Monobenzylether of hydroquinone. A retrospective study of treatment of 18 vitiligo patients and a review of the literature.

Of 18 severely afffected vitiligo patients who used 20% monobenzylether of hydroquinone (MBEH, Benoquin) as a depigmenting agent, 8 achieved complete depigmentation after 10 months or more of use and 3 dramatic but no complete hypopigmentation. The 3 patients with no results did not use MBEH for more than 4 months. Complications were frequent particularly among those who did well, but only 1 case of contact dermatitis limited therapy. All patients who depigmented fully were very pleased with their results. As depigmentation induced by MBEH is generally irreversible, MBEH use must be reserved for induction of complete depigmentation of severely affected vitiligo patients who cannot or do not choose to repigment and who can accept the permanence of never tanning. The history, histology and mechanism of MBEH depigmentation are discussed.