The Food and Drug Adminstration in the United States yesterday made moves to ban the sale of skin-bleaching creams without a prescription. The FDA believes the risks involved in using the creams justify the move.
Generally speaking, skin-bleachers contain hydroquinone which is a drug that could be a carcinogen -- something often linked to a condition that disfigures the skin. Also, animal tests show hydroquinone may be linked with some cancers.
The FDA would reclassify skin-bleachers as a new drug and each new cream would have to be approved. There are some 130 skin-bleaching products on the US market that contain hydroquinone.
