hydroquinone

American  

[hahy-droh-kwi-nohn, -druh-kwin-ohn] / ˌhaɪ droʊ kwɪˈnoʊn, -drəˈkwɪn oʊn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline compound, C 6 H 6 O 2 , formed by the reduction of quinone: used chiefly in photography and to inhibit autoxidation reactions.

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hydroquinone British  

/ ˌhaɪdrəʊkwɪˈnəʊn /

noun

1. Also called: quinol. a white crystalline soluble phenol used as a photographic developer; 1,4-dihydroxybenzene. Formula: C 6 H 4 (OH) 2

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Etymology

Origin of hydroquinone

First recorded in 1860–65; hydro- ¹ + quinone

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hydroquinone

The products from companies including M&M Beauty and Wellness, Ultimark Products and Genomma Lab USA contain hydroquinone, a depigmentation agent used in skin-lightening creams that has come under the FDA’s scrutiny over safety concerns.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 19, 2022

You can’t talk about hyperpigmentation treatments without mentioning hydroquinone — a controversial depigmenting agent that can bleach dark patches on the skin — which has been used for more than 40 years to treat hyperpigmentation.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 20, 2021

Most of the smuggled cosmetics tend to be skin-lightening creams that were banned in Uganda in 2016 because they contain mercury and hydroquinone, which some studies have linked to damaging health side-effects.

From BBC ● Jan. 8, 2020

If you’re not nursing, you can also use creams containing hydroquinone, or topical retinoids like Retin-A, to treat melasma after you give birth, Dr. Alexis said.

From New York Times ● Jul. 30, 2019

Two important developers now in common use are coal-tar products, viz. hydroquinone and eikonogen.

From Coal and What We Get from It by Raphael Meldola

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