Hydroquinone Side Effects

Skin Bleaching Creams Can Cause
Health Problems

Most people who want to lighten their skin aren't aware of hydroquinone side effects which can cause health problems for some users of skin bleaching creams.

What is Hydroquinone?

Hydroquinone is an ingredient facilitates the bleaching effect on skin in many of the popular products on the market. Many countries now ban the use of this ingredient, but it is still widely used in the United States.

Who would want to use skin-whitening products? People with rosacea, discolored skin, or even freckles are just some of the consumers to whom these products are heavily marketed.

Hydroquinone does exactly what it's supposed to do - it lightens the area wherever the product is applied. Unfortunately, along with lighter skin, there are many negative side effects that can come along with your lightened skin. In fact, you may end up with skin that's even darker than before you whitened it.

Potentially Harmful Hydroquinone Side Effects

• Swelling of the skin
• Rashes can appear
• Blistering or itchy skin
• Eyes - irritation or corrosion possible
• Affected area can turn a dark blue or black color permanently - hyperpigmentation
• Contact dermatitis - touch someone else with the area you've applied the product to and the hydroquinone can cause a rash to the other person
• When absorbed into the skin, it can be toxic
• Can permanently disfigure the skin area if used long term
• Skin that is exposed to the sun after using a product with hydroquinone is extremely sensitive and can possibly open up the skin to skin cancer
• Potential carcinogen

How can you know if you're experiencing a reaction to the hydroquinone in a skin-bleaching product? It's possible that you could experience difficulty breathing or even dizzy spells in addition to the negative skin reactions listed above.

More Serious Hydroquinone Side Effects

• Uncontrolled vomiting
• Twitching muscles
• Migraine headaches
• Discolored urine - greenish brown color
• Tremors
• Hallucinations
• Convulsions
• Ringing in the ears that won't stop
• Nausea
• Can cause decreased liver function, adrenal gland function, and kidney function

Scientific Research Regarding Hydroquinone

According to the 1994 publishing of the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, hydroquinone in any concentration higher than 1% is potentially toxic and dangerous to the skin and to some organs of the body.

This published article even stated that hydroquinone could possibly alter DNA and cause mutations because it's so toxic. It's simply not safe for topical use.

Hydroquinone was banned in every other country in the world based on that report, but due to the lobbying power of the medical associations in the United States, this potentially harmful ingredient is still used in many skin-lightening products in the U.S.

Even worse, it is used in a higher-than-recommended concentration of 2%. Some dermatologists will even prescribe products with 4% hydroquinone to lighten skin!

What Products Contain Hydroquinone?

There are nearly 200 skin-lightening products, if not more, in the United States alone that contain this ingredient. Other products that can contain hydroquinone include some facial moisturizers, skin and facial cleansing products, and hair conditioning products.

Three other names to look for on the ingredient list of any product are quinol, 4-diol or benzene - these are hydroquinone.

We've provided a list of some of the name brands of skin-whitening cosmetic products that can be found in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

• Melanex
• Alphaquin HP
• AHA Lightening Gel
• Esoterica Daytime
• Palmer's Skin Success Eventone Fade Cream
• Dermarest Skin Correcting Cream Plus,
• Aclaro PD
• Lustra and Lustra Ultra
• Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum
• Eldopaque Forte
• Pigment Gel – pHaze 13
• Pigmentation Fader by pH Advantage
• Claripel
• NeoStrata AHA
• Exuviance Intense Lightening Complex
• Eldopaque Forte
• Solaquin Forte
• Scarlight MD
• Nuquin HP
• Clinician's Complex
• EpiQuin Micro
• Lighten and Brighten Eye Treatment by Murad
• Solaquin
• Ultraquin
• Melapaque HP
• HydroBrite by DermaQuest
• Glyquin, Glytone, and Glyquin XM
• Melquin HP and Melquin-3
• Crema Blanca Bustillos
• Post Acne Spot Lightening Gel by Murad
• Enliten by Abella Skin Care

How To Lighten Skin Safely

Thankfully, there are natural products that will show you how to lighten skin effectively. These products don't contain hydroquinone, but instead include natural ingredients that will lighten and brighten skin naturally.

The best of these is a natural skin lightener that uses extrapone nutgrass, a natural ingredient that will lighten your skin while also helping the skin look healthier and younger. The process may take a little longer than the products that produce hydroquinone side effects, but the absence of negative health problems is so worth the wait!

Always approach skin care products with caution and with research and knowledge in hand. Check product ingredients so you can avoid adversely affecting your skin unnecessarily. Safe and natural skin whitening cream is readily available through online retailers, so isn't it worth a look?