Hydroquinone - Side Effects, Injuries & Lawsuit Information
Hydroquinone is a type of phenol, which is used in some skin whitening and bleaching creams to suppress the production of melanin (while breaking down the existing deposits of this pigment-producing compound) in order to treat skin discoloration. The goal of these creams is to get the skin as white and clear as possible, while reducing the number of wrinkles, pimples, freckles and breakouts at the same time.
Some of the specific types of hydroquinone products treat freckles, age spots, acne scars and chloasma. Chloasma, also referred to as melasma, causes certain areas of the skin to darken due to the hormone fluctuations typically associated with pregnancy or taking oral or patch contraceptives. Chloasma usually affects the areas of skin on the face, such as the forehead, upper cheek, nose, and lips.
While some prescription hydroquinone products have been formulated with concentrations as high as 10 percent hydroquinone, in general, the maximum amount of hydroquinone medical professionals recommend is 4 percent. More commonly, these skin-whitening products contain between 2 and 3 percent hydroquinone.
Hydroquinone Side Effects
There several side effects found to be associated with hydroquinone bleaching creams. Users might experience side effects on a variety of different levels, depending on if they have used 4%, 5%, 6%, 10% or 20% hydroquinone. Among the possible side effects include:
- Burning
- Redness
- Swelling of skin
- Itching
- Crusting
- Allergic reactions
- Cancer
Visit your doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of these side effects. Seek emergency medical help and treatment if you are having a severe allergic reaction to the medication.
The dangers of hydroquinone and hydroquinone 4% are not untypical in topical skin bleaching creams. Topical skin creams are designed to help skin look younger and more beautiful, blocking acne and wrinkles from forming on the body all while bleaching the skin. But many skin creams on the market can lead to burning, itching and an allergic reaction in the user because of an active ingredient known as tretinoin.
These skin creams might also have a chemical that is referred to as a hormone disruptor or endocrine disruptor, which can wreak havoc on the human body by throwing off the hormone levels. Check all the labels and active ingredients in any skin cream, including hydroquinone and 4% hydroquinone, to make sure you are not using a harmful product.
FDA Warnings
In August 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it was going to void its previous approval of hydroquinone while also proposing banning all OTC hydroquinone creams. The FDA further stated that hydroquinone had been found to cause a range of different malignancies in studies on rats and, consequently, that hydroquinone should be studied further (as it cannot definitively classified as “non-carcinogenic”).
Along with causing leukemia and blood-related cancers, some of the other types of tumors hydroquinone has been reported to cause in laboratory animals include those affecting the kidneys, liver and thyroid. Some of the serious side effects hydroquinone patients have reported include severe allergic reaction and/or severe burning or itching of the skin.
Speak With A Hydroquinone Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured (or suspect you have been injured) as a result of using any type of hydroquinone cream, contact us to speak with a defective drug attorney today to learn more about your legal rights. You may be eligible for a sizeable settlement that can compensate you for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.
