The FDA may decide that hydroquinone should not be available in skin bleaching creams sold over the counter and that it should only be available by prescription.  This is because of weak evidence of a cancer link in rats and mice which were fed hydroquinone in high doses.

There is no evidence  of any cancer link of hydroquinone in humans, even though it has been used for many years. Many plastic surgery and dermatology experts feel that hydroquinone is safe and effective to treat important medical and cosmetic conditions that result in excessively dark areas of skin. The use of hydroquinone should not be restricted.