The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning letters to 12 companies for selling illicit skin brighteners. The products contain the active drug hydroquinone, rendering them unapproved over-the-counter (OTC) drugs rather than cosmetics—and they do not meet the requirements to be legally sold as OTC drugs.
The warning letters highlight that these OTC skin-brightening products are not generally recognized as safe or effective (i.e., not GRASE). In fact, the FDA has received reports of serious side effects including skin rashes, facial swelling and ochronosis (discoloration of skin) from the use of skin-brightening products containing hydroquinone. The FDA advises consumers to not use these products due to the potential harm they could cause.
Kristel Adriaenssens Milet 1 April 2025 Social intelligence company Dynvibe, which specialises in behavioural marketing…
26 March 2025 The 35th IFSCC Congress will take place in Cannes from September 15…
This AI-powered skin diagnostic device uses bio-optical technology alongside AI algorithms to analyze the skin’s…