Prescription-Strength Hydroquinone: Not Covered By Insurance But Still Cheaper Than Whitening Beauty Products

Last week, I went to a follow-up appointment with my oral surgeon.  I went in knowing that he was going to admonish me for getting a tan on my recent trip to Bermuda.  And yes, he did admonish me.  He re-stressed to me that tanning and scarring don't mix.  Basically, he was thinking, "What the hell was she thinking??"  

I was really good the entire summer.  I avoided tanning and I used sunblock every day.  But when I'm on vacation, I just can't help it.   I like to tan when on vacation.  I still use sunblock but when you're on the beach, you tan.  KWIM?  

So what did this mean for me?  Before I could start my laser resurfacing treatment to correct the scarring below my lower lip, I had to lighten up the scar area.  My doctor prescribed to me prescription-strength hydroquinone (4%) - the generic version.

Much to my surprise, prescription-strength hydroquinone - even the generic version - is usually NOT covered by insurance.  Cash price for generic hydroquinone cream (4%) was $43.  Okay...this is not a huge amount of money, but what the heck am I paying my health insurance company for?  Per the pharmacist, hydroquinone is considered a cosmetic prescription, so most health insurance plans do not cover it.  I argued that I needed it for corrective purposes, not cosmetic but it fell on deaf ears.

I've been using the bleaching cream for a few days now... and not just on the scarring below my lower lip but also on a dark spot on my left leg.  I don't know about the scarring below my lower lip, but the dark spot on my left leg has lightened in a most dramatic manner.

What's the point of this post?  If you're out there buying over-the-counter bleaching products to lighten darks spots, consider going to your dermatologist for prescription-strength hydroquinone. Even at $43, there's a good chance that it's still cheaper than whitening beauty products from a department store.