When it comes to skin color desirability, there are 2 main schools of thought - the Sun Worshipers and the Snow Whites. Many of us know the dangers of basking under the sun one too many times, like your face looking more wrinkled, as if that wasn't bad enough, there's the potential risk of skin cancer.
On the other side, it is not a particularly uncommon aspiration for those who were born with darker skin to want to lighten up. The desire for a creamy complexion is a potentially dangerous one. The whitening lotions widely available on the market today claiming results in just days seem too good to be true for the naturally born tanned and they probably are.
Hydroquinone is the most commonly-used skin-whitening ingredient in the world, and has been widely used to treat hyper-pigmentation, age spots, melasma and the like - with proven effectiveness because of its potency. Sounds good, but not really. Studies have shown that frequent use of the products containing this have been linked to a medical condition known as "ochronosis" that causes the skin to become dark, thick and develop dome-shaped yellowish or grayish spots that are difficult to remove. Some studies also report abnormal functions of the adrenal glands and high levels of mercury in people who have used hydroquinone-containing cosmetics. Other side effects include loss of skin elasticity, poor wound healing, appearance of skin nodules, and fish odor syndrome. Hydroquinone is also a potent carcinogen.
Be aware, for the above reasons, hydroquinone use in cosmetic products has already been banned in Japan, the European Union, Australia and Canada. In the US, only products that contain 2% or less hydroquinone are available over the counter, while anything up to 4% require a prescription and supervision of a physician.
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