Definition of "hydroquinone" [hy•dro•qui•none]

• A white crystalline compound, C6H4(OH)2, used as a photographic developer, an antioxidant, a stabilizer, and a reagent. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Nail salons overflow with potent toxins; the women who work in them are overwhelmingly nonwhite, often Asian, with an average age of thirty-eight—which means many are of childbearing age.125 The skin-whitening products so popular in Asia frequently contain a carcinogen called hydroquinone, as well as the heavy metals chromium and mercury.126 And the hair relaxers aggressively marketed to African-American women are very toxic."
• "It turns out this kind of hydroquinone discussions are actually"
• "A: Superficial chemical peels or using a topical lightening agent such as hydroquinone, retinoid, AHA, glycolic acid, etc, are other ways to treat your condition."