Table of contents:
- What is kojic acid?
- How does it work?
- Products containing kojic acid
- Anti-aging to the skin
- Antimicrobial
- Antifungal
- Is kojic acid effective for lightening skin?
There are many ways you can get white and bright skin, from using face creams that are sold in the market to consulting a specialist. One of the facial lightening ingredients that is believed to be quite effective is kojic acid. However, is this material really effective and has been proven to be safe for the skin? Find out here, let's.
What is kojic acid?
Kojic acid is known to be a powerful ingredient for lightening the skin. This compound is made from several types of mushrooms. Acetobacter, Penicillium, and Aspergillus are types of fungi that are used to make kojic acid. Kojic acid is a by-product when certain foods are fermented, such as Japanese sake, soy sauce, and rice wine.
How does it work?
This compound is used as a skin lightening agent because of its effect on a protein known as tyrosinase. According to Dr. Alaina J. James at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, kojic acid works by preventing the function of a specific tyrosinase called chatecolase. This chatecolase enzyme plays a role in making melanin compounds.
Thus, by inhibiting protein tyrosinase's ability to make melanin, kojic acid is able to prevent skin pigmentation which can help lighten skin tone. As is well known, melanin is a color pigment that affects hair, skin and eye color.
Products containing kojic acid
Kojic acid has been widely used in various cosmetic products. For cosmetic ingredients used as skin lightening, the concentration allowed is usually one percent or even less. This compound is usually used for cosmetic products such as serums, creams, cleansers, and soaps for the face.
Some products such as soaps and cleaners are usually recommended to be washed immediately after use. Creams and serums are designed to be absorbed into the skin although kojic acid in general has a relatively low absorption rate on the surface of the skin.
Some products such as face masks are formulated to be used on certain occasions. While creams and cleansers are made to be used every day. Therefore, the content in each cosmetic has been adjusted to the type of use so that it is safe to use. This product is generally used for the face and hands.
Apart from lightening the skin tone, this ingredient is also known to have other good benefits for the skin. Check out the explanation below.
Anti-aging to the skin
This acid is known to repair damaged skin such as dull and wrinkled skin caused by sunlight and free radicals. In addition, this acid works at the same time to reduce age spots or scars.
Antimicrobial
This compound can help treat acne due to infection and the proliferation of bad bacteria on the skin. Besides that, it can also lighten the scars caused by acne.
Antifungal
This compound is even added to some antifungal products to increase its effectiveness. This may be useful in treating fungal infections of the skin such as fungal infections, ringworm, or water fleas.
Is kojic acid effective for lightening skin?
Usually, every beauty product has a different reaction for each person, including kojic acid. However, it generally takes 2-6 weeks to see the effect on your skin.
If you want to use a product that contains kojic acid to treat your problematic skin condition, it's a good idea to consult your doctor first. Your doctor can provide you with information about the dosage and the accompanying treatments for maximum effect.
It's good, before you try products that contain kojic acid, especially use on the face, first apply it on the hands or behind the ears and let it sit for about 15 minutes. If an unpleasant effect such as itching or redness occurs, this is a sign that your skin does not match the product.
On the other hand, however, you can continue using it if it doesn't produce any negative reactions. Stop use if you experience redness, rash, irritation, or pain. To calm irritation, immediately consult a doctor to find out the best treatment.
