
Originally Posted by
Hockogrocle
I don't know if there is any definitive empirical evidence on hydroquinone and skin cancer, but simply on theoretical grounds I would recommend being extremely careful with any sort of skin-bleaching compound.
Anything that bleaches (including hydrogen peroxide) does so by creating free radical molecules. Free radicals are extremely damaging to the large molecules that cells need to function properly, including DNA. Normally (when bleaching hair, for example), skin is protected somewhat by a fairly impervious outer layer of dead cells, but bleaching skin requires getting in to the deeper layers where pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) are found. Since melanocytes are also the cells involved in melanoma, exposing them to a bleaching agent seems to me to be just asking for trouble.
Are there any other options that your wife might consider? Some sort of cover-up, perhaps?
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