Does kojic acid work for brown spots?

Dear Dr. Irwin, I have heard a lot about kojic acid lately. Is it an effective way of lightening sun-induced pigmentation on very fair skin, and is the amount of active ingredient in over-the-counter products likely to be worth the money? Thank you.

Generally, results are unimpressive with it.  Unless there’s a new preparation that I’ve haven’t seen, I’d vote no.  Pigment strategies can be found in our Melasma in Depth Section.    Dr. I

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

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