Dark spots. We all get them whether they are caused by the sun or aging, they happen. When seeking a way to eliminate these dark spots, you may have heard of vitamin C serum to lighten and brighten your skin but have you heard of kojic acid’s magical brightening benefits? Kojic acid is underrated in the skin care world but it’s noticeable benefits should not be overlooked any longer. Kojic acid is derived from different fungi like mushrooms and can be byproducts of the fermentation process of sake, rice wine and soy sauce. From brightening to anti-aging, these are all the skin care benefits of kojic acid.
1. Combats dark spots. The main benefit of kojic acid is it’s lightening and brightening abilities when it comes to sun spots, age spots, melasma and hyperpigmentation. All of these dark spots on your face may be a result of environmental aggressors like UV damage. Kojic acid can effectively lighten these spots and prevent future spots by blocking tyrosine formation, an amino acid needed to support the production of melanin or pigmentation. An overall decreased melanin production can lead to a lightening effect on your skin.
2. Anti-aging effects. Kojic acids ability to block tyrosine formation can also help combat skin aging. As you get older, overactive pigment cells up the production of melanin. When this is combined with years of sun exposure, dark age spots become more prominent on your skin. As kojic acid blocks tyrosine to lighten dark spots, it also can work to combat fine lines and wrinkles while improving your overall skin tone. Overall resulting in a more even, bright, younger-looking complexion.
3. Anti-bacterial. This ingredient inhibits an ability to fight off several common types of bacterial strains even in small dilutions. It helps decrease the chances of bacterial infection flair ups on the skin and can even combat several types of bacterial skin infections. Because kojic acid is anti-bacterial, it can also help treat breakouts and acne that may be a result of bacteria on the skin. In doing so, it also works to lighten acne scarring and reveal more clear, bright skin.
How can you use kojic acid and is it safe?
Sensitive skin types may experience redness and irritation as a possible side effect when using kojic acid, so it is important to start slowly when adding the ingredient to your skin care routine. Kojic acid may also make your skin more sensitive to the sun since it inhibits the production of melanin. However, that is nothing a hat and a high SPF can’t fix. Applying kojic acid topically through a serum or moisturizer is the best way to achieve its full array of benefits. Fyab Health has an amazingly gentle Brightening Serum that is great for first timers looking to try out kojic acid. It is formulated with other lightening ingredients like vitamin C, ferulic acid and vitamin E along with kojic acid to reveal bright, glowing, smooth skin.
Sources:
Burnett, C. L., Bergfeld, W. F., Belsito, D. V., Hill, R. A., Klaassen, C. D., Liebler, D. C., … Andersen, F. A. (2010, Nov-Dec). Final report of the safety assessment of kojic acid as used in cosmetics [Abstract]. International Journal of Toxicology, 29(6 Suppl), 244S-73 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21164073 —READ NOW
Cabanes, J., Chazarra, S., & Garcia-Carmona, F. (1994, December). Kojic acid, a cosmetic skin whitening agent, is a slow binding inhibitor of catecholase activity of tyrosinase [Abstract]. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 46(12), 982-985 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7714722 —READ NOW
Kim, J. H., Campbell, B. C., Chan, K. L., Mahoney, N., & Haff, R. P. (2013). Synergism of antifungal activity between mitochondrial respiration inhibitors and kojic acid. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 18(2), 1564–1581. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules18021564 —READ NOW
Yan-Hong Wang, Cristina Avonto, Bharathi Avula, Mei Wang, Diego Rua, Ikhlas A Khan, Quantitative Determination of α-Arbutin, β-Arbutin, Kojic Acid, Nicotinamide, Hydroquinone, Resorcinol, 4-Methoxyphenol, 4-Ethoxyphenol, and Ascorbic Acid from Skin Whitening Products by HPLC-UV, Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL, Volume 98, Issue 1, 1 January 2015, Pages 5–12, https://doi.org/10.5740/jaoacint.14-123 —READ NOW
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