Benoquin 30g

Benoquin 30g is a 30 g tube of monobenzone 20% w/w cream from India. Tata 1mg, PharmEasy and Apollo Pharmacy all list the 30 g tube at 20%, the same strength as the Benoquin Cream 20% that was once licensed in the US and Canada, and they name Brinton Pharmaceuticals as the maker. Monobenzone removes skin colour permanently. Its one licensed use is final depigmentation of the remaining normal skin in people whose vitiligo already covers more than half of the body. It is not a skin lightener and not a treatment for melasma, freckles or dark spots. We sell 1, 3 or 6 tubes, from $18.67 a tube in the 6 pack.

If a dermatologist has advised depigmentation, this 20% tube is the strength the old US label describes, and a single 30 g tube is close to the 35.4 g tube that label supplied. That makes it the sensible way to start: one tube, a test patch first, and a review with your dermatologist before you buy more. If no dermatologist has confirmed that you have extensive vitiligo, we would not recommend buying it at all. The change it makes cannot be undone and can spread to skin you did not treat.

Benoquin 30g at a glance

Price per tube

Prices below are as of October 2026; the pack selector shows the current price.

All three packs are under $149, so an order of Benoquin 30g alone pays the $25 shipping whichever pack you choose. On a single tube, shipping costs more than the cream. The larger packs are only slightly cheaper per tube before shipping ($20.00, $19.33, $18.67); most of the saving comes from spreading the shipping over more tubes.

Even so, we suggest starting with one tube. The label gives no amount per application, so nobody can tell you in advance how many tubes a course needs; it depends on how much pigmented skin is left to treat. You also need a test patch and a check with your dermatologist on how your skin reacts before you commit to more. If the first tube goes well and your dermatologist wants you to continue, a 3 or 6 pack lowers the cost per tube.

For comparison, our Benoquin 100g costs $75.00 for one tube ($0.75 a gram before shipping) and $60.00 a tube in the 6 pack ($0.60 a gram). But Indian listings describe the 100 g tube as monobenzone 40%, twice the strength of this one, so the two are not the same product in different sizes. The 20 g Benzocan 20g monobenzone cream costs $15.00 a tube before shipping.

What regulators licensed, and what is on sale now

Monobenzone was licensed in the US as Benoquin Cream 20% (NDA 008173, first approved in 1952), supplied in 35.4 g tubes. The FDA's database now lists Benoquin as discontinued, and we found no Federal Register notice giving a reason. In the FDA's drug listing data the only monobenzone entry is a bulk ingredient (Darmerica), not a finished cream, and NADAC, the US pharmacy acquisition cost survey, has no monobenzone rows (checked 28 October 2026). So there is no US price to compare. If you are in the US and a dermatologist agrees that depigmentation is right for you, ask them how they source monobenzone locally before ordering from abroad.

In Canada, Benoquin Crm 20% (DIN 01966391) was cancelled post market on 30 July 2014, and Health Canada's database lists no other monobenzone product. In the UK, a search of the emc medicines database for monobenzone returns no results (emc is not the full MHRA register). In Australia, monobenzone is a Schedule 4 (prescription only) substance in the current Poisons Standard (October 2026); we did not confirm any product on the ARTG.

Monobenzone is also banned as a cosmetic ingredient. It is entry 178 (4-benzyloxyphenol) on the list of substances prohibited in cosmetic products in the UK and EU Cosmetics Regulation (Annex II), and Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist lists 4-benzyloxyphenol (monobenzone) as prohibited. A cream sold for skin whitening that contains it is being sold for a use regulators forbid. We sell Benoquin only for the vitiligo use on its label.

20% or 40%: which Benoquin to choose

If your dermatologist prescribes monobenzone without naming a strength, ask. Of the Benoquin tubes we sell, the 30 g is the one that matches the label. A stronger cream does not make permanent depigmentation safer: the label already warns that the effect is erratic and can reach skin you did not treat. We have not confirmed the strength printed on our own stock, so read the carton and tube before the first application.

Who depigmentation is for

Depigmentation is a last step for a small group of people with vitiligo, not a routine treatment:

• The US Benoquin label says it is "indicated for final depigmentation in extensive Vitiligo", applied to "permanently depigment normal skin surrounding vitiliginous lesions in patients with disseminated (greater than 50 percent of body surface area) idiopathic vitiligo."
• The British Association of Dermatologists 2021 guideline says: "Consider depigmentation therapies in people with extensive vitiligo on visible sites, in whom the condition is having a negative psychological impact. This should be done after adequate psychological assessment and/or intervention." It is a good practice point, not a recommendation based on trials.
• The American Academy of Dermatology says depigmentation is rarely used, is for people who have lost most of their natural skin colour, and is considered permanent. It advises talking through the pros and cons with a board certified dermatologist first.

The evidence is thin. A 2011 review found that dermatologists use different thresholds for how much vitiligo justifies depigmentation, and that no trials have compared the depigmentation agents or techniques; it described monobenzone as the most widely used agent, with few side effects (AlGhamdi 2011, PMID 21054565). Most other reports are single cases or small series.

