Kojic Soap, and Kojic Acid in particular, have made great strides in past few years. While it's a huge product in Asia, it is quite uknown here in the U.S. You could it say it's Asia's best kept secret. However, like mentioned earlier, Kojic has made great strides here in the Western World. Here's what Miguel Cavazos has to say about it in his piece from Livestrong.com.
Kojic Acid & Vitamin C
. Photo Credit Dougal Waters/Digital Vision/Getty Images
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, was
discovered 70 years ago to treat scurvy, a disease that causes fatigue,
anemia and gum disease. A Science Daily article reports that research by
the University of Leicester and Institute for Molecular and Cellular
Biology suggests that vitamin C may enhance skin regeneration. The
Internal Medicine News reports that kojic acid may help to treat skin
conditions such as pigment disorders, melasma and wrinkes.
Vitamin C
Vitamin
C is an essential water-soluble vitamin. Vitamin C is essential
because your body does not produce or store it and you must get this
nutrient in your diet. Vitamin C supports growth and repair processes in
tissues throughout your body. Your body uses vitamin C to maintain
healthy skin, connective tissues and blood vessels.
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Kojic Acid
Kojic
acid is an organic acid produced naturally during aerobic fermentation
in fungi such as penicillium. Aerobic fermentation is a set of
metabolic processes that requires oxygen, which occurs in plants and
fungi. Substances that derive from kojic acid include kojic dipalmitate
and kojic esters. According to the European Commission's Scientific
Committee on Consumer Products, kojic acid has industrial applications
in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.
Antioxidant
Vitamin
C and kojic acid are antioxidants. The environment and natural
processes in your body produce unstable substances known as free
radicals. Free radicals can damage cells throughout your body. This
activity may contribute to cancer, heart disease and age-related
degenerative conditions. Antioxidants are substances that can help to
protect your body from damage caused by free radicals.
Skin
Your
body uses vitamin C to make collagen, which is protein your body uses
to make skin cells. Your skin may become dry and scaly if your diet does
not have enough vitamin-C. Wounds may also heal slower if you have a
vitamin C deficiency. Cosmetic and topical skin products may contain
vitamin C or kojic acid. A study in "Experimental Dermatology" reports
that a skin lotion with vitamin C can help to improve sun-damaged skin.
Kojic acid can provide the basic material for skin whitening and skin
protection products like creams, soap and lotions. Kojic acid may block
the production of pigment in your skin cells and reduce the appearance
of dark spots or freckles on your skin.
Food
Vitamin
C and kojic acid have applications in the food industry. Flavor
enhancers such as miso and soy sauce require kojic acid. Kojic acid
helps to prevent the formation of brown spots on raw noodles during
storage and processing. Strawberry producers may use kojic acid to
promote reddening of unripe strawberries. All fruit and vegetables
contain vitamin C. Higher concentrations of vitamin C may occur in
citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables. Fruits that contain a lot of
vitamin C include strawberries, oranges and papaya. Turnip greens,
spinach and potatoes are vitamin C rich vegetables.
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