Question:

I`ve been using a cream with hydroquinone 2% for about 2 weeks now and I just heard that it`s possible to get skin cancer using products that contain this chemical. Is that true?

Answer:

There is no data to show that hydroquinone causes cancer in humans. There are some studies which show that it can cause cancer in rats. However, hydroquinone is absorbed very slowly through the skin, and the rats in these studies were given hydroquinone in large quantities either orally or by injection. Also, many drugs that can cause cancer in rats do not have the same effect in humans. As with all drugs, the benefits and risks of the medication must be weighed to determine their appropriateness of use.

Submitted by Nelson Ye, Pharm D Candidate, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy

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Go to the Pharmacy and Medications health topic.