Thiamidol – the number one ingredient against hyperpigmentation

Thiamidol for Hyperpigmentation - Complete Guide

6 min. read
Show more

The skincare revolution has carried active ingredients to the forefront, completely changing the way you care for your skin.
These actives are potent compounds that target specific skin concerns, like acne, hyperpigmentation, or ageing.
An emerging skin active that tackles it all is Thiamidol - the key to resolving hyperpigmentation. Discover how Eucerin’s products with Thiamidol can help you achieve a more even and radiant skin tone.

Keynotes:

  • Thiamidol emerges as the new patented, gentle, and effective treatment for hyperpigmentation
  • The Eucerin Thiamidol treatment combats sun spots, acne marks, melasma, among other hyperpigmentation problems
  • Gentle on the skin, this skin active suits sensitive skin generating minimal, rare side effects
  • Easily infused into skincare products, it can be used every day

 

What is Thiamidol?

A solution for more even skin.

Thiamidol is a revolutionary and unique active ingredient that effectively reduces dark spots (e.g. sun spots) and pigmentation.
The active ingredient addresses the common skin concern of hyperpigmentation in Indian skin by targeting its root cause.

This skin active works by inhibiting an enzyme called tyrosinase, which is crucial for melanin production. In doing so, this skin-active ingredient helps you lighten hyperpigmentation.
Uneven skin tone is caused by an increase in melanin, the pigment that gives color to our skin, and hair.
Factors such as sun exposure, acne, inflammation, and aging can cause skin cells to produce excess melanin in certain areas, leading to dark spots or uneven pigmentation, also known as hyperpigmentation or melasma.

By inhibiting melanin production, Thiamidol ensures that less pigment reaches your skin's surface, causing hyperpigmentation like dark spots and blemishes to gradually fade. Using Thiamidol for hyperpigmentation also reduces the recurrence of these spots.

How Does Thiamidol Compare to Other Hyperpigmentation Treatments?

Eucerin’s Thiamidol blocks pigment production by inhibiting the enzyme known as tyrosinase. This reduces melanin production, which gives pigment to conditions such as melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
While other active ingredients for hyperpigmentation provide similar benefits, this skin active does so while being gentle on your skin.

Thiamidol vs Hydroquinone

Other skin actives like Hydroquinone take effect by bleaching your skin. This ingredient reduces the number of melanocytes present in your skin - the cells responsible for producing melanin.
However, this skin active may lead to irritation for already dry and sensitive skin types.
Thiamidol, on the other hand, is a gentler solution that suits sensitive skin types too. It has minimal side effects, making it ideal for long-term use.
In terms of efficacy, studies established that 0.2% Thiamidol provided similar melasma improvement compared to 4% hydroquinone cream. It can be used daily, morning and night, as per your skin regimen.

Thiamidol vs Cosmelan 2

Ingredients, such as Niacinamide (vitamin B3), Ascorbic acid, Azelaic acid, Arbutin, Retinol (weak), Kojic acid, Cysteamine, HQ-hydroquinone, and botanicals such as licorice root extract, bearberries are solutions that block tyrosinase too.
You can find some of them within Cosmelan 2, a mix of pigment correctors such as azelaic acid, kojic acid, phytic acid, retinyl palmitate & niacinamide.
However, no new studies compare the efficacy of the two ingredients as of 2025.

Thiamidol vs Retinol

Thiamidol for hyperpigmentation directly targets tyrosinase, the enzyme that triggers melanin production.
Retinol on the other hand boosts your skin cell turnover rate, which helps deal with uneven skin tone and texture.
Thiamidol has proven to be an effective solution for hyperpigmentation such as melasma or acne scars.
With a gentler formulation, the active ingredient exhibits rare and limited side effects.
Retinol on the other hand is known to cause irritation in some users.

Thiamidol vs Niacinamide

Thiamidol and niacinamide both work to help you with even skin, just in different manners.
While Thiamidol regulates tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production, niacinamide stops the transfer of melanin to keratinocytes, which make up the top layer of your skin.
With its gentler formulation, studies show that Thiamidol can be used even few times a day and be well tolerated by the skin while showing effective results.

Thiamidol vs Vitamin C

While Thiamidol and vitamin C, both work by inhibiting tyrosinase, vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant that helps with overall skin brightening.
However, vitamin C is difficult to use in its most potent form given its unstable nature and may irritate some skin types.
Thiamidol, on the other hand, can be easily infused in serums, creams, sun protection, and even under-eye treatment, making it a skincare staple.

How to Use Thiamidol for Skin

Its gentle formulation makes this skin active an effective ingredient for daily skin care routine.
These products can be woven into your daily regimen to treat hyperpigmentation, dark spots, melasma, and acne marks, and achieve an even tone.
It can be used in 3 ways, according to your aims, your skin sensitivity, and your current skincare routine:

  • Daily, morning or night. Most popular and on-label as guided by Eucerin.
  • With other skin care products, off-label, mix Thiamidol with other pigment correctors such as azelaic acid, vitamin C, and arbutin.
  • In a pulsed or skin cycling manner, once every second to fourth day, or pulsed over the weekend. This off-label use of Thiamidol cycles other pigment correctors. The choice depends on your physician.

