Listen Up: The Hydroquinone Dirty Truth

We all have dark acne scars, sun spots, areas of hyperpigmentation or even freckles we would like to lighten and have disappear- right? Well contrary to a way-too-popular belief, hydroquinone is not the way to accomplish this. In fact, it has been called a 'Cancer-causing skin bleach' in the beauty industry!

Fairly unbeknownst to most of us, the FDA proposed a ban against over the counter sales of any products including the lightening ingredient in 2006 mainly on the basis of “high absorption, reports of exogenous ochronosis in humans, and murine hepatic adenomas, renal adenomas, and leukemia with large doses over extended time periods.” In plain English- It is a proven carcinogen in rodents, can cause the skin to become dark and thick, may produce yellow and gray dome-shaped spots AND may cause your adrenal gland to mis-function. However, due to the cash this very dangerous chemical brings in, the ban has not taken effect.

Don't you think that if a ultra-conservative administration such as the FDA is concerned with the safety of this ingredient that maybe-just maybe- we should be concerned? Not to mention that it is banned from the typically liberal Europe, Japan, and Australia. No joke.

So what can you use to help lighten those pesky dark spots?  Aside from getting regular facials or cool peels with spot treatments (this avoids lightening your whole face while targeting the areas of concern), some natural skin lighteners include bearberry extract, mulberry, white mulberry, licorice extract (specifically glabridin), azelaic acid, stabilized vitamin-C (L-ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) all have proven skin-lightening effects without the risky side effects of hydroquinone.

My medical-grade skin care line, Environ, includes licorice extract and L-ascorbic acid to help combat your personal skin care concerns.  Give us a call today to get started on a carcinogen-free skin care regimen at home!