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Question: What is hydroquinone and why is it bad?

 

Answer:

 

Hydroquinone is a skin lightener used in many whitening creams or fade treatments. It has already been banned in many countries, such as Europe and Asia, but it's still legal in the United States...for how much longer, no one knows for sure.

 

Hydroquinone is one of the active ingredients in the popular Obagi skin care line. In the United States, 4% hydroquinone products are available via prescription and 2% products are available over-the-counter.

 

 

 
 
The reason hydroquinone has such a bad rep is because studies have shown that hydroquinone has some cancerous effects. Hydroquinone also turns toxic when exposed to sunlight, so it should only be used as a spot treatment (not all over the face) at night.

 

I would stay away from hydroquinone just because of the risks associated with it. If you are looking for skin lighteners, chemical peels and vitamin C are good alternatives.

 

 

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