Does Thiamidol Have Any Side Effects?

Using Thiamidol for the skin has minimal and rare side effects.
Unlike other stronger compounds such as Hydroquinone, Thiamidol in Eucerin products is suitable for even dry and sensitive skin types.
This skin active for pigmentation can be used daily, with other skin actives, and in a pulsed or cycling manner.
These factors combine to make it an efficient addition to a daily skincare regimen.

Thiamidol Products for Hyperpigmentation

Eucerin offers a number of skin care solutions backed by Thiamidiol.

Anti-Pigment Night Care

Thiamidol can be utilised as a night cream for pigmentation by Eucerin.
The regenerating night cream used our patented skin active to deliver even, radiant skin while supporting the skin’s natural regeneration process overnight.

Anti-Pigment Dual Serum

The Anti-Pigment Dual Serum uses Thiamidol for pigmentation induced by the sun.
Eucerin's pigmentation serum helps reduce sun-induced dark spots while preventing their reappearance. Eucerin’s serum also utilises Hyaluronic Acid to smoothen fine lines and deliver firmer skin.

Anti-Pigment Dark Circle Eye Cream

Pigmentation manifests in several forms, dark circles being one of the most common ones.
This under eye cream for dark circles by Eucerin is enriched with Thiamidol. The cream instantly refreshes your look and helps reduce dark circles, fine lines, and puffiness under the eyes.

Anti-Pigment Day Care SPF 30

The moisturising day cream by Eucerin delivers SPF 30 and Thiamidol for pigmentation.
The cream effectively reduces sun-induced dark spots, and age spots, and prevents recurrence.

Final Thoughts on Thiamidol Benefits for Skin

With emerging techniques for treating hyperpigmentation, Thiamidol stands out as a breakthrough ingredient.
Owing to both - its effectiveness and gentle formulation, this skin active can be woven into your regular skin care regimen with ease, taking on pigmentation problems steadily every day.
Whether you're on the lookout for sun protection, topical serums, or face creams, Eucerin’s Thiamidol does it all.

FAQs:

How long does Thiamidol take to work?

Infused in skin care products, such as Eucerin Anti-pigment serum, Thiamidol takes 2 weeks to work. You can observe the best results in 4 to 12 weeks of continued use. Eucerin claims up to 75% reduction in pigmentation in 12 weeks.

Is Thiamidol better than other ingredients?

Yes. Thiamidol has proven to be more effective and gentler than other skin actives like Hydroquinone. It is the most effective out of 50,000 ingredients tested, targeting the root cause of pigmentation by regulating melanin production.¹ This helps visibly reduce dark spots and prevent their recurrence.

Can I use Thiamidol in the morning?

Yes, it is formulated to go gentle on your skin. This makes it suitable for daily, day and night use. You can also utilise Thiamidol for hyperpigmentation in a pulsed or skin-cycling manner, once every second to fourth day, or pulsed over the weekend. Consult your dermatologist to add other pigment correctors to your cycle.

Is Thiamidol safe to use?

Yes. Using Thiamidol for pigmentation generated minimal and rare side effects, making it suitable for sensitive skin types too. Eucerin’s patented skin active can be found in versatile skin care products that can be weaved into your regular skin care.

Does Thiamidol cause rebound hyperpigmentation?

No. Using Thiamidol for the skin does not cause rebound hyperpigmentation - caused by a sudden halt in the ingredient's usage. Its gentler formulation also prevents paradoxical hyperpigmentation, meaning the inflammatory response induced by the strong nature of skin care solutions.

How to apply Thiamidol?

It can be utilisied through a range of versatile skincare products. Start with the Anti-Pigment Dual Serum for your mornings and follow it with the Anti-Pigment Day Care SPF 30. Before bed, add the Anti-Pigment Night Care to your routine and layer it with the Anti-Pigment Dark Circle Eye Cream.

Is Thiamidol good for hyperpigmentation?

Yes, it is an effective solution for melasma, dark spots, acne marks, dark circles, and several other skin discoloration concerns. With its gentle formula, Thiamidol can be used every day and for sensitive skin types too.

Is Thiamidol safe for the face?

Yes. Eucerin Thiamidol can be used on your face as it presents very little and rare side effects such as irritation. The skin active uses a gentle formula that can be used every day, even on sensitive skin.

Can Thiamidol be used with other ingredients?

Yes. Owing to its gentle formulation, Thiamidol for6 skin can be used in a pulsed or cycling manner in combination with other skin actives. Consult your dermatologist to select other anti-pigmentation ingredients in your skincare.

Sources

  • T. Mann, V. Welge, J. Weise, D. Roggenkamp, L. Kolbe (2020), EADV Congress
  • Product in Use (PIU) study of the Anti Pigment Illuminating Serum with 120 women after 4 weeks of regular usage in the year 2021, conducted by MWResearch GmbH, Germany
  • Product in Use (PIU) study with 100 women after 8 weeks of regular usage in the year 2020, conducted by MWResearch GmbH, Germany.
  • Thiamidol containing treatment regimens in facial hyperpigmentation