Enawish-HQ Advanced Skin Lightening Gel

Enawish-HQ is a prescription depigmenting gel that combines hydroquinone with kojic acid, licorice extract and exfoliating acids (glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid). Dermatologists use formulas like this for stubborn pigmentation such as melasma, sun spots and dark marks, usually for a limited period under supervision.

What it does

• Hydroquinone reduces the skin's production of melanin, the pigment behind dark patches
• Kojic acid and licorice extract support a more even tone
• Glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid gently exfoliate so pigmented surface cells shed faster
• Hyaluronic acid, glycerin and evening primrose oil help offset dryness

Key ingredients

• Hydroquinone – the main depigmenting medicine
• Kojic acid and licorice extract – tone-evening ingredients
• Glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid – exfoliating acids
• Hyaluronic acid, glycerin and evening primrose oil – hydrating and soothing

Who it's for

Adults with pigmentation who have been assessed by a dermatologist. Hydroquinone is not suitable for everyone or for long-term use without supervision. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Where it fits in your routine

Apply a thin layer only to the pigmented areas, exactly as your dermatologist directs. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen every morning and reapply when outdoors; sun exposure can undo the results. Avoid using other strong exfoliants at the same time unless your doctor advises it.

Good to know

• Prescription medicine. Dispensed only against a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner. Use exactly as your doctor directs.
• 30 ml
• Made in India by Avishkar Products, New Delhi
• For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes. Stop and contact your doctor if you notice irritation or darkening of the skin.

Enawish-HQ Advanced Skin Lightening Gel is enriched with a blend of powerful and skin-loving ingredients:

• Hyaluronic Acid: Deeply hydrates and plumps the skin, improving texture and tone.

• Glycolic Acid: Exfoliates dead skin cells, promoting cell turnover and revealing brighter skin.

• Lactic Acid: Gently exfoliates and moisturizes, helping to even out skin tone.

• Licorice Extract: Naturally lightens and soothes the skin, reducing the appearance of dark spots.

• Kojic Acid: Inhibits melanin production, effectively lightening pigmentation.

• Hydroquinone: Targets stubborn dark spots and hyperpigmentation, promoting an even complexion.

• Evening Primrose Oil: Nourishes and soothes the skin, enhancing its natural radiance.

• Glycerine: Attracts moisture to the skin, ensuring it remains soft and supple.

• Salicylic Acid: Unclogs pores and promotes a smoother, clearer complexion.

FAQs

Q1. Enawish-HQ contains Hydroquinone alongside Glycolic Acid and Kojic Acid — why are so many depigmenting agents needed in one product?
A1. Each ingredient targets melanin production through a different mechanism, creating a multi-level attack on hyperpigmentation. Hydroquinone acts as a tyrosinase substrate inhibitor — it is taken up by melanocytes and competes with L-DOPA, halting melanin synthesis. Kojic Acid chelates the copper at the active site of tyrosinase, disabling the enzyme. Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid (both AHAs) accelerate epidermal cell turnover, physically shedding pigmented corneocytes and improving penetration of the depigmenting agents. Licorice Extract's glabridin adds another tyrosinase-inhibition pathway. Layering these mechanisms is essential for treating stubborn melasma, where a single agent rarely achieves sustained clearance. This formulation requires dermatologist supervision — do not use without a prescription.

Q2. Why is sunscreen non-negotiable when using Enawish-HQ — what happens if I skip it?
A2. Hydroquinone and the AHAs in Enawish-HQ suppress the melanocyte's current activity, but without UV protection, UV radiation immediately re-activates melanocytes through the MC1R receptor. The net effect: the gel clears pigmentation at night while unprotected UV exposure during the day reverses that progress in real time — essentially running backwards on a treadmill. Beyond this futility, Hydroquinone itself is photosensitising, and UV exposure on skin currently undergoing HQ treatment can trigger paradoxical darkening (ochronosis risk with prolonged unsupervised use). Broad-spectrum SPF 50+ every morning is not optional — it is integral to the treatment protocol.

Q3. Is the Hydroquinone in Enawish-HQ safe for Indian skin tones with Fitzpatrick types III–VI?
A3. Hydroquinone 2–4% is the gold standard for treating melasma in guidelines across India, the US, and Europe precisely because its mechanism (tyrosinase inhibition) is effective across all skin tones. Indian skin tones (Fitzpatrick III–VI) benefit significantly from HQ for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) from acne, injuries, and hormonal melasma. The risk of exogenous ochronosis — a paradoxical blue-grey darkening from chronic unsupervised HQ use — is reported predominantly with high-concentration products used for years without medical oversight. Under a dermatologist's supervision with a defined treatment cycle and appropriate breaks, HQ is safe and effective for South Asian skin tones. Never use Enawish-HQ without ongoing dermatologist supervision.

Q4. Can Enawish-HQ be used on post-acne dark spots (PIH), or only for melasma?
A4. Enawish-HQ is effective for both conditions, though the mechanism varies slightly. Melasma involves constitutively overactive melanocytes driven by hormonal (especially oestrogen), UV, and genetic factors; PIH involves melanocytes activated by an inflammatory trigger (acne, injury, friction). The multi-mechanism formula addresses both: Hydroquinone and Kojic Acid reduce active melanogenesis, Salicylic Acid (which is also present) helps clear the comedonal blockage that causes the acne driving PIH, and the AHAs accelerate removal of surface pigmentation. For PIH from acne specifically, also address the acne itself — depigmenting agents cannot keep up with new PIH forming from ongoing breakouts.

Q5. How long should Enawish-HQ be used, and does pigmentation return after stopping?
A5. Standard dermatological protocols for Hydroquinone use recommend 3-month treatment cycles with breaks to prevent tolerance and reduce ochronosis risk. Many dermatologists use a step-down approach: HQ gel for 3 months to achieve clearance, then transition to maintenance with non-HQ brightening ingredients (Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Azelaic Acid) with ongoing SPF. Pigmentation can recur if sun protection is not continued after stopping HQ — melanocytes that have been suppressed can reactivate with UV or hormonal triggers. The goal of treatment is not permanent eradication but managed reduction with lifestyle modifications (SPF, avoiding triggers) to prevent return.

Country of Origin: India
Mfg/Marketer details: Avishkar Products, A-50/6, Mayapuri Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi – 110064, India
Shelf Life: 24 months from manufacturing date
Storage: Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
Safety Information: For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes & mucous membranes. Use strictly under dermatologist supervision. Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Keep out of reach of children.