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Using Benoquin with Success

43091 Views 76 Replies 23 Participants Last post by  Dimpu, 
S
I have bought and used monobenxone/benoquin for several months. I have had enormous success with it. As a scientist, I am aware of the scant scientific peer reviewed literature about this compound, and I am aware of the risks. I am Caucasian and I am using monobenzone to complete my skin lightening that I initially started with intense pulsed light/broad band light (laser) treatments which I had performed all over my body, multiple times. This laser treatment removed all of my sun spots (solar lentigos), freckles, and interestingly, any body hair that was in the area treated. To prevent additional freckles and spots from appearing in the future, I am choosing to chemically lighten my skin with benoquin and permanently remove melanin that would contribute to the appearance of these spots. For those who are curious, I am NOT albino, chalky, etc. I look entirely normal and just like what I am...a light-skinned (fair) person. I am aware of the Michael Jackson speculation, and I am aware of Dr. Vicki Ashley, who is listed on the web as someone who reported skin lightening on her own...but I am not overly interested in people I don't really know and thus cannot honestly prove/disprove what they did/report doing. I can offer what I did for my own regimen and I can tell you honestly what to expect. As a professonal trained in the science of pharamcology (this is not pharmacy) and toxicology, I think I can offer a unique perspective to this issue.
To be frank, because I TEACH MDs and PharmDs, I can tell you that they know little about these compounds. They simply do not have experience with patients who use skin lighteners because it is not terribly common. In fact, if you review the scientific literature (not the lay press) you will see what is said: most dermatologists do not have experience with these compounds and virtually NONE know of anyone in their practice who has depigmented. Thus, they really cannot confidently advise anyone.
After reading many of the threads in this site, I see a lot of misinformation and speculation. I am happy to answer questions if they are legitimate. I am not interested in fueling guesswork and unsubstantiated ideas. Scientists have an obligation to report facts and the truth, and not the special interests/opinions of others. So, you will certainly be getting straight information and if I don't know/don't have experience with a certain modality of skin lightening, I will simply say so.
I am publishing a book on skin lightening in a few months, and this is based on the scientific literature, not reports in women's magazines, advertisements from people with financial interests in certain compounds, or opinions from people who lack a scientific background....so this might provide another source of information for those interested.
So, if anyone has a real query, I am happy to address it.

-ScienceChick
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DarkBlackGirl
karenannev said:
Thanks Ondine. OK, I will look into Solage. It sounds very interesting! I'm willing to try just about anything at the moment to get the look I want, but if mequinol is safer and can maybe do the same thing, I will look into it first
.

ScienceChick if you are around, do you know anything about this?
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Since you are caucasion have you thought about trying a higher percentage of hq? I'm sure that should do the trick for you in no time
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girl
I have brown skin and mequinol works on me.
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K
Girl, thank you SO MUCH for your warning. I have pretty much decided against trying mono in the last week or two. Reyaz's post, Ondines constant warnings, and your very specific experience has really put me off. Thank goodness for you guys!! I honestly appreciate it so much. If my Fair and White does nothing, and I'll give it a bit longer, I will definitely try either 10% HQ or more likely 10% mequinol in Leukodinine. I've also ordered F&F Suntan Removal Cream. There really are so many more options and I'd be pretty stupid to try mono, really, especially and most of all, if it could harm my son though contact.

Thanks again!!
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girl said:
Don't use monobenzene!!!!
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Why should we not use this product???
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ondine
Please read hrough the threads. there are many in hwich the scientific facts (results of research on this agent) have been either posted or linked directly. Mono is not a lightener but a depigmenting agent. It is solely reccommended for people with over 50% depigmentation from Vitiligo Universalis. Anyone else using it will get results that mimic Vitiligo: erratic spotting, satellite depigmentation (apply mono to one area & some other area depigments), scientists understand very little about just how this agent works in the body, some people initially get depigmentation then abruptly begin to hyperpigmenting. these results can be irreversible.
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C
at benoquin

wow i`m glad i`m not so fast to jump on board with things as others are, yes I take my tme and so glad to see this thread in regards to benoquin.

This is my first time finding and I knew to come here and search for info on it

now i`m currentlly using HQ 4% on my face and elbows daily, without RA just wanting to see how my skin reacts to one thing before trying several at once

now whats up with Mequinol?

out of the all three listed above what is better for darker skin tones
safety wise of course?
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Enticing
karenannev said:
Girl, thank you SO MUCH for your warning. I have pretty much decided against trying mono in the last week or two. Reyaz's post, Ondines constant warnings, and your very specific experience has really put me off. Thank goodness for you guys!! I honestly appreciate it so much. If my Fair and White does nothing, and I'll give it a bit longer, I will definitely try either 10% HQ or more likely 10% mequinol in Leukodinine. I've also ordered F&F Suntan Removal Cream. There really are so many more options and I'd be pretty stupid to try mono, really, especially and most of all, if it could harm my son though contact.

