DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF HYDROQUINONE IN WHITENING CREAMS USING UV-VISIBLE SPECTROPHOTOMETRY: HEALTH IMPLICATIONS AND REGULATORY CONCERNS
Keywords:
Hydroquinone, Whitening Creams, UV-Visible Spectrophotometry, Cosmetic Safety, Dermatological Risks, Skin Lightening, Regulatory LimitsAbstract
Whitening creams are widely used to lighten skin tone, with hydroquinone being one of the most common active ingredients. This study utilized UV-visible spectrophotometry to detect the presence and concentration of hydroquinone in various whitening cream samples from different manufacturers. Findings revealed that all tested creams contained hydroquinone, with concentrations ranging from 0.07% to 4%. Notably, 35% of the screened samples exceeded the 2% threshold, which is the maximum limit allowed in some countries.
The detection of high hydroquinone levels (>2%) raises concerns regarding potential health risks for consumers. Long-term exposure to hydroquinone has been associated with premature skin aging, skin cancer, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and identity disorders. Additionally, seven out of ten users were diagnosed with at least one dermatological issue related to skin bleaching.
In this study, statistical analyses were performed, including mean, median, standard deviation, variance calculations, and calibration curve plotting to assess the distribution of hydroquinone concentrations across different samples. The results highlight the need for stricter regulations and consumer awareness regarding the use of whitening creams containing hydroquinone.
References
1. Nordin, F. N., Aziz, A., Zakaria, Z., & Wan Mohamed Radzi, C. W. J. (2021). A systematic review on the skin whitening products and their ingredients for safety, health risk, and the halal status. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 20(4), 1050–1060.
2. Trotus, I. T., Zimmermann, T., & Schuth, F. (2014). Catalytic reactions of acetylene: A feedstock for the chemical industry revisited. Chemical Reviews, 114(3), 1761–1782
3. Schwartz, C., Jan, A., & Zito, P. M. (2022). Hydroquinone. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
4. Matsumoto, M., Todo, H., Akiyama, T., Hirata-Koizumi, M., Sugibayashi, K., Ikarashi, Y., & Yokoyama, K. (2016). Risk assessment of skin lightening cosmetics containing hydroquinone. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 81, 128–135.
5. De Mendonça, C. M. S., de Barros Lima, I. P., Aragão, C. F. S., & Gomes, A. P. B. (2014). Thermal compatibility between hydroquinone and retinoic acid in pharmaceutical formulations. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 115(3), 2277–2285.
6. Draelos, Z. D., Deliencourt‐Godefroy, G., & Lopes, L. (2020). An effective hydroquinone alternative for topical skin lightening. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 19(12), 3258–3261.
7. Khunger, N., Bhardwaj, D., & Khunger, M. (2011). Evaluation of CROSS technique with 100% TCA in the management of ice pick acne scars in darker skin types. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 10(1), 51–57.
8. Dlova, N., Hamed, S. H., Tsoka‐Gwegweni, J., Grobler, A., & Hift, R. (2014). Women's perceptions of the benefits and risks of skin‐lightening creams in two South African communities. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 13(3), 236–241.
9. Darj, E., Infanti, J. J., Ahlberg, B. M., & Okumu, J. (2015). "The fairer the better?" Use of potentially toxic skin bleaching products. African Health Sciences, 15(4), 1074–1080.
10. Darj, E., Infanti, J. J., Ahlberg, B. M., & Okumu, J. (2015). "The fairer the better?" Use of potentially toxic skin bleaching products. African Health Sciences, 15(4), 1074–1080.
11. Saleh, S. M., Abdul Ghani, O. A., & Al-Hariri, F. (2015). Assessment on hydroquinone levels in some skin lightening creams available from the Aden markets, Yemen. Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 19(2), 355–362.
12. Elferjani, H. S., Ahmida, N. H., & Ahmida, A. (2017). Determination of hydroquinone in some pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations by spectrophotometric method. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 6(7), 2219–2224.
13. Sukamto, K., & Hutuba, A. (2021). Analysis of hydroquinone content in whitening cream circulating in Gorontalo City using UV-VIS spectrophotometry. Journal of Health, Technology and Science (JHTS), 2(4), 60–69.
14. Eradati, N., Tajabadi, F., Ahmadi-Ashtiani, H. R., Rezazadeh, S., Taherian, M., & Rastegar, H. (2020). Optimization of cleaning and analytical method for determination of arbutin, hydroquinone, and kojic acid in cosmetic products. Journal of Medicinal Plants, 20, 50–59.
15. Mohamd, T. M. A. (2018). Determination of concentration and stability of hydroquinone in skin whitening creams sold in Sudan (Doctoral dissertation, University of Gezira).
16. Barange, H., & Asghar, S. (2017). Development of analytical method for simultaneous estimation of hydroquinone and monobenzone in topical formulation by RP-HPLC. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 742–753.
17. Gatea, A. H. (2020, November). Review on analysis of interesting whitening agents in cosmetics products. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering (Vol. 928, No. 5, p. 052001). IOP Publishing.
18. Azhar, N. F. (2019). Spectrophotometric method for hydroquinone determination in skin whitening products.
19. Majeed, T., Shah, S. H., & Anjum, I. (2021). Estimation of mercury and hydroquinone content in skin whitening creams and the potential risks to the health of women in Lahore, Pakistan. Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatologists, 31(1), 33–41.
20. Sulistyarti, H., Sari, P. M., Retnowati, R., Tolle, H., & Wiryawan, A. (2020, May). Indirect spectrophotometry method based on the formation of chromium (VI)-diphenylcarbazide complex for determination of hydroquinone in cosmetics. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering (Vol. 833, No. 1, p. 012048). IOP Publishing.
21. Irfan, M., Shafeeq, A., Siddiq, U., Bashir, F., Ahmad, T., Athar, M., ... & Lam, S. S. (2022). A mechanistic approach for toxicity and risk assessment of heavy metals, hydroquinone, and microorganisms in cosmetic creams. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 433, 128806.
22. Tampak, V. S. (2015). Assessment on hydroquinone in selected cosmetic cream and toner via high-performance liquid chromatography and ultra-violet visible detector spectrometry. Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, 19(4), 824–830.
23. Maggadani, B. P., Harahap, Y., & Hutabalian, H. L. N. (2019). Simultaneous identification and quantification of hydroquinone, tretinoin, and betamethasone in cosmetic products by isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. International Journal of Applied Pharmacy, 11(3), 181–185.
24. Siyaka, L., Joda, A. E., Yesufu, H. B., & Akinleye, M. O. (2016). Determination of hydroquinone content in skin-lightening creams in Lagos, Nigeria. The Pharma Innovation, 5(9, Part B), 101.