A dermatologist needs to confirm that the white patches are vitiligo and measure how much of your body they cover before you start. Other conditions can look like vitiligo, and depigmenting skin that should have been treated differently cannot be undone.

How to start with a 30 g tube

These steps come from the US Benoquin 20% label unless another source is named. Follow your dermatologist's plan where it differs.

1. Test patch first. Tata 1mg advises applying the cream to a small area of unbroken skin for several days before the first full application, and stopping if itching, excessive inflammation or swelling occurs.
2. Apply a thin layer and rub it into the pigmented skin two or three times daily, "or as directed by physician". Apply it only to healthy skin, free from cuts and wounds (PharmEasy listing).
3. Avoid prolonged sun exposure during treatment, or use a sunscreen. The label explains that sunlight reduces the depigmenting effect.
4. Depigmentation "is usually accomplished after one to four months". The AAD says removing all remaining colour can take 1 to 4 years. Expect a slow and uneven change.
5. "If satisfactory results are not obtained after four months of Benoquin Cream 20% treatment, the drug should be discontinued."
6. Once the desired degree of depigmentation is reached, the label says to apply it only as often as needed to keep it, usually only two times weekly.
7. Wash your hands before and after use unless your hands are being treated (Tata 1mg and PharmEasy listings), and keep it out of the eyes; rinse with water if it gets in (Tata 1mg and PharmEasy listings).
8. Our caution: let the cream absorb before treated skin touches another person, because the cream acts on any pigmented skin it reaches.

After depigmentation: sun protection for life

The US label says: "Following therapy with Benoquin Cream 20%, the skin will be sensitive for the rest of the patient's life. He/she must use sunscreens during exposure to the sun." Depigmented skin has no melanin left to protect it. The BAD guideline advises sunscreen with a 4 star or 5 star UVA rating and SPF 50 for people with vitiligo. Plan for daily sunscreen, clothing and shade from now on, not only during the course.

The result may also be patchy, and colour can return in places; the BAD guideline lists the risk of repigmentation as one of the outcomes that matter for depigmentation treatment.

Side effects

The US label gives no side effect table or percentages. It says:

• "Mild, transient skin irritation and sensitization, including erythematous and eczematous reactions have occurred". Treatment "should be discontinued if irritation, a burning sensation, or dermatitis occur."
• "Areas of normal skin distant to the site of Benoquin Cream 20% application frequently have become depigmented, and irregular, excessive, unsightly, and frequently permanent depigmentation has occurred."

Contact allergy to monobenzone used to treat vitiligo has been reported (Lyon 1998, PMID 9771988). The Indian listings for the 30 g cream add burning, itching and redness (PharmEasy and Apollo) and dryness or peeling of treated skin (Apollo); Tata 1mg lists skin irritation, erythematous rash and eczematous eruptions. Monobenzone also causes unwanted depigmentation when it is misused: in a published case series of 32 people with chemical vitiligo, 18 had used monobenzone cream, mostly for facial pigmentation such as melasma, and developed confetti like white patches 3 to 6 months after starting (Sharquie 2023).

When to stop and get help

• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, or widespread hives: get emergency help. This is general safety advice; the label lists only sensitization and eczematous reactions.
• Blistering, oozing, severe burning or a spreading rash: stop the cream and see your dermatologist promptly (the label says to discontinue for irritation, burning or dermatitis).
• White patches appearing in places you did not treat: stop and tell your dermatologist before the next application (our advice; the label warns this happens frequently).
• Cream in the eyes: rinse with plenty of water, and get medical advice if pain or redness persists (rinsing is from the Tata 1mg and PharmEasy listings).
• Swallowed by accident, by a child or anyone else: the label says "call a physician or a Poison Control Center immediately" (US 1-800-222-1222, Australia 13 11 26).

Who should not use Benoquin

The US Benoquin label lists these as contraindications:

• Any condition other than disseminated vitiligo. The label says it "is not a cosmetic skin bleach" and is "contraindicated in any conditions other than disseminated vitiligo". That rules out cosmetic lightening of the face or body, age spots, sun spots and uneven skin tone.
• As a substitute for hydroquinone: "it must not be used as a substitute for hydroquinone."
• Anyone with "a history of sensitivity or allergic reactions to this product, or any of its ingredients".

The label also says it is "not recommended in freckling; hyperpigmentation caused by photosensitization following the use of certain perfumes (berlock dermatitis); melasma (chloasma) of pregnancy; or hyperpigmentation resulting from inflammation of the skin", and that it is not effective for cafe au lait spots, pigmented moles (naevi), malignant melanoma, or pigment that is not melanin. For melasma and dark spots, see our skin lightening creams guide and hydroquinone guide; hydroquinone fades pigment, while the monobenzone label says it may destroy the pigment cells and cause permanent depigmentation.

Other groups in the label:

• Children: safety and effectiveness below the age of 12 years "have not been established".
• Pregnancy: no animal reproduction studies have been done and it is not known whether it can harm an unborn baby; it "should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed."
• Breastfeeding: it is not known whether it passes into milk, and "caution should be exercised".

