Kojic and citric acid 50% pH 1.7 (chemical peeling)

Kojic and citric acid 50% pH 1.7 is a preparation for exfoliation treatment. It reduces excessive epidermal keratinisation, lightens pigmentation spots, cleanses and smooths the skin.

Can be used outside periods of strong sunshine always with high UVA/UVB protection.

Indications for kojic acid and citric acid:

• skin with hyperpigmentation and uneven pigmentation
• skin with dyschromia
• uneven texture and roughness of the epidermis
• mixed, oily, coarse, insensitive skin
• skin tired, grey and anoxic

Kojic and citric acid 50% pH 1.7 – effects of action:

• reduction of excessive epidermal keratinisation
• brightening and elimination of pigmentation spots of various aetiologies
• cleaning and smoothing of the skin
• protection against the formation of new hyperpigmentation (blocking the activity of tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for the formation of hyperpigmentation)
• brightening the complexion, restoring the skin’s radiance and fresh appearance

What do we know about kojic acid?

✓ Kojic acid is an organic chemical compound produced by fungi – primarily dropworms. The name ‘kojic’ is derived from the Japanese name for the fungus Aspergillus oryzae – koji. In living organisms, it is produced from sugars, mainly glucose, and is formed by fermentation processes.

✓ Kojic acid has chelating properties, that is, it exhibits the ability to capture metal ions. It has been indicated that this activity of kojic acid prevents photo-ageing of the skin. Research results also show that kojic acid reduces wrinkles caused by ultraviolet radiation, prevents skin fibrosis and prevents undesirable changes in the extracellular matrix.

✓ In cosmetics, the most important property of kojic acid is its brightening effect. This is due to its ability to inhibit tyrosinase, the main enzyme responsible for melanin production in living organisms. This property is important in treatments against the signs of skin ageing, such as pigmentation changes: lentigines, sun spots, age spots, liver spots, freckles, epidermal melasma and other colour irregularities. Treatments with kojic acid help to brighten the skin, as well as toremove hyperpigmentation and spots of various origins.

What do we know about citric acid?

✓ Citric acid is a fruit acid that belongs to the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) group. It was discovered by the Arab alchemist Jabir Ibn Hayyan in the 8th century. Karl Wilhelm Scheele isolated it from lemon juice in 1784. It is mainly found in citrus fruits (8 % by dry weight), but also in kiwi, strawberries, black and red currants, blueberries, raspberries, blueberries or vegetables such as sugar beet and tomatoes, among others.

✓ Citric acid is used like an acidity regulator, but its main property is its exfoliating action. Accordingly, chemical peels with citric acid aim to improve skin parameters, regenerate and rejuvenate the skin. It has been proven that exfoliative treatments with citric acid lead to increased epidermal thickness. The structure of the basal layer of the epidermis was improved by improving the organisation of tonofilaments.

✓ Another equally important property of citric acid is its bleaching effect. It is due to the ability of this acid to inhibit the synthesis of skin pigments. This mechanism of action involves interaction with one of the key enzymes in the melanogenesis process, tyrosinase.

✓ Additionally, citric acid has a beneficial effect on the collagen of blood vessels, in other words it improves the condition of blood vessels and they become less fragile and more elastic.

✓ The above-mentioned characteristics place citric acid in the ranks of extremely valuable active ingredients with applications in skin rejuvenation.