Is Cosmelan a good product for pigmentation problems?

Dr, I am planing to get Cosmelan. I did my research and found out that Cosmelan has a new formula with Hydroquinone. It seems like the old formula was the best, and new formula has mixed reviews. Can you please advise on new Cosmelan. Thank you

I hope I’m wrong, but I’m very suspicious of this company – Mesoestetic.  First, it’s difficult to find out much about them.  Their website constantly asks the user for information while providing almost nothing to the you the viewer.  Their claims of ’10 years of research’ and mentions of a lab are not substantiated in any way. 

The Cosmelan 2 (is that the product you are referring to?) does not contain hydroquinone but contains azelaic acid (it doesn’t say the percentage) which has been around for years in the prescription forms (the highest percentages I know of) as Azelex or Finacea.   If you want the azelaic acid as a lightener, why not used a controlled, high quality formulation like one of those?

If you prefer a hydroquinone, the 2% is available in drugstores in good formulations and in 4% as a prescription in the USA.  BEWARE any prolonged use of higher percentages of hydroquinones because they can start to CAUSE (yes, cause) more pigment problems in the form of something called ochronosis (hydroquinone induced) and irritant dermatitis (eczema).  

Please, all readers with pigmentation problems, there is a lot of research on this right now and I think more help is coming.  But….. in the meantime there are unethical companies out there. Soem are making profits on people’s understandable frustration with pigmentation problems!  Hope this helps,  Dr. I

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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