What is a whitening active ingredient? Explain each effect and type!

Those who aim for beautiful white and smooth skin should know about whitening active ingredients. Whitening active ingredients are contained in whitening cosmetics, and their functions differ depending on the type of ingredient. Check the characteristics and functions of the whitening active ingredient, and choose the one that suits you. This time, we will introduce in detail the types and effects of whitening active ingredients.

The whitening active ingredient has been approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare as an ingredient with a whitening effect. It is permitted to claim a whitening effect and is included in whitening cosmetics. The effect of the whitening active ingredient is to suppress the production of melanin and suppress stains and freckles.

There are more than 20 types of whitening active ingredients approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. In addition, it is important to check in advance because the mechanism for suppressing stains and freckles differs depending on the whitening active ingredient.

The effect depends on the type of whitening active ingredient. The types of whitening active ingredients are as follows.

Those that interfere with the production of melanin

Spots and freckles are melanin deposits on the skin. Melanin is naturally excreted during skin turnover, but it deposits on the skin and causes blemishes due to the accumulation of UV damage and disturbed turnover over many years.

There is a whitening active ingredient that prevents the production of this melanin. It is characterized by suppressing the activation of melanocytes that produce melanin and suppressing the action of tyrosinase related to melanin.

How it acts on tyrosinase depends on the whitening active ingredient.

Those that reduce melanin (those that lighten stains)

There is a whitening active ingredient that reduces age spots by promoting the reduction of melanin. It is important to choose if you already have stains. You can’t expect a dramatic effect, but with continued care, you’ll notice an improvement in stains.

It can also be used for preventive purposes. Even if you don’t have spots or freckles, melanin is produced by irritation and UV rays, so be sure to use a whitening active ingredient that has a reducing effect.

A substance that regulates skin turnover and promotes melanin excretion

There is a whitening active ingredient that supports the excretion of melanin by adjusting the turnover of the skin. Turnover is the cycle of skin reincarnation. Melanin is pushed up to the surface of the skin by turnover and exfoliates with dirt.

Turnover is delayed due to various causes such as aging, irregular life, and stress. As a result, melanin is produced faster and accumulates in the skin than it is excreted by turnover.

Whitening active ingredients are included in various whitening cosmetics. Check in advance as each effect will be different. It is important to choose whitening cosmetics that act on melanin from various angles. The main whitening active ingredients are as follows.

Arbutin

Features … It is an ingredient contained in cowberry.
Function: By inhibiting the function of tyrosinase, which is necessary for the production of melanin, it has the function of suppressing the production of melanin. How it inhibits tyrosinase depends on the whitening active ingredient. Arbutin is a type of whitening active ingredient that prevents the binding of tyrosine and tyrosinase.

Vitamin C derivatives

Features … It is an ingredient that improves the problems of absorption and stability, which are the drawbacks of vitamin C. After penetrating the skin, it is broken down by enzymes inside the skin and works as vitamin C.
Work … It has the function of promoting the reduction of melanin and lightening the color.

Camomila ET

Features … Made from chamomile.
Function: It is a component that suppresses the production of melanin by suppressing the activation and proliferation of melanocytes.

Hydroquinone

Features: Ingredients prescribed by medical institutions. Known as a whitening ingredient, it has not been approved as an active ingredient.
Work … By suppressing the action of tyrosinase, it suppresses the production of melanin as a result.

Tranexamic acid

Features: Although it is a whitening active ingredient, it has also been used as an anti-inflammatory drug and hemostatic agent.
Work … By suppressing the activation of melanocytes, it suppresses the production of melanin as a result.

Placenta extract

Features: A component extracted from the placenta of animals.
Work … Suppresses the production of melanin and prevents spots and freckles. In addition, it is said to have a function of dissolving keratin and promoting metabolism, but the function has not been completely elucidated.

Kojic acid

Features: A component produced by Aspergillus contained in Jiuqu, which is produced in the process of manufacturing soy sauce and sake.
Function: It deprives the copper resources necessary for the function of tyrosinase, which is involved in the production of melanin, and inhibits the function.

Linoleic acid S

Features: An improved component of linoleic acid contained in safflower oil.
Work … By decomposing tyrosinase, it suppresses the production of melanin. It also supports the excretion of melanin by promoting skin turnover.

Nicotinamide

Features … A type of vitamin called niacin.
Function … It suppresses the transfer of melanin to the cells of the epidermis and prevents melanin from appearing excessively on the surface of the skin.

4MSK

Features: Abbreviation for 4-methoxysalicylic acid potassium salt.
Work … It works on the problem of the keratinization mechanism that occurs in the spotted area and promotes the excretion of melanin.

Magno lignan

Features … It was developed by paying attention to the phenolic dimer contained in the bark of Magnolia obovata.
Work … Inhibits the maturation of tyrosinase and suppresses the production of melanin.

Energy signal AMP

Features … Andenosin-a component also called disodium phosphate OT.
Work … Supports the excretion of melanin by promoting turnover. It is a whitening active ingredient that people who tend to have disordered turnover want to choose.