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Fading dark spots from homewithout splurging on pricey lasers orpeelscan feel like a tough ask.
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What is kojic acid, exactly?
While kojic acid isnt an instant fix, though, the payoff can be well worth the wait.
What are the main benefits of kojic acid?
That happens in response to inflammation, say from a breakout or even abug bite.
And this is where kojic acid does its best work.
Specifically, it brightens your complexion by blocking tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for producing melanin.
By slowing down melanin production then, it prevents new marks from developing, Dr. Rodney explains.
Unlike post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma involves excess melanin sitting both in the superficialanddeeper layers of the skin.
There are tons of other dark spot treatments out there that get the job done.
Everyone can benefit from it, regardless of skin key in or tone.
And then theres hydroquinone, another well-known, though somewhat controversial, tyrosinase inhibitor.
(Essentially worsening the pigment problems you were trying to fix in the first place.)
How long does it take to see results?
Realistically, it can take three months or longer to see visible improvements, Dr. Rodney says.
So in the grand scheme of things, thats a major win.
As for how often you should use kojic acid to achieve these results?
But the goal, per Dr. Rodney, should be to increase frequency as tolerated.
Otherwise, youre not going to see significant improvement by using it once or twice a week.
But if you didnt catch that dark spot right away, dont worryits still worth trying.
