Stable, non-irritating topical formulations of hydroquinone

1. A method for decreasing the irritancy of a 1%-3% hydroquinone-containing formulation comprising adding an emollient and an anti-irritant to the formulation, wherein the formulation comprises an oil-in-water emulsion, thereby forming a less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulation, wherein the less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulations consists essentially of, by weight of the formulation

Purified Water

From about 30% to about 70%

Hydrofluorocarbon 227ea

From about 6% to about 18%

Pentylene Glycol

From about 3% to about 7%

Cyclomethicone

From about 3% to about 7%

Niacinamide

From about 2% to about 6%

Isononyl Isononoate

From about 1% to about 4%

C 12 -C 15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate

From about 1% to about 4%

Glycerin

From about 1% to about 3%

Hydroquinone

From about 1% to about 3%

Alpha-Arbutin

From about 1% to about 3%

Dimethicone/Divinyldimethicone/

From about 1% to about 3%

Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

From about 1% to about 3%

Glyceryl Stearate

From about 1% to about 3%

Cetyl Alcohol

From about 1% to about 3%

Dimethicone

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

Cetearyl Alcohol

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

Kojic Acid

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

Panthenol

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

1-Methylhydantoine-2-Imide

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

Algae Extract and Mugwort

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

( Artemisia vulgaris ) Extract

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

PEG- 75 Stearate

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract

From about 0.1% to about 1.0%

Saccharomyces/ Xylinum /Black Tea

From about 0.2% to about 0.6%

Ferment

Palmaria Palmata Extract

From about 0.1% to about 0.4%

Brassica Napus Extract

From about 0.3% to about 1.0%

Punica Granatum (Pomegranate)

From about 0.1% to about 0.4%

Seed Oil

Rubus Occidentalis (Black

From about 0.1% to about 0.4%

Raspberry) Seed Oil

Vaccinium Macrocarpon

From about 0.1% to about 0.4%

(Cranberry) Seed Oil

Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon)

From about 0.01% to about 0.05%

Seed Oil

Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil

From about 0.01% to about 0.05%

Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Oil

From about 0.01% to about 0.05%

Tetrahexadecyl Ascorbate

From about 0.3% to about 0.7%

Ceteth-20

From about 0.2% to about 0.6%

Steareth-20

From about 0.2% to about 0.6%

Allantoin

From about 0.3% to about 0.7%

Chlorphenesin

From about 0.1% to about 0.4%

Hexapeptide-2

From about 0.1% to about 1.0%

Jojoba Esters

From about 0.1% to about 0.4%

Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa

From about 0.1% to about 0.4%

Oil Esters

Bisabolol

From about 0.1% to about 0.3%

Fragrance

From about 0.1% to about 0.3%

Sodium Bisulfite

From about 0.02% to about 0.07%

Sodium Sulfite

From about 0.02% to about 0.07%

Tocopheryl Acetate

From about 0.05% to about 0.15%

Xanthan Gum

From about 0.05% to about 0.15%

Citric Acid

From about 0.1% to about 0.3%

Potassium Sorbate

From about 0.1% to about 0.3%

Sodium Benzoate

From about 0.1% to about 0.3%

Dextran

From about 0.1% to about 1.0%

Sodium Hyaluronate

From about 0.005% to about 0.015%

BHT

From about 0.1% to about 0.3%

Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate

From about 0.05% to about 0.15%

Disodium EDTA

From about 0.05% to about 0.15%

Phenoxyethanol

From about 0.01% to about 0.10%

Hydroxvethylcellulose

From about 0.1% to about 1.0%

Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice)

From about 0.02% to about 0.07%.

Root Extract

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulation, upon application to the skin of an affected subject, does not produce edema or erythema.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulation, upon application to the skin of affected subjects, shows an average reported irritation no more than mild after 4 weeks.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulation, upon application to the skin of affected subjects, no more than 20% of subjects report irritation after 4 weeks.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulation, upon application to the skin of affected subjects, shows an average reported irritation no more than mild after 12 weeks.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulation, upon application to the skin of affected subjects, no more than 16% of subjects report irritation after 12 weeks.

