US safety watchdog plans to withdraw hydroquinone skin products

New York: A recent ruling of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will put some American consumers of popular skin lightening products on alert, citing serious concerns with the safety of products containing hydroquinone – which may pose a risk for cancer and in other cases, cause a rare skin disease that results in a blue-black discoloration called ochronosis. Many US consumers use these products in their fight against age spots and skin discoloration.

Pending a final ruling by the FDA, within 30 days of December 30, 2006, all 2 percent hydroquinone over-the- counter (OTC) products will be withdrawn from store shelves and consumer distribution. Hydroquinone has already been banned in Japan, much of the European Union and Africa.

As consumers seek alternatives and retailers pull entire product lines from their shelves, an increasing number are turning to their dermatologists for help in combating age spots and skin discoloration. Fortunately, many of these doctors are able to provide their patients with PRESCRIBEDsolutions (Customized Skincare), an entire range of skin brightening products – without hydroquinone – from night creams to cleansers that can be boosted in a matter of seconds in a physician’s office with bio-engineered and botanical brightening agents that significantly lessen hyperpigmentation, where skin becomes darker in color than the normal surrounding skin.

In addition to other ingredients, PRESCRIBEDsolutions products contain a unique form of Vitamin C called sodium ascorbyl phosphate that also has skin brightening benefits. In clinical trails, sodium ascorbyl phosphate reduced the color of age spots by 25 percent after 2 months and reduced the melanogenesis in primary human melanocytes by 57 percent.

In the US, this customization and this special form of Vitamin C are only available through physicians nationwide. PRESCRIBEDsolutions is the only skincare line that enables physicians to customize patients’ skincare products so ALL products can be made to address their skin brightening needs.

“Physicians are the experts to turn to at a time like this,” noted Aurelian Lis, a respected authority on cosmeceuticals and the Chief Operating Officer of PRESCRIBEDsolutions. The ability to individualize the skin products for patients means that physicians can address age spots and brightening simultaneous to other skin issues,”

“It’s understandable that patients are very concerned by this FDA warning,” said David Avram, M.D. a prominent New York dermatologist. “Hydroquinone-free alternatives like PRESCRIBEDsolutions customized with potent brightening ingredients by their physician is very effective way of addressing hyperpigmentation. Patients should consult with their dermatologist to find out which skin products are safe alternatives,” added Dr. Avram.

Patients concerned with age spots and looking for alternatives to hydroquinone can find out more about the customized boosters and products and find a local dispensing physician, by going to www.prescribedsolutions.com.

ABOUT PRESCRIBEDsolutions (Customized Skincare)
PRESCRIBEDsolutions is the only skincare line that enables physicians to customize patients’ skincare products. Physicians can individualize the high performance base products, in a matter of seconds, for different skin concerns such as adult acne, lack of elasticity, photoaging or hyperpigmentation. This straightforward customization process allows them to provide their patients more than 100 treatment combinations. Since launch, the line has expanded to many of the most highly regarded dermatologists in the US.