Hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and uneven skin tone can do much more than develop a need for heavier makeup. It can affect a person’s overall confidence and result in a reduced quality of one’s social life.
Skin lightening can potentially solve this problem.
In this area, not many skin lightening ingredients come close to the efficiency and security offered by alpha arbutin for all skin types.
This powerful skin lightening agent contains almost everything you need to safely reduce hyperpigmentation and dryness!
What Is Alpha Arbutin for Skin Care and What Is It Used For?
Alpha arbutin is a derivative of hydroquinone and is a widely used skin lightening agent. It is all-natural and can be extracted from bearberry, cranberry, blueberry, and pears. However, synthetical production is also possible through the action of acetobromoglucose on hydroquinone.
Arbutin’s power in reducing hyperpigmentation has been proven and confirmed by various studies over the years. A 2018 study published in Cosmetic Facial Surgery found that arbutin effectively reduced melanin production to approximately 39 percent.
Aside from lightening the skin, alpha arbutin also has antioxidant properties that improve skin texture. It’s also used in anti-aging products because of this characteristic.
The Need to Lighten
Before we even get to the specifics of how alpha arbutin works, we need to answer the question: Why do we need to lighten our skin?
For those with already pale skin who live in countries that revere a healthy tan, this might not make sense at all. However, those older or have aging skin can immediately see the benefits of skin lightening.
As we grow older, we suffer from hyperpigmentation caused by aging. Liver spots (a.k.a age spots), for example, are indicative of old age. If we live long enough, they bite us sooner or later.
Hormonal changes also contribute to uneven skin tone, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation. The so-called pregnancy mask or melasma can occur because of a change in hormone production, although too much sun exposure is also another cause.
Anyone can have skin discoloration, but there are certain races who are more prone to them: Asian, Middle Eastern, and Indian. Even those with dark skin can still benefit from Arbutin’s ability to even out the skin.
Often, these hyperpigmentations are benign. From a medical perspective, we don’t need to worry about them. However, we cannot close our eyes completely to their psychological effects.
Dark spots, acne scars or uneven skin tone can contribute to the overall appearance of the face. For those who want to achieve “glass skin,” these are something we can definitely improve on.
This is why many ways to lighten skin are continuously being developed to address these problems.
How Alpha Arbutin Works
Being a derivative of hydroquinone, alpha arbutin works in a similar manner when it comes to lightening the skin. In order to understand how arbutin works, we should first examine what causes hyperpigmentation in the first place.
Our skin color is dependent on the amount of melanin on our skin. The more melanin we have, the darker the skin tone we get.
Melanin is produced by melanocytes. These cells contain an enzyme called tyrosinase, which is primarily responsible for skin darkening. Tyrosinase is activated every time your skin comes in contact with UV rays.
While proper melanin production is important to protect our skin cells from the sun’s harmful rays, too much exposure in certain areas can lead to unevenness and dark spots. This is what causes hyperpigmentation.
Alpha arbutin works by inhibiting tyrosinase activity, which results in reduced melanin production. When this happens, the skin becomes lighter and more even.
How to Use Alpha Arbutin for Lightening
Because arbutin is well-known for its lightening effects, it has been used in different skin care products. You can find it in serums, creams, lotions, and many other forms. The use of arbutin-containing products depends on the nature of these products.
Serums are concentrated agents that target a specific skin concern. They are often applied only to problem areas.
Arbutin skin care lotions are also common. Lotions are commonly used to even out a larger skin area. Creams work the same way.
You can even mix this ingredient into homemade skin whitening formulas. It’s that powerful!
A toner with Arbutin is also effective for brightening your face. Since you apply it right after cleansing, it’ll be easily absorbed by your skin.
Alpha arbutin is generally safe enough for 2x daily use. You can add arbutin-containing skin care products to your morning and night routines.
When to Expect Results
On average, you can see the results of arbutin use can be seen within 4-8 weeks of CONSISTENT use.
Of course, your skin type is a factor in determining how fast your skin will lighten.
Continued use of arbutin-containing products will result in more even and lighter skin. However, you have to note that when you stop using these products, your skin is most likely to revert back to its previous condition.
Basically, the whitening effect of alpha arbutin is NOT PERMANENT. This is because it merely inhibits the tyrosinase activity. The lightening effect may continue for a few weeks after discontinuation, but will ultimately disappear over time. Whitening creams have a longer-lasting effect.
Alpha and Beta Arbutin
There are two kinds of arbutin: Alpha and Beta. Between the two, the former is more expensive to manufacture but is more effective.
Alpha Arbutin
Alpha arbutin (4-hydroxyphenyl α-glucopyranoside) is the purest form of arbutin available. It is also soluble in water, making it easier for skin cells to absorb.
Here’s something to note about products that contain alpha arbutin: They are generally expensive because of high manufacturing costs.
Alpha arbutin is most commonly used in lotions, serums and treatments since products with alpha arbutin are very effective in skin lightening.
