In the past few years, FDA and state health officials have discovered numerous products marketed as skin lighteners that contain ingredients like mercury and/or hydroquinone. FDA does not allow mercury in drugs or in cosmetics, except under very specific conditions where there are no other safe and effective preservatives available – conditions that these products do not meet.  Over-the-counter (OTC) skin lightening products containing the active drug ingredient hydroquinone are unapproved drugs and are not generally recognized as safe and effective (not GRASE). Skin lightening products are generally marketed to be applied topically but may also be injected.