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SKIN WHITENING
Skin whitening is an important segment of the anti-aging skin care industry. Skin whitening refers to the process by which discoloration, such as “age spots,” is reduced or removed. Today, skin whitening products are available in the form of creams, pills, soaps or lotions. The mechanism of permanent whitening is usually by the breakdown of melanin by enzymes or reducing agents. The tyrosinase inhibiting assay assesses a product’s effect on skin-whitening.
- Tyrosinase Inhibition
- The color of mammalian skin is determined by many factors, one of which is the concentration and distribution of melanin pigmentation. Because tyrosinase is the key enzyme for melanin biosynthesis, skin darkening can be suppressed, at least partially, by deactivating of tyrosinase. Therefore, tyrosinase inhibitors have become increasingly important in cosmetic and medicinal products used in the prevention of hyperpigmentaion. Many compounds, such as hydroquinone, kojic acid, and benzaldehyde-O-alkyloximes have been reported as tyrosinase inhibitors.