It also has better water-solubility, heat-resistance, and light-stability properties compared to beta arbutin.
With the right concentration, the presence of this agent can greatly benefit those who suffer from hyperpigmentation.
Beta Arbutin
The other kind of arbutin is the beta class. This is cheaper to produce compared to its alpha equivalent and is not as effective. It still produces fairly significant effects, though.
If the ingredients list of a skin care product does not mention alpha, it’s safe to say it’s beta arbutin.
Arbutin vs. Hydroquinone
While arbutin is a safer lightening agent, hydroquinone is more popular and is often labeled as the gold standard for skin brighteners.
Both arbutin and hydroquinone work by lessening melanin production by melanocytes, but they differ in that the former only INHIBITS tyrosinase. Hydroquinone, on the other hand, exhibits a FATAL reaction to melanocytes.
In a 2013 study by Inoue, et al., hydroquinone was able to downregulate the early stage of differentiation in melanocytes. Arbutin, on the other hand, only suppressed melanogenesis by inhibiting tyrosinase expression.
Hydroquinone received bad rap before due its harmful effects especially for pregnant women. It was found later the damage was because of mercury presence in the product. Even with that report, hydroquinone is still banned in some countries.
While it is an effective whitening agent, hydroquinone exhibits toxicity towards melanocytes, creating an adverse effect on other proteins. There are also fears it is carcinogenic.
In general, hydroquinone is more effective than alpha arbutin when it comes to whitening, but its potency poses more risks.
Hydroquinone is still popular in dermatologic practice. In the US, most over-the-counter products use the 2% formualtion (4% use requires prescription).
6-month cycling of hydroquinone use reduces the risks of these toxicities.
It’s best to stick to the safer arbutin when it comes to choosing between the two. However, when you have very stubborn dark spots and other hyperpigmentation issues, it may be time to look towards the power of hydroquinone. Just make sure you consult a dermatologist in the process.
Arbutin vs. Kojic Acid
Another popular lightening agent in skin care products is kojic acid. This ingredient is common in a variety of Asian whitening products.
This acid is created from mushroom, rice, soy, and other selected grains that are cultured and prepared under humid conditions.
In terms of whitening power, kojic acid is generally more powerful than alpha arbutin. In fact, you only need a low concentration for it to be effective. This concentration allows it to be available over the counter.
However, it is quite unstable when manufactured into skin care products. Kojic acid easily breaks down and becomes less effective over time.
Also, make sure you go for kojic acid, NOT kojic acid dipalmitate. The latter is more stable, but is not as powerful. Given that kojic acid loses its effect as time goes by, it’s better to go for the more stable option.
Why Choose Alpha Arbutin?
There are many more potent skin lightening agents out there, but alpha arbutin carries qualities that are unique to it.
It does not pose as much risk compared to hydroquinone. Overall, alpha arbutin is safer compared to other whitening ingredients. You can use it safely along with other skin care products.
There are of course some people whose skin doesn’t react well to arbutin, but these cases are rare. In general, arbutin will lighten the skin without any issues. Arbutin can be used for any skin type, so it works well even for those with sensitive skin types.
Because it does not make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, it’s safe to use in tropical countries.
Alpha Arbutin Side Effects
While generally safe to use for all skin types, there are still rare cases where arbutin can cause redness or irritation from an allegic reaction.
It’s best to avoid using arbutin on damaged or broken skin.
This can be better understood if you remember that alpha arbutin is a hydroquinone derivative. Under alkaline conditions, arbutin can be converted to hydroquinone.
However, the skin’s surface is normally acidic, so there’s little chance for this to happen.
Overly sensitive skin types may suffer from side effects like redness and irritation, but again, these are rare cases.
The concentration also matters. If you find yourself reacting poorly to arbutin-containing products, consider something less concentrated to allow your skin to adjust.
It’s also good to note that heat can lessen the effectiveness of arbutin. So if you have serums or creams containing this ingredient, keep them away from direct sunlight and hot areas.
Things to Do Before Using Lightening Products
Skin lightening is a process that may be dangerous if not done correctly. Because the process consists of inhibiting enzyme activity, too much can do more harm than good.
It’s important to remember that melanin protects the skin from sun damage. So you don’t want to eliminate it completely.
It’s better to consult a dermatologist first before undergoing an intense whitening process, especially if you have sensitive skin.
A lot of lightening ingredients bring risks which could be avoided with proper precaution.
Conclusion
Skin lightening can have many benefits apart from fairer complexion.
Hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and unevenness can affect the overall appearance of the face.
These problems can be remedied with skin lightening products, especially those that contain arbutin.
Arbutin is one of the safest lightening agents today.
It works well for all skin types and does not have many risks compared to other whitening ingredients. This makes it an effective solution for any skin concern like dark spots and excess melanin production.
CHANGELOG:
September 3, 2021 – Updated article content
August 20, 2021 – Improved article formatting, reviewed and updated overall content
July 15, 2021 – Reviewed and updated article links
