28th Jan 2015
Kojic Acid Explained
Today, kojic acid is being used in cosmetics and skin lightening products regularly because it actually works and doesn’t have the dangerous side effects of many chemicals and compounds used as main ingredients.
If you’re already using topical treatments for skin lightening or just weighing your options before you pick a type to try, you should definitely consider a product that contains kojic acid. Kojic acid has many benefits that other main ingredients can’t offer.
What Is Kojic Acid?
Kojic acid is an all-natural compound derived from fungi – sort of like mushrooms. That means that kojic acid is completely natural and not something that’s man-made in a laboratory by a group of scientists and dermatologists.
Now that you know what kojic acid is, you probably want to know how it works. Kojic acid works in a fairly unique and effective way, especially considering that it’s all-natural.
Simply put, kojic acid works to stop the production of melanin in your skin. Melanin is the substance that gives your skin its pigment, and the more you have, the darker your skin will be. Age spots, sun spots and spots related to melasma and hyperpigmentation generally contain more melanin than the surrounding healthy skin.
However, you don’t have to have a skin problem for kojic acid to work. It will work on healthy skin and reduce the production of melanin, giving your skin an overall lighter appearance wherever you use the topical treatment.
Many products designed for lightening the skin have a very short shelf life because they really aren’t all that stable. Products that contain kojic acid generally have a much longer shelf life because kojic acid resists oxidation and spoilage.
Since many producers of skin lightening products sell treatments for fairly long periods of time, buying one with kojic acid just makes more sense. If you have to use a skin lightening treatment for six months, you don’t want the product to go bad or stop being effective halfway through. Kojic acid won’t do that because it’s very stable.