This 2024 review examined 15 years of safety research on hydroquinone, a popular skin-lightening ingredient used for melasma and dark spots. The research prompted the U.S. to ban it from over-the-counter products, signaling real safety concerns—though the abstract doesn't specify what those concerns are.

Researchers reviewed published studies from the past 15 years on hydroquinone's safety profile, compiling findings to provide an updated assessment of this widely-used lightening agent.

Funding not disclosed in abstract