Q: Will kojic acid help dark circles under eyes?

A: Thanks for your message Emily, and yes, that is an excellent question. Being that this ingredient is so effective at lightening the skin, it only makes sense to use it for dark circles… or does it? Not exactly. Here’s why…

Understanding dark circles
We all know what they look like, but few of us have actually researched what causes dark circles under eyes. Obviously, from an aesthetic perspective, they cause the skin under the eyes to be much darker than normal… usually a purplish-black color. But unlike other pigmentation problems, that’s where the similarities end…

You see dark circles are the result of overprominent blood capillaries under the surface of the skin. Since the skin under the eyes is so thin (and thins out even more as we age) it means that there’s not much covering these capillaries. The result? You literally see the blood under the surface of the skin. This is why kojic acid dark circles treatments make absolutely no sense. The problem is not with your skin’s pigment, but rather with those capillaries underneath the skin.

How to treat dark circles
There are two “plans of attack” that you can use to address the problem:

1. plump up the skin under the eye: As mentioned, the only thing wrong with the skin is that it is too thin. So using topical creams and moisturizers which are known to plump up the skin may not be a bad idea. Personally, my favorite one is hyaluronic acid cream. Why? Because this ingredient is a natural substance already found in your skin (like collagen and elastin) but it serves a unique purpose… hyaluronic acid cream acts as a sponge for water! Reportedly it can soak in up to a thousand times its own weight in water. If you choose to use this type of cream, please only use ones which the manufacturer says are okay to use around the eyes.

2. use eye cream for dark circles: This is by your best bet if you want to really address the problem. The kojic acid dark circles idea won’t help, but vitamin K for dark circles can. That is precisely why these creams use vitamin K, which is a well known ingredient used for a number of circulatory issues. When it is applied topically in the form of a dark circles cream, it is said to help promote and restore these capillaries so they function more normally. Instead of them be backed up and creating that dark color, many users see significant improvement after a few weeks of use. This is why virtually every dark eye circles cream uses it as the main ingredient.

Q: Does it make sense to use kojic acid for acne?

A: Well, that depends on where you live and what type of acne you have. In the United States, kojic acid acne treatments don’t really exist – rather it’s primarly sold for lightening purposes. It’s also only sold as a beauty product (therefore its effectiveness has not been officially evaluated or endorsed by the FDA).

So you should understand that it is really something that should be researched further before deciding one way or another. However I decided to scout out the web to see what others are saying about kojic acid for acne and whether or not it’s any help.

What the forums are saying…
I visited one board about acne and read some mixed reviews. One person mentioned she had an allergic reaction while using kojic acid for acne, so she had to discontinue treatment. Meanwhile another person said it’s helpful as an acne scar removal product. Rather than using the cream based products, some say they have had success using kojic acid soap, such as likas papaya soap which contain what some call a kojic acid acne remedy . Reportedly, it may help to cleanse the pores and therefore could potentially be helpful for some types of acne.

What’s my personal opinion…
Personally, I feel there just isn’t enough evidence out there to support kojic acid for acne as a truly effective solution that’s safe for long term use. That being said, using kojic acid products to diminish scars has been done safely now for quite some time and with great results. Although it’s up in the air about whether it’s the best way to treat acne, one thing is for sure, and that is it’s one of the most effective acne scar remedies that we know of to date. So for that reason, I think kojic acid products might be a great addition to your acne regimen.

Q: Can you use kojic acid for acne scars?

A: Despite the fact that I’m on my way to be thirty years old, I still suffer from acne on a regular basis. Although it’s not as bad as when I was younger, I still get a big pimple every week or two (in addition to many small ones). The problem with my type of acne – acne vulgaris – is that the resulting scars are usually pretty nasty. They bleed and then turn into a dark spot. So whether you’re a teen or an adult, this is a problem for many people.

Kojic acid acne scars treatment…
Initially, before I started this blog about kojic acid, my main concern about skin lightening is that it was dangerous. I had read stuff about it containing cancer causing agents. Only later did I find out that is in reference to  the other lightening ingredient; hydroquinone. Kojic acid is completely different. It’s a naturally occurring substance that is usually extracted from mushrooms. Although there is a possible side effect of increased sensitivity, it doesn’t have all those dangers that the other lightening ingredient does.  After I discovered this, I was intrigued at the idea of using kojic acid for acne scars…

The different types of kojic acid products available…
Typically, kojic acid is applied regularly for a few weeks or months (whatever the manufacturer recommends). Now there are all sorts of kojic acid products on the market; soap, creams, gels, cleansers, etc. Each of them have their advantages. For example, the benefit of the soap version is that it can easily be used in the shower and doesn’t involve a separate application. However the advantages of the kojic acid cream and gels is that they are worn for longer periods of times, so therefore they have more of an impact.

Using it as a acne scar remover…
Ultimately, you will need to do further research to find out if kojic acid is the right way for you to go. Even though kojic acid products are non-prescription, it still wouldn’t hurt to talk with a dermatologist to get their professional advice. They may have a recommendation as to which type of kojic acid product would be best for your type of acne scars.