Given Hydroquinone is Now Banned by the FDA, is Lustra a Safe Cream to Use?

Hydroquinone is a skin bleaching ingredient used to lighten areas of darkened skin. In 1982, the FDA published a rule to propose that OTC skin bleaching drug products containing 1.5 to 2 percent hydroquinone be generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE). In 2006 research revealed that hydroquinone taken orally by mice or rats could cause cancer. It also has been linked with a medical condition in humans known as ochronosis (skin darkening and disfiguration) when applied topically... more

Hydroquinone is a skin whitening cream that is available both over the counter and by prescription. The over the counter strengths range from 1.5 to 2%.  The prescription strength creams are 4%, It is still avalable today and has been proven safe when used as directed. Lustra cream is a cream containing hydroquinone and is relatively safe. A ban was proposed for hydroquinone by the FDA, but the ban attempt failed due to opposition to the ban by dermatologists. Safe use of this product... more