Acne Cream
Triple-action topical for acne: antibiotic (clindamycin + erythromycin) and antifungal (ketoconazole). Covers bacterial and fungal acne.
Cream
from $139/mo
Applied to the skin · Once a day
MelasmaDark spotsShort course
Brightening Cream
A stronger prescription cream for stubborn melasma and dark spots: hydroquinone 6% with tretinoin, a low-strength hydrocortisone, kojic acid and vitamins C and E. Applied once at bedtime for a short course, usually up to 8 weeks.
- A triple-action formula that fades stubborn pigment faster than hydroquinone alone
- Tretinoin speeds skin renewal; hydrocortisone calms the irritation
- A short course of about 8 weeks, then your physician plans maintenance
- Monthly$149/mo
- Free, discreet shipping
- Licensed U.S. pharmacy
- Board-certified physicians
Disclaimer: Prescription products require an online evaluation with a licensed medical professional who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Products are compounded by a licensed pharmacy. The FDA has not reviewed or approved compounded products for any use for safety, efficacy, or quality. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved brand-name products.
- How
- Applied to the skin
- How often
- Once a day
- Each shipment
- 1 tube
- Strength
- 1 / 0.05 / 6 / 3 / 0.05%
What is Brightening Cream?
(hydroquinone 6% + tretinoin + hydrocortisone + kojic acid + vitamins C and E)
It follows the logic of the classic triple combination dermatologists use for melasma: hydroquinone and kojic acid slow melanin production, tretinoin speeds up skin renewal so pigmented cells shed faster, and a mild corticosteroid calms the irritation the other two can cause. Vitamins C and E add antioxidant support. Because of the tretinoin and the steroid, it is meant for a short course, not for continuous use.
What's in it
- Ascorbic AcidAntioxidant, brightens
- HydrocortisoneCalms irritation (corticosteroid)
- HydroquinoneSlows pigment production
- Kojic AcidSlows pigment production
- TretinoinSpeeds skin renewal
- Vitamin EAntioxidant, protects the barrier
8 weeks
the usual course for a triple-combination cream
The FDA-approved triple combination for melasma is labeled for up to 8 weeks. Melasma often returns after stopping, so daily sunscreen and a gentler maintenance plan matter.
Is it right for you?
Who it's for
People with stubborn melasma.
What sets it apart
A triple-action formula with hydroquinone, tretinoin and a steroid, plus kojic acid and vitamins.
Worth knowing before you start
A short course, about eight weeks. Not for continuous use, and not in pregnancy.
What to expect
Daily SPF is part of the treatment
without it, spots return and can get darker
Gradual fading
most people see change after 4 to 8 weeks
Used in courses
breaks between courses lower the risk of ochronosis
More even tone
a maintenance plan keeps results after the course
How prescription brightening creams work
Week 1
A physician reviews your skin, your spots and your health, and chooses the formula and how long to use it. You test the cream on a small area first.
1Weeks 2–4
Some redness, dryness or peeling is common while the skin adjusts. Daily sunscreen starts now and does not stop.
2Weeks 4–8
Spots begin to fade. Brightening Cream usually completes its short course around week 8.
3Months 2–4
Hydroquinone courses usually end by 3 to 4 months, followed by a break and a gentler maintenance plan your physician sets.
4
Individual results vary. Benefits reflect what Zepym Health members commonly report to their physician at check-ins; they are not the results of a clinical trial.
How you use it
This is the starting dose the pharmacy prints on the label. Your physician sets yours and adjusts it with you.
- How
- Applied to the skin
- Where
- affected area
- Dose
- 1 mL
- How often
- Once a day
- When
- At bedtime
- Each shipment
- 1 tube
- Pharmacy label
- Apply 1 mL to the affected area once daily at bedtime for 30 days.
A sample week
- M
- T
- W
- T
- F
- S
- S
Once a day
The science of hydroquinone creams
In clinical trials, triple-combination creams (hydroquinone, tretinoin and a corticosteroid) cleared or nearly cleared melasma in more patients than any of their ingredients alone.
The trade-off is irritation and sun sensitivity: redness, peeling and dryness are common in the first weeks, and tretinoin and hydroquinone must not be used during pregnancy.
