First, here’s a brief summary of each ingredient:

Hydroquinone: This is a skin lightening ingredient that has been in use for decades. It’s known to be extremely powerful and the resulting changes in pigmentation are often permanent to at least some degree.

Kojic Acid: This was discovered over two decades ago by the Japanese. It comes from the natural fermentation of rice and/or mushrooms. It’s known for offering gradual, yet fairly quick results. Usually if its use is discontinued the skin will return to its normal pigmentation.

What are the pros and cons of kojic acid and hydroquinone when used individually?

Kojic Acid Pros:

• It is generally considered to be safe for most people when used as directed
• It is available over-the-counter
• It is known to offer more uniform, consistent results
• The results can often be reversed by discontinuing use
• It’s available in a wide variety of formulations, from kojic acid cream to kojic acid soap

Kojic Acid Cons:

• Although most people don’t encounter any side effects when used as directed, some people suffer from skin irritation (such as dermatitis). There is evidence that suggests this may be permanent, but very few people encounter this and even then it’s usually with long term users.

Hydroquinone Pros:

• It’s an extremely potent skin lightener
• In the United States, concentrations of 2% and below are available without a prescription

Hydroquinone Cons:

• It has been linked to causing cancer in high dosage studies on rodents
• Results can sometimes be patchy and on some people it just makes the pigmentation look albino, rather than simply lighter
• If overused and you don’t like the results, it might not be possible to reverse
• Can cause skin irritation problems

Are combinations of hydroquinone kojic acid a good idea?

As of now, it doesn’t look like it. Each of these are extremely potent, and when combined, they may be dangerous – side effects might be a lot worse than using them separately. And being that they’re both effective by themselves, combining hydroquinone and kojic acid should not be done unless your dermatologist says it’s okay.

Kojic Acid Side Effects
For decades hydroquinone was the most popular skin lightening cream in the world – it worked but also had side effects. There have even been studies which suggest hydroquinone may cause cancer. Thank goodness we have kojic acid, which has not been linked to that same dangerous side effect!

However, there are a few kojic acid side effects you should know about…

Sensitive Skin: This happens to be the most well known side effect of kojic acid. Basically, there has been research which suggests that if kojic acid is used repeatedly for extended periods of time, the user’s skin may develop increased sensitivity which some say might become permanent to some degree. Technically known as dermatitis, this side effect be characterized by increased itchiness, red rash, irritation, etc (similar to poison ivy).

Therefore, obviously if you were to develop these symptoms over time, you should discontinue use and ask a dermatologist about these side effects. That being said, I personally have not heard of anyone experiencing these side effects while using kojic acid products. But even though it’s very rare, it’s still something everyone should know about if they plan on using kojic acid long term.

Other Side Effects: A cosmetic side effect one should consider is whether or not they like their skin being lightened. Although that is what kojic acid products are used for, some people don’t like the results. Fortunately, unlike hydroquinone, with kojic acid treatment your skin will usually revert back to its original tone over time. For more information about potential kojic acid side effects, speak a doctor.

What’s my opinion on the potential side effects?
Whether its food, medicine, or anything else… we all respond differently. So in reality, almost everything has side effects for some people. Kojic acid has been used since its discovery in the eighties with few reporting side effects. It also makes me feel better to know that kojic is derived from mushrooms and the fermentation of rice, so it’s a natural ingredient rather than something artificial. The bottom line is that in my opinion, kojic acid skin lightener is the best option out there.

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.

Why Papaya?
There are dozens and dozens of popular fruits, so why are papaya kojic acid soaps all the rage? Well, there’s actually three reasons. First of all, some citrus and fruit extracts are said to help support the skin lightening process. It has been said that the concentrated papaya extract helps to do this. Secondly, papaya includes nourishing ingredients that many say can help your skin look and feel better. Last but not least, kojic acid papaya soap has a very pleasant scent to it. This is extremely important, because you want a soap that will make you smell nice too.

