Kojic acid is a mushroom by-product and is produced during thefermentation process of malted rice in sake production. Though thecompound is a regular component of the Japanese diet, it was firstcultivated for use in skin care in 1989. When used on the skin,kojic acid inhibits melanin production, the pigment that gives usour unique skin color, lightens skin tone and attacks pigmentationproblems. It has been successfully used to lighten pigment spotsand skin discoloration and considered as a kind of popularlyspecialized inhibitor for melanin. At present, it is assigned intovarious kinds of cosmetics for curing freckles, spots on the skinof elder men, pigmentation and acne. How can Kojic acid inhibit themelanin On a molecular level, melanin is produced in the body fromthe conversion (in several steps) of the amino acid tyrosine. Theconversion requires the enzyme known as tyrosinase. Kojic acid canprevent the tyrosinase activity through synthesizing reaction withits antioxidant properties after penetrating upper skin layers andentering skin cells to inhibit the formation of pigment at the deepcells on the skin. Kojic acid can produce excellent effects in eventoning the skin, fighting age spots, pregnancy marks, freckles aswell as general skin pigmentation disorders of face and body.