monobenzone (Benoquin)

Indications

• topical treatment of vitiligo

Contraindications

• freckling
• hyperpigmentation caused by photosensitization following use of certain perfumes
• melasma (chloasma) of pregnancy
• hyperpigmentation resulting from inflammation of the skin
• cafe-au-lait spots
• pigmented nevi
• malignant melanoma
• pigmentation resulting from pigments other than melanin (e.g.: bile, silver, or artificial pigments)

Dosage

• applied topically BID-TID to permanently depigmented normal skin surrounding vitiliginous lesions in patients with disseminated (>50% of body surface area)

Cream: 20%

Adverse effects

• allergic reaction, angioedema
• can can destruction of melanocytes & permanent depigmentation

Mechanism of action

• increases excretion of melanin from melanocytes

More general terms

• ether
• phenol
• dermatologic agent

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=7638