Benoquin
Benoquin, also known as monobenzone, is derived from hydroquinone and appears in the form of a white, nearly flavorless crystalline powder. It readily dissolves in alcohol but exhibits limited solubility in water. Chemically identified as p-(benzyloxy) phenol, its empirical formula is C13H12O2, with a molecular weight of 200.24. Each gram of
Benoquik Cream contains 200 mg of monobenzone USP, formulated in a water-washable base composed of purified water USP, cetyl alcohol NF, propylene glycol USP, sodium lauryl sulfate NF, and white wax NF.
Monobenzone Cream
How Monobenzone Works
Benoquin Cream 20% functions as a depigmenting agent, although its precise mode of action remains incompletely understood.
When applied topically, monobenzone prompts an increase in melanin excretion from melanocytes in animal subjects. This mechanism is presumed to underlie the depigmenting impact observed in humans. Monobenzone has the potential to induce the destruction of melanocytes, resulting in permanent depigmentation. This process may manifest erratically and typically takes one to four months to culminate, during which existing melanin is shed with the natural turnover of the stratum corneum. Interestingly, hyperpigmented skin tends to exhibit a faster fading rate compared to normal skin, and exposure to sunlight diminishes the depigmenting efficacy of the medication. Histological examination of skin post-depigmentation with topical monobenzone mirrors the characteristics observed in vitiligo, where the epidermis appears normal except for the absence of identifiable melanocytes.