7. A method for decreasing the irritancy of a 1%-3% hydroquinone-containing formulation comprising adding an emollient and an anti-irritant to the formulation, wherein the formulation comprises an oil-in-water emulsion, thereby forming a less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulation, wherein the less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulations consists essentially of, by weight of the formulation

Purified Water

From about 30% to about 70%

Hydrofluorocarbon 227ea

From about 6% to about 18%

Pentylene Glycol

From about 3% to about 7%

Cyclomethicone

From about 1% to about 2%

Niacinamide

From about 2% to about 6%

Isononyl Isononoate

From about 1% to about 3%

C12-C15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate

From about 1% to about 3%

Glycerin

From about 1% to about 3%

Hydroquinone

From about 1% to about 3%

Alpha-Arbutin

From about 1% to about 3%

Dimethicone/Divinyldimethicone/

From about 1% to about 3%

Silequioxane Crosspolymer

Glyceryl Stearate

From about 1% to about 3%

Cetyl Alcohol

From about 1% to about 3%

Dimethicone

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

Cetearyl Alcohol

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

Kojic Acid

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

Panthenol

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

1-Methylhydantoine-2-Imide

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

Algae Extract and Mugwort

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

( Artemisia vulgaris ) Extract

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

PEG- 75 Stearate

From about 0.5% to about 1.5%

Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract

From about 0.1% to about 1.0%

Saccharomyces / Xylinum /Black Tea

From about 1% to about 4%

Ferment

Palmaria Palmata Extract

From about 0.1% to about 0.5%

Brassica Napus Extract

From about 0.04% to about 0.1%

Punica Granatum (Pomegranate)

From about 0.3% to about 0.9%

Seed Oil

Rubus Occidentalis (Black

From about 0.3% to about 0.9%

Raspberry) Seed Oil

Vaccinium Macrocarpon

From about 0.3% to about 0.9%

(Cranberry) Seed Oil

Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon)

From about 0.06% to about 0.13%

Seed Oil

Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil

From about 0.06% to about 0.13%

Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Oil

From about 0.06% to about 0.13%

Tetrahexadecyl Ascorbate

From about 0.2% to about 0.7%

Ceteth-20

From about 0.1% to about 0.5%

Steareth-20

From about 0.1% to about 0.5%

Allantoin

From about 0.2% to about 0.7%

Chlorphenesin

From about 0.1% to about 0.5%

Hexapeptide-2

From about 0.1% to about 1.0%

Bisabolol

From about 0.1% to about 0.3%

Fragrance

From about 0.1% to about 0.3%

Sodium Bisulfite

From about 0.02% to about 0.07%

Sodium Sulfite

From about 0.02% to about 0.07%

Tocopheryl Acetate

From about 0.2% to about 0.7%

Xanthan Gum

From about 0.05% to about 0.15%

Citric Acid

From about 0.05% to about 0.20%

Potassium Sorbate

From about 0.05% to about 0.20%

Sodium Benzoate

From about 0.05% to about 0.20%

Dextran

From about 0.1% to about 1.0%

Sodium Hyaluronate

From about 0.005% to about 0.015%

BHT

From about 0.1% to about 0.3%

Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate

From about 0.05% to about 0.15%

Disodium EDTA

From about 0.05% to about 0.15%

Phenoxyethanol

From about 0.05% to about 0.1%

Hydroxyethylcellulose

From about 0.1% to about 1.0%

Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice)

From about 0.02% to about 0.07%

Root Extract

Acacia Decurrens /Jojoba/

From about 1% to about 3%

Sunflower Seed Wax Polyceryl-3

Esters

Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea)

From about 1% to about 3%.

Butter

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulation, upon application to the skin of an affected subject, does not produce edema or erythema.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulation, upon application to the skin of affected subjects, shows an average reported irritation no more than mild after 4 weeks.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulation, upon application to the skin of affected subjects, no more than 20% of subjects report irritation after 4 weeks.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulation, upon application to the skin of affected subjects, shows an average reported irritation no more than mild after 12 weeks.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the less irritating hydroquinone-containing formulation, upon application to the skin of affected subjects, no more than 16% of subjects report irritation after 12 weeks.