{
  "id": "kojic-acid",
  "idVersion": 1,
  "ingredient": "Kojic Acid",
  "route": "topical",
  "grade": "limited",
  "gradeLabel": "Limited",
  "claim": "One 12-week study compared 1% kojic acid alone with three combinations and found the hydroquinone combination performed best; a newer pilot found an alpha-arbutin and kojic-acid cream similar to triple therapy on two pigmentation scores.",
  "caveat": "Neither study proves kojic acid alone against a plain cream: the first was single-blind, single-centre and had no vehicle arm; the newer study was a 30-person combination pilot and did not isolate kojic acid.",
  "published": "2026-09-19",
  "sources": [
    {
      "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23918998/",
      "journal": "Indian J Dermatol",
      "year": 2013,
      "n": 80,
      "design": "Randomized single-blind study",
      "duration": "12 weeks",
      "percentages": [],
      "outcome": "melasma area and severity index",
      "finding": "Randomized single-blind, single-centre study in 80 people over 12 weeks: the kojic-acid and hydroquinone combination had the greatest decrease in melasma severity, followed by the triple combination and kojic acid alone; every arm contained kojic acid and there was no vehicle control.",
      "formulation": "1% kojic acid cream, 1% kojic acid + 2% hydroquinone cream, 1% kojic acid + 0.1% betamethasone valerate cream, 1% kojic acid + 2% hydroquinone + 0.1% betamethasone valerate cream"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39555866/",
      "journal": "J Cosmet Dermatol",
      "year": 2025,
      "n": 30,
      "design": "Split-face randomized evaluator-blinded pilot",
      "duration": "12 weeks",
      "percentages": [],
      "outcome": "melanin index, modified melasma area severity index, physician global assessment, recurrence, adverse effects",
      "finding": "Split-face randomized evaluator-blinded pilot in 30 people over 12 weeks plus four weeks follow-up: melanin-index and modified-MASI changes did not differ between the alpha-arbutin/kojic-acid cream and triple therapy; physician assessment improved only on the triple-therapy side, while recurrence severity, erythema and stinging were higher there. Kojic acid was not tested alone.",
      "formulation": "5% alpha-arbutin + 2% kojic acid cream, triple combination cream"
    }
  ],
  "peopleReport": null
}