Who Makes Papaya Kojic Acid Soap?
Right now there are appears to be a few companies that are making this product. I did a search and came across a few brands over and over. Apparently, Diana Stalder papaya kojic soap is pretty popolar. I also saw quite a few generics that are probably manufactured by smaller skin care companies. Whoever you buy it from, fortunately this product is very inexpensive from what I have seen.

Papaya Kojic Acid Soap Reviews
Although I personally have not yet used this product yet (I just found out about it too) I decided to look around to see what others are saying about it. I checked forums and blogs for reviews… the average consensus was that this is a great product! Of course because these ingredients are so powerful when combined, a few people complained about irritation on their face when using it. Therefore if you have extreme sensitivity, it may be best to not use kojic acid soap, or to simply use it sparingly.  Fortunately all kojic acid skin lightener products use the same ingredient, so you don’t have to confine yourself to only the soap if you don’t want to.

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: Which creams with kojic acid are the most popular?

A: First of all, thanks for your question. Well, actually, that depends on what part of the world you live. There are all kinds of creams with kojic acid sold globally. A brand which is popular in the United States may not be sold in Europe and vice-versa. Since I live in the U.S., I will talk about some of the kojic acid creams I know to be popular here…

Kinerase Skin Care Products
Kinerase is a very well known high-end brand and they have a number of kojic acid products in their line. They make great cream but the only drawback is they can be a bit pricey, so this is only for those who want (and are willing to pay for) the best of the best.

PCA Skin
This is also an excellent brand and fortunately it doesn’t cost too much. They make a number of products that contain kojic acid as a primary ingredient. The other added benefit is they make these in cream, gel, and serum forms… so you have a wide variety of options. Unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to try them yet but I do know they are one of the hottest selling brands in this arena so they’re definitely worth checking out.

SkinCeuticals Skin Care
This is yet another top selling brand for creams with kojic acid. They have several products that use strong concentrations of kojic. One of them that I see sold online frequently is the SkinCeuticals Phyto.

DDF Skin Care
What I particularly like about their product line is that they also offer cleansers which contain kojic acid, in addition to their serums, creams and gel formulations. They also make a very unique cream with kojic acid that is design specifically for underneath the eyes. It contains vitamin K and other ingredients which are powerful anti-aging fighters.

Dr. Michelle Copeland Skin Care
I actually don’t know a lot about this brand, but she seems to have a skin lightening treatments on the market that also use kojic acid.

So the above are several different brands of creams with kojic acid in them. To get the maximum benefit, I always recommend you go with one that is designed to treat multiple problems at once. That way you won’t have to apply multiple creams – saving you time and money. Fortunately all of the above kojic acid products are designed to do that.

Q: Is kojic acid safe?

Kojic acid has been around since 1989, when it was actually discovered by accident during the production of certain foods, most notably the koji mushrooms. Not only were its skin whitening properties noticed, but also the fact that it’s a great antibacterial agent and preservative.

Controversial or Not?
Skin bleaching and/or lightening is considered an controversial issue by some people, so it comes as no surprise that kojic acid came under attack. However the truth is that most people who use it are doing so for 100% completely valid medical and cosmetic reasons; i.e. dark spots, melasma, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, minor overall facial lightening, etc. There are actually very few people whom truly abuse so-called skin bleaching.

Kojic Acid Safety?
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (the European regulatory body) has conducted extensive studies of kojic acid products. Reportedly, they found that kojic acid is not a cancer causing agent (unlike hydroquinone) so that’s a big relief for many. However there were concerns that using it regularly might increase skin sensitivity, and hence, that’s a drawback (because increased sensitivity might possibly lead to allergic skin reactions). So is kojic acid safe? Well in a nutshell, that side effect appears to be the safety exception.

