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KOJIC ACID
Score:
Data: Limited
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Use restrictions (high) and Endocrine disruption (moderate)
Cancer 
Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity
Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
| toners/astringents | 4 products |
| mask | 4 products |
| serums & essences | 2 products |
| around-eye cream | 2 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 1 products |
| bar soap | 1 products |
| shaving cream | 1 products |
| facial cleanser | 1 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 1 products |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Kojic Acid has the potential to induce skin sensitisation | Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) 2012. DRAFT OPINION ON Kojic Acid, June 2012. http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_098.pdf |
Use restrictions
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not safe for use on injured or damaged skin. | Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) 2012. DRAFT OPINION ON Kojic Acid, June 2012. http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_098.pdf |
| Concentration limits set for EU skin lighteners. | Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) 2012. DRAFT OPINION ON Kojic Acid, June 2012. http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_098.pdf |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| Concentration limit of 1% in cosmetics | Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD, Liebler DC, Marks JG Jr, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Andersen FA Final report of the safety assessment of Kojic acid as used in cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. 2010 Nov-Dec;29(6 Suppl):244S-73. Review. |
Cancer
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety reports this substance shows limited evidence of carcinogenicity. | Scientific Committee on Consumer Products SCCP OPINION ON Kojic acid The SCCP adopted this opinion at its 17 th plenary of 30 September 2008 |
| Limited or incomplete evidence of cancer according to safety/hazard data – government assessment cannot classify as human carcinogen due to data gaps | World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC Monographs Programme on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Lists of Group 1, 2a, and 2b substances can be obtained. http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php; Vol 79;2001 |
Endocrine disruption
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety reports this substance causes thyroid effects in animals. | Scientific Committee on Consumer Products SCCP OPINION ON Kojic acid The SCCP adopted this opinion at its 17 th plenary of 30 September 2008 |
Data gaps
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| 481 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Data Sources
- Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) 2012. DRAFT OPINION ON Kojic Acid, June 2012. http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_098.pdf
- CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
- Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD, Liebler DC, Marks JG Jr, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Andersen FA Final report of the safety assessment of Kojic acid as used in cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. 2010 Nov-Dec;29(6 Suppl):244S-73. Review.
- Scientific Committee on Consumer Products SCCP OPINION ON Kojic acid The SCCP adopted this opinion at its 17 th plenary of 30 September 2008
- World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC Monographs Programme on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Lists of Group 1, 2a, and 2b substances can be obtained. http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php; Vol 79;2001
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
- This ingredient’s score is higher if used in products intended for damaged skin due to increased risk of absorption.
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