1. What is Kojic Acid?
The name kojic acid is derived from "Koji", which is a chemical product obtained from various fungi such as A. flavus, A. oryzae, A. tamari and A. parasiticus. Kojic acid is also created from the fermentation of certain Asian foods (e.g. soy sauce and rice wine), acting as a fungal bait or tissue culture agent.
The chemical structure of Kojic Acid was determined to be 5-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-γ-pyron. Some species of fungi are capable of producing Kojic Acid in large quantities but with advances in genetic engineering, it is possible to alter their ability to achieve higher yields. Accordingly, the aim is to provide a large quantity of kojic acid in cosmetics, as a skin-whitening agent, skin-lightening agent or skin-depleting agent used in various cosmetic formulations.
Can kojic acid be applied directly to the face?
Kojic acid is an organic compound, that can be used in cosmetics, medicine, and food,. kojic acid cream or kojic acid powder and other preparations can be directly applied to the face, there is a certain skin whitening and light spot effect, but pay attention to the dosage, and daily need to do a good job of skin care work, to avoid rough skin or skin pigmentation.
Kojic acid has certain antioxidant and antibacterial effects, kojic acid cream or kojic acid powder directly applied to the face, can play an antioxidant role. Kojic acid can inhibit the synthesis of tyrosinase and can dilute the pigmentation of the face, so as to improve skin quality, for people with facial pigmentation, the correct application of kojic acid, generally will not cause irritation to the skin. However, because kojic acid is a chemical stripping agent, try to avoid long-term use of large doses, otherwise it is likely to cause irritation and damage to the skin, resulting in damage to the skin stratum corneum and skin sensitivity.
In daily life, paying attention to the hydration of the skin and sunscreen is necessary. You can thoroughly clean the skin every morning and evening and then use skin care products to moisturize the skin, avoid dryness, and prevent skin pigmentation. When you go out daily, you must take sunscreen measures to reduce UV exposure.
3. Possible side effects when using kojic acid
In addition to the benefits, a number of adverse reactions may also be associated with kojic acid when used in cosmetic products.
Among them, contact dermatitis (especially on people with sensitive skin) is the main side effect of kojic acid. Manifestations of contact dermatitis when using kojic acid are irritation, rash, dermatitis, itching, and pain. However, these side effects can be observed in cases of improper use of kojic acid, abuse of kojic acid such as taking in concentrations higher than 1%.
Another side effect that can appear with long-term use of kojic acid is sunburn in people with sensitive skin. In addition, there is some evidence that kojic acid can also lead to skin cancer on damaged skin. However, further studies are still needed to determine other potential benefits or risks of kojic acid.
In general, kojic acid is quite popular with applications in different purposes, especially cosmetics with skin whitening products, teeth whitening. Therefore, the presence of kojic acid is found in whitening creams, lotions and bleaching soaps as well as in dental and medical care products. However, it is necessary to use kojic acid at the recommended concentration in order to achieve its effectiveness and safety for the skin.
Refer to the article on the website of Vinmec International General Hospital for more information about beauty as well as health care knowledge at different ages.
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