Prescription and legal status

• India: Tata 1mg marks the 30 g cream "Prescription required" and Apollo lists it as a "Prescription Medicine"; PharmEasy says orders depend on a valid prescription where applicable.
• US: Benoquin was a prescription drug, and the FDA now lists it as discontinued. This Indian pack is not registered with the FDA. The FDA says personal importation of unapproved medicines is illegal in most circumstances.
• UK: we found no licensed monobenzone medicine on emc, and this pack is not registered with the MHRA. Monobenzone is prohibited in cosmetic products.
• Australia: monobenzone is Schedule 4, Prescription Only, in the Poisons Standard. This pack is not registered with the TGA.
• Canada: the only Canadian product, Benoquin Crm 20%, was cancelled in 2014, and monobenzone is prohibited in cosmetics. This pack is not registered with Health Canada.

Check the rules where you live, and do not start it without a dermatologist.

Buying genuine Benoquin

The MHRA warns: "Any medicine not authorised for sale in the UK can be unsafe or ineffective and there is no way of knowing what is in them or the negative health effects they can have." It advises UK buyers: "Only use UK-registered pharmacies, including online pharmacies displaying the official green cross logo". That warning covers Benoquin, which is not authorised in the UK. When your order arrives, check that the carton and tube name Benoquin and the maker, show monobenzone 20% w/w, a batch number and an expiry date, and that the tube is sealed. If the carton shows a different strength, do not use it until you have checked with your dermatologist and with us. These checks cannot prove a tube is genuine, because counterfeiters copy packaging. If a tube causes unusual symptoms, stop using it, seek medical advice, and report it to your medicines regulator (the MHRA Yellow Card scheme in the UK, FDA MedWatch in the US, the TGA in Australia or Health Canada) as well as to us. Store it below 30 °C with the cap closed, out of the reach of children.

Delivery

We ship Benoquin to the US, UK, Australia and Canada in plain packaging with tracking. Standard delivery takes 7 to 14 business days to most countries. Shipping costs a flat $25 on orders under $149 and is free from $149. See our shipping page and refund policy.

Related guides

• Benoquin 100g: the 40% tube, and why we would not start with it
• Skin lightening creams compared: what works for melasma and dark spots
• Hydroquinone cream guide
• Is it safe to buy medicine online?

Sources

• BENOQUIN Cream 20% (monobenzone cream, USP) US label, ICN Pharmaceuticals, Rev. 8-00, NDA 008173 labeling supplement approved 26 March 2003: Description, Clinical Pharmacology, Indications and Usage, Contraindications, Warnings, Precautions, Adverse Reactions, Dosage and Administration, How Supplied. FDA
• FDA Drugs@FDA (openFDA), NDA 008173 Benoquin, marketing status Discontinued; openFDA NDC directory, monobenzone (bulk ingredient only; data updated 27 October 2026). Checked 28 October 2026.
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NADAC 2026 dataset: no monobenzone or Benoquin rows. Checked 28 October 2026. data.medicaid.gov
• Health Canada Drug Product Database, Benoquin Crm 20%, DIN 01966391, cancelled post market 30 July 2014; Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, 4-benzyloxyphenol (monobenzone), prohibited (page modified 13 August 2025).
• UK Cosmetics Regulation (retained Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009), Annex II entry 178, 4-benzyloxyphenol. legislation.gov.uk; emc search for monobenzone, no results, 21 October 2026.
• Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard, October 2026) Instrument 2026 (F2026L01327), in force 1 October 2026, Schedule 4 entry: MONOBENZONE and alkyl ethers of hydroquinone for human therapeutic use or cosmetic use, except in cosmetic nail preparations containing 0.02% or less. Federal Register of Legislation, checked 28 October 2026.
• Eleftheriadou V, et al. British Association of Dermatologists guidelines for the management of people with vitiligo 2021. Br J Dermatol 2022;186:18 to 29. PMID 34160061 (R9, R16).
• American Academy of Dermatology. Vitiligo: diagnosis and treatment (updated 15 April 2026). AAD
• AlGhamdi KM, Kumar A. Depigmentation therapies for normal skin in vitiligo universalis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2011;25:749 to 757. PMID 21054565.
• Lyon CC, Beck MH. Contact hypersensitivity to monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone used to treat vitiligo. Contact Dermatitis 1998;39:132 to 133. PMID 9771988.
• Sharquie KE, Abdulwahhab W. Monobenzone is still the main culprit of chemical vitiligo. J Pak Assoc Dermatol 2023;33(2):429 to 436.
• Indian listings for Benoquin 30 g (Tata 1mg, PharmEasy, Apollo Pharmacy), checked 28 October 2026; 100 g (Truemeds and IndiaMART suppliers), checked 21 October 2026.
• MHRA. 20 million illegal erectile dysfunction pills seized as MHRA warns against risky online buys, 13 February 2026. GOV.UK.
• US Food and Drug Administration. Personal Importation. FDA

This page is for information and is not medical advice. Monobenzone causes permanent loss of skin colour; use it only under the care of a dermatologist.