FDA Hydroquinone ban may be premature

Implications: The possible ban of over the counter hydroquinone skin bleaching agents may be premature. We have used these agents for 20 years without any significant side effects including ochronosis or paradoxical darkening of the skin. These agents are only modestly effective at best. Most patients still need prescription strength hyroquinone, and even this strength has few side effects.

Analysis: This ban will increase sales for companies with prescription strength hydroquinones like Obagi, Galderma, Stiefel, or Skin Medica. Of these companies the only one that has done a recent clinical trial for their product is Galderma.