) and others are physician dispensed. The purpose of this article is to provide physicians with an overview of available skin brighteners, including HQ, mequinol, topical retinoids, azelaic acid, arbutin and deoxyarbutin, kojic acid, licorice extract, ascorbic acid, soy, aleosin, niacinamide, and N-acetylglucosamine.