Active ingredient
Tranexamic Acid
INCITranexamic Acid
Last reviewed by BIOSAR Scientific Team, PharmD, Cosmetic Chemistry, Pharmacy practice on .
What it is
Tranexamic acid is a synthetic lysine analogue used in skincare to reduce melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and uneven tone. It inhibits plasmin-mediated melanogenesis and dampens melanocyte response to UV-induced inflammation. Pairs well with vitamin C, niacinamide, and alpha-arbutin in stacked pigment-correction routines. No major conflicts.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Safe
Considered safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Topical tranexamic acid at cosmetic concentrations is considered acceptable during pregnancy and lactation per Mother to Baby. Oral or systemic use is a separate clinical decision and falls outside cosmetic scope.
Mechanism in detail
What Tranexamic Acid does
Amino acid derivative that targets stubborn pigmentation pathways. Works alongside Alpha-Arbutin or Niacinamide for multi-pathway tone correction.
Evidence
What the research says
- −51%Melasma patches visibly faded in the trialIn a randomized controlled trial, twice-daily topical tranexamic acid cut the mean melasma severity index from 4.80 to 2.33 over the study, a roughly 51% drop. It matched hydroquinone on results with fewer side effects.Read the study →Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2017 (Atefi)
Where it helps
Concerns Tranexamic Acid addresses
Dullness
Dull skin is the visible loss of luminosity, where the surface appears flat, grey, or fatigued instead of light-reflective. The underlying…
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Across Fitzpatrick III–V skin tones — the majority of darker skin tones — the most common consultation is the same: the patch on the…
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Sun damage is the cumulative photoaging caused by ultraviolet radiation, presenting as solar lentigines, irregular pigmentation, fine…
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