Kojic Acid for Melasma: Popular Ingredient in Skincare Products.

Melasma is a common skin condition that affects many patients with hyperpigmented patches on sun-exposed facial skin. It disproportionately affects people of Asian, African, and Hispanic descents. Unfortunately, there are not many lasting and effective treatment options available, which has led many practitioners and skincare companies to trial various topical ingredients. In the past several years, kojic acid has gained popularity as a skincare ingredient to treat hyperpigmentation and melasma. Kojic acid has more recently become popular in over-the-counter skincare products. We discuss the background of kojic acid, its suggested mechanism, and the available studies evaluating its utility in treating melasma.