Can Hydroquinone REALLY Make Skin Darker?

Throughout its history, there has been a lot of misinformation regarding hydroquinone, which is an ingredient used to fade hyperpigmentation and severe melasma in the skin. It’s been around since 1936 and began selling over-the-counter in the 1950’s.
 
While it’s certainly one of the most effective and robust ingredients of its time, it tends to come with a bad reputation. The reason being that it was temporarily banned at one point when high concentrations of the ingredient (upwards of 20%) created a skin disorder called ochronosis in South Africa, specifically. The disorder ended up turning the skin a dark bluish shade which was understandably, alarming! 
However, it was eventually found out that there were also incredibly high amounts of illegal contaminants in the hydroquinone products, such as mercury. Once this was discovered, the ban was immediately lifted. Unfortunately the stigma still stuck around. 
So the point is, when hydroquinone is made properly with ingredients that have been regulated and tested, it’s completely safe to use. In fact, many dermatologists use it on themselves for years at a time. 
We hope this information helps you to make the most informed decision for yourself when shopping for skincare in the future!