Learn moreImportant safety information and common side effects
These creams contain hydroquinone and are prescription treatments. Do not use them if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding; Brightening Cream also contains tretinoin, which must not be used in pregnancy. Do not use them if you are allergic to hydroquinone or sulfites, and tell your physician if you have asthma. Apply only to the dark spots, never on broken or irritated skin, and keep away from the eyes and lips. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ every day. Hydroquinone is used in courses with breaks: with long continuous use it can rarely cause ochronosis, a blue-black darkening of the skin. If the treated skin gets darker instead of lighter, stop and contact your physician. Do not use peroxide products such as benzoyl peroxide on the same area. A new or changing mole or spot needs an in-person check, not a brightening cream.
Every plan includes
- Personalized, physician-guided plan
- Monthly plan
- Dispensed by a US-licensed compounding pharmacy
- Unlimited protocol adjustments and messaging
- Ongoing support and check-ins
- Pause or cancel anytime
- Reviewed by our in-house physicians
How it works
1.Connect with a physician
Answer a few questions online and a US-licensed physician reviews your health, history and goals to make sure treatment is right for you. 100% online. No in-person visit required.
2.Get your discreet shipment
If approved, your treatment is compounded by a US-licensed, LegitScript-certified pharmacy, inspected for quality, and shipped discreetly to your door.
3.Receive continuous support
Start with one goal, then keep building over time. Unlimited physician messaging, easy refills and dose adjustments, all from the Zepym Health app.
Brightening Cream educational content reviewed by our physician
Scott Nass, MDDoctor of Medicine, board-certified in Family Medicine
Charles R. Drew University and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use Brightening Cream?
Applied to the skin, once a day, at bedtime. The starting prescription is 1 mL each time. Your physician sets your own dose and it is printed on your label.
What exactly is in it?
Ascorbic Acid, Hydrocortisone, Hydroquinone, Kojic Acid, Tretinoin, Vitamin E.
How much arrives in each shipment?
1 tube at the starting strength, shipped to your door from a licensed US pharmacy.
Why only a short course?
The tretinoin and the corticosteroid make it strong. Used longer than prescribed, the steroid can thin the skin and the irritation adds up. Your physician uses it to get the spots under control and then moves you to a gentler plan.
Which brightening cream is right for me?
GHK-Cu Brightening Cream (hydroquinone 6% with niacinamide) is the usual first choice: gentler, for melasma, sun spots and acne marks, in courses of 3 to 4 months. Brightening Cream adds tretinoin and a mild steroid: stronger and faster, for stubborn melasma, but more irritating and only for up to 8 weeks; it is not for eczema, rosacea or pregnancy. ClearTone uses a lower hydroquinone strength (4%) with azelaic and tranexamic acids. If you are not sure, choose GHK-Cu Brightening Cream: your physician confirms the right one or switches you.
Can I use it while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Hydroquinone is avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the tretinoin in Brightening Cream must not be used in pregnancy. Tell your physician right away if you become pregnant.
Do I really need sunscreen every day?
Yes. Sun exposure triggers new pigment and undoes the treatment. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every morning, reapply outdoors, and add a hat in strong sun.
What if my skin gets darker?
Irritation can make spots look darker for a short time. If the treated skin keeps darkening or turns gray or blue-black, stop the cream and message your physician: with long use, hydroquinone can rarely cause ochronosis.
Even tone, one course at a time.
Acne Cream with Tretinoin
Acne treatment combining antibiotics (clindamycin/erythromycin/ketoconazole) with tretinoin for faster clearance and post-acne healing.
Cream
from $139/mo
Clarity Cream
Acne and post-acne formula combining azelaic acid, niacinamide, clindamycin, and tretinoin. Anti-inflammatory and cell-renewing.
Cream
from $149/mo
ClearTone Cream
Brightening and anti-inflammatory cream combining azelaic acid, hydroquinone, kojic acid, tranexamic acid, and niacinamide. For post-acne hyperpigmentation.
Cream
from $149/mo
The above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Prescription products require an online evaluation with a licensed medical professional who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Individual results vary.
Sources
- 1
Hydroquinone prescribing information: depigmentation, sulfites, ochronosis and use in pregnancy.
US prescribing labels (DailyMed) - 2
Fluocinolone, hydroquinone and tretinoin cream for melasma: indicated for up to 8 weeks.
Tri-Luma prescribing information (DailyMed) - 3
Topical tranexamic acid and azelaic acid in melasma.
PubMed
Brightening Creamfrom $149/mo