The role of kojic acid, the role and efficacy of kojic acid on the skin

Kojic acid is a controversial beauty ingredient. It is the second most powerful ingredient in beauty effects, but it carries a risk of causing cancer. So, let us briefly introduce this ingredient that people both love and hate!

Effects of Kojic Acid

Kojic acid is a melanin-specific inhibitor. After entering the skin cells, it can complex with the copper ions in the cells, change the three-dimensional structure of tyrosinase, prevent the activation of tyrosinase, and thus inhibit the formation of melanin. Kojic acid-based whitening actives have better tyrosinase inhibition effects than other whitening actives. It does not act on other biological enzymes in the cells and has no toxic effect on the cells. At the same time, it can enter the intercellular matrix and form intercellular colloid, which plays a role in retaining water and increasing skin elasticity.

Functions and uses of kojic acid

1. Used in the industry to make cosmetics: Kojic acid can inhibit the synthesis of tyrosinase, and thus can strongly inhibit the formation of skin melanin. It is safe and non-toxic and will not produce sequelae of white spots. Therefore, kojic acid has been added to lotions, facial masks, lotions, and skin creams to make high-end whitening cosmetics that can effectively treat freckles, age spots, pigmentation, acne, etc. Kojic acid at a concentration of 20ug/ml can inhibit 70-80% of the activity of various tyrosinases (or polyphenol oxidases PPO). The general amount added to cosmetics is 0.5-2.0%.

2. Used in food processing: Kojic acid can be used as a food additive to preserve freshness, prevent corrosion and resist oxidation. Experiments have shown that kojic acid can inhibit the conversion of sodium nitrite in bacon into carcinogenic nitrosamines, and adding kojic acid to food will not affect the taste, aroma and texture of the food. Kojic acid is also the raw material for the production of maltol and ethyl maltol. In food processing, kojic acid has a wide range of applications.

3. Used for medical purposes: Since kojic acid has no mutagenic effect on eukaryotic cells, and can eliminate free radicals in the human body, enhance the motility of white blood cells, etc., which is beneficial to human health, kojic acid has been used as a raw material for cephalosporin antibiotics. The finished drugs produced are used to treat diseases such as headaches, toothaches and local inflammations, and have ideal analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.