Thanks again!!
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wow....dont I feel stupid for telling you to go for it...I'm sorry karenannev...I'm so sorry this happned to you Girl, thank goodness you were able to rectify the damage done by monobenzone....ya I've been reading up on this mequinol....it sounds promising...I would love to combine it with the 5xf gel....wow..this would send my melanine running for the hills!
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Enticing
girl said:
I am a person who used mono, and I have horror stories from it. Anyone want to hear them? I too hoped I was one of the lucky ones. And for the first few months, I was. I didn't get any spoltches nothing, just really fair skin. I barely had to wear makeup, I didn't need to. I got a really pretty skin color. Well then I got freckles, all over my face and neck, then I started getting white spots. The mono seemed to stop working, my parents freaked out. People started asking what was wrong with me, airport personnnel thought I had a disease. people thought I suffered from burn marks. Thats how bad it looked I could barely go to class I was so ashamed. Don't EVER EVER USE THIS STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i HAD TO USE REALLY STRONG TCA PEELS, MANY MANY TIMES TO GET RID OF THIS STUFF, BUT IT'S STILL VERY PROMINENT ON MY NECK, THANK YOU JESUS THAT THIS STUFF LEFT MOST OF MY FACE, MY FACE JUST LOOKS A TAD BIT UNEVEN!!!! KAREN I DON'T THINK YOU ARE ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES. DON'T USE THIS STUFF. The sad part is I knew that mono carried very, the bottle and the website said that there were. I just thought nah, it won't happen to me. Try that solage thing, or buy from goldpharma, I've seen online many people who have used mequinol for many, many years, and they have gorgeous complexions. Don't use mono.
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wow....I'm so sorry girl. did u ever have any complications...or difficulty being in the direct pathway of sunlight?
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Enticing
chelly said:
hey every1... I'm new here. Just wanted to know,.. Has any tried using amelan depigmenting cream?
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interesting.....
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Enticing
OK GUYS THIS IS WHAT I found from our nice neighbours on Ask Me Help Desk from "janice589";

"So far, this is what I found out: mequinol seems better than monobenzone:

"An alternate method of lightening is to use the chemical mequinol over an extended period of time. Both monobenzone and mequinol produce dramatic whitening of the skin, but react very differently. For stubborn pigmented lesions the Q-switched ruby lazer, cryotherapy or TCA peels can be used to ensure the skin remains pigment free.

Mequinol leaves the skin looking extremely pale however, tanning is still possible. Monobenzone applied topically completely removes pigment in the long term and vigorous sun-safety needs to be adhered to for life."
Depigmentation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But for the scary part dermatologists say it's similar to hydroquinone meaning it's cytotoxic

"Mequinol (4-hydroxyanisole)
Similar to HQ, 4-hydroxyanisole (4HA) is cytotoxic to melanocytes. Reports indicate it is clinically effective in inhibiting melanogenesis when used as a combination of 2% 4HA cream and 0.01% retinoic acid. The authors reported minimal local skin irritation with this combination. Two percent 4HA alone did not produce significant hypopigmentation. Mequinol is used in Europe in concentrations ranging from 5-20% and is approved in the United States for the treatment of solar lentigines."
eMedicine - Skin Lightening and Depigmenting Agents : Article by Alaina James

If you look on this site people mention it here and there, but it'll be best to look on other sites for info and test it out yourself"
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Enticing
I was happy about this post until i read the part that it was similar in cytotoxicity where hydroquinone was concerned!!!

Does that mean that there is potential for hyper-pigmentation????? Becuase that would put a damper on things....
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Enticing
Mequinol/Tretinoin Facts and Comparisons at Drugs.com
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skinrepair4me
I also have white circle scars on my face from acne. They are not indented; they're smooth. I've been to several dermatologists who say there is nothing that can be done. I've tried all kinds of make ups to cover them and nothing works. Even Smart Cover doesn't completely cover them. My cheeks both look like they have circles all over them and it makes me very self conscious. Is it possible to use this product on the face only? I read in your other reply that it should be done on the entire body; however, I really only need something for my face. That is the only place these circles have appeared. Or is there something else that is less potent that I can use instead. I'm desperate to find something. Thank you.
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makemeyellow
I thought if you were white already & slapped lemons & honey you would lighten drastically as that does not really lighten dark skin
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ginachick
Dear Science chick, I have been searching for a permanent dipigmenting cream for years which has and am happy to make contact with a qualified individual in this area. My problem is uneven skin pigmentation which seriously affects my confidence and would like your recommendation of which brand to purchase and from where.
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ginachick said:
Dear Science chick, I have been searching for a permanent dipigmenting cream for years which has and am happy to make contact with a qualified individual in this area. My problem is uneven skin pigmentation which seriously affects my confidence and would like your recommendation of which brand to purchase and from where.
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Darling I don't know if Science chick is still around, because this thread started 4 years ago.
Mono benzone is only for total depigmentation, you will be really white, think about albino color (or lack of color lol).
For evening your skin search information about kojic acid, arbutin, hidroquinone, etc.
Here is a good place to start:
http://www.skincaretalk.com/t/30191/helping-newbies-make-a-start
There is no permanent depigmentation , after 1 or 2 years of using monobenzone your pigments start coming back... please search more information about.
Even light caucasians can have pigment coming back; sometimes darker than original color. And I am not talking about the long and expensive route until you are totaly depigmentated... some member here had to take 1 year off work because of the situation of their skin in the process. It is not nice.
If uneven skin bother you at the point you consider total depigmentation, you can imagine passing 1 year with even worse situation?
I think mono is ok for just 2 situations: if you have extensive vitiligo and are already patchy (so more patches are not big deal), or you really don't care if you became patchy at all.
Use the search here in the forum and put the word you want search.
There are lots of threads talking about mono here.
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Dimpu
Does mono work on brown skin
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