Using It?
Personally, there’s not many effective options when it comes to skin whitening. It’s basically kojic acid or hydroquinone. As with most things in life, further studies are always needed to know for sure. But if allergic skin reactions end up being the worse thing kojic acid will do to a person, then I would choose this option over the other any day. To help you avoid that, it’s always a good idea to ask a professional for advice (i.e. dermatologist) and follow the directions (you shouldn’t use more than the directions tell you to).

So is kojic acid safe? Ultimately, that’s something you will have to decide. On a personal note, I do feel safe using kojic acid skin lightener and think it’s my product of choice.

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.

Which Ingredient To Choose?
There are to primary ingredients used in skin lightening gel. There are kojic acid based versions and there are hydroquinone based versions. I can’t tell you which one to choose (that’s something you need to ask your doctor) but I can tell you a few things about them.

Hydroquinone Gel
There’s no doubting that this is an extremely effective substance for skin whitening. But the problem is with its safety. Although it’s widely used for a few decades now, there have been conflicting reports as to its safety. When used in extremely strong concentrations it was even found to cause cancer in experiments with laboratory rodents. Although many say it’s safe when used in the recommend 2% or 4% versions, many others take the approach that “’it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Kojic Acid Gel
Right now this is probably the hottest skin lightening product on the market. Kojic acid has been used by the Japanese for a very long time for all sorts of things including food. But it wasn’t until the 90’s when they discovered it’s whitening effect. Since then, it has really skyrocketed in popularity. The reason? Well, it comes from mushrooms so it’s considered by many to be the more natural choice. Also, unlike hydroquinone, the results shouldn’t be permanent. In other words, you can stop using the kojic acid product and your skin should return to normal. The last thing you want is a skin bleaching disaster, so that’s why many people are opting for the kojic based products instead.

This acid is derived from mushrooms and is known to have originated in Japan. It comes in various forms and is used in many skin pigmentation lightening products.

So why do people use skin products that lighten their skin color? Well there are a number of reasons why people use these types of products. Some people use them to treat dark spots on their bodies or face, other people use this treatment to help fade dark freckles, and some people have rare skin disorders and use this product in hopes of having a more even skin tone.

The way that this treatment works is that it breaks down and prevents the production of enzymes known for the creation of melanin in the skin. Melanin is what gives our skin color. It works to fade freckles and many types of abnormal skin pigmentation. When it first came out it was primarily just kojic acid, but after numerous studies people have stated that their skin had become highly sensitive after using it for extended periods of time. Due to these findings manufacturers have now added cortisol as well as natural ingredients to help counter these effects.

Which one to choose?
There are numerous kojic acid products. Each person has their own preference, as well as what type of effect they are trying to achieve. If you are more partial to facials, then a glycolic peel would be an ideal treatment for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for more of a serum or gelatin based product then a skin lightening gel would be a good choice for you.

A glycolic peel is also commonly referred to as a chemical peel. One particular type of this peel is one that contains glycolic acid, kojic acid and alpha hydroxy in it. These combinations are a great way to benefit three beauty treatments at once. The glycolic acid helps with getting rid of dead lifeless skin and reveals new brighter skin. The alpha hydroxy is great for its anti aging properties as well as repairing damaged skin cells underneath the skins surface. The kojic acid helps with any types of abnormal skin pigmentation. So when you are done with the treatment you will probably feel like an entirely new person with fresher skin.

Another type of Kojic acid product is a skin lightening gel. Many of these products contain essential vitamins like vitamin A, C, E, all of which benefit and give the skin a natural glow. Vitamin C is essential in collagen production, vitamin A helps repair damaged skin cells and vitamin E helps by being a great moisturizer for the skin. These ingredients are added to this base to help counteract the sensitivity that is associated with prolonged use of kojic acid when it is used by itself.

What You Need To Know
Hopefully you have learned a lot of valuable information in relation to what kogic acid is as well as some of the products that have this chemical compound. I am not a medical professional or a dermatologist therefore seeking a professional opinion before starting a skin bleaching treatment is highly advised.