A Closer Inspection of Kojic Acid as a Skin Brightening Agent

For a long time, hydroquinone has secured the top spot as the most used and most popular active ingredient in skin brightening creams. However, when recent reports stated the alarming health risks of hydroquinone usage, the skin bleaching industry switched to more natural, less dangerous substances. One of these spot brightening formula ingredients is kojic acid.

What is Kojic Acid?
Kojic acid is a natural product derived from mushrooms first discovered in Japan. It is a by-product of the fermentation process used in sake or rice wine manufacture. In Japan kojic acid is actually a natural food and cosmetic color preservative. This all-natural coloring preservative is employed to stop oxidative browning in fruits and help protect color in seafood. Because of its natural bleaching qualities, it's been used in a number of the safer and more effective brightening products today. 

How Does It Lighten Skin?
When it comes to skin brightening, kojic acid operates by blocking tyrosinase activity so that melanin production is inhibited. Skin pigmentation, sunspots, and freckles in many cases are the consequence of overexposure to the sun and the resulting melanin overproduction, which safeguards the skin from UV penetration. The application of kojic acid to the skin can be carried out through brightening creams, bleaching lotions, and spot lightening serums.

Safety Concerns
Like any other skin lightening ingredient, kojic acid continues to be confronted with various claims and counter-claims regarding its efficiency and safety. Although some European studies have reported on the possible side-effects of kojic acid in higher dosages, most creams and preparations use a dose of approximately 0.2%, making the product generally effective and safe for bleaching treatments. When buying kojic acid based spot correctors, therefore, it's a good idea to only purchase from trusted suppliers. 

Since kojic acid is an all natural fermentation by-product, it doesn’t possess the alarming side-effects of chemical-based bleaching components such as hydroquinone. The Scientific Committee on Consumer Products in Europe finds kojic acid to be non-carcinogenic and non-genotoxic. In addition to its ability to brighten brown spots and hyperpigmentation on skin, it's also known to eliminate free radicals and aid in toning skin. It's an efficient solution for age spots, freckles, melasma, dark scars, along with other skin pigmentation problems. 

When applied correctly and used in the recommended dosage, kojic acid can brighten skin and discoloration effectively. It provides the fast and convenient results of hydroquinone, with no nasty side effects and concerns about carcinogens.