Hydroquinone is the compound most frequently used in skin-whitening products. Due to concerns about its side effects, it was almost banned by the FDA in 2006, as medical issues of carcinogenicity and reports of disfiguring ochronosis existed.Toombs, E. L. (2007), Hydroquinone – what is future?. Dermatologic Therapy, 20: 149–156. In the European Union hydroquinone has been banned in cosmetic creams since 2000.
