The emerging importance of tranexamic acid in dermatology

Abstract

Tranexamic acid (TA) is an antifibrinolytic agent, increasingly recognized as being of utility for a wide variety of skin diseases. We review the evidence supporting the use of TA for a range of dermatological indications, including (among others) melasma, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, urticaria, angio-oedema and haemostasis, in addition to practical considerations of its use by dermatologists.

The influence of topical5%tranexamic acid at pH2.38with and without corundum microdermabrasion on pigmentation and skin surface lipids

“…Tranexamic acid (TA, trans-4-aminomethylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid) is a synthetic amino acid which demonstrates anti-hemorrhagic activity and is used to treat bleeding in various origins (Acidum tranexamicum, medicine EXACYL). [1][2][3][4][5] However, during the course of treatment using oral TA, it was observed that administration also yielded whitening effects. 1,3,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Studies have shown that both oral administration and topical application of TA is effective at decreasing pigmentation.…”

“…Tranexamic acid (TA, trans‐4‐aminomethylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid ) is a synthetic amino acid which demonstrates anti‐hemorrhagic activity and is used to treat bleeding in various origins ( Acidum tranexamicum , medicine EXACYL) 1‐5 . However, during the course of treatment using oral TA, it was observed that administration also yielded whitening effects 1,3,6‐14 …”

Clinical observation and dermoscopy evaluation of fractional CO2 laser combined with topical tranexamic acid in melasma treatments

“…TXA can improve epidermis by affecting the expression of proteins related to the differentiation and exfoliation of certain keratinocytes, which affect the differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes, the synthesis of surface sebum lipids, the formation and secretion of lamellar corpuscles, as well as the maturation of the epidermis 22 . It plays a large role in skin aging, wound healing, anti‐inflammatory repair, acne, and other skin problems 23,24 . As for the adverse reactions of oral TXA, local microneedle injection or intradermal injection of TXA 25 can make the drug directly acting on the skin lesion, while reducing the adverse reactions caused by oral administration and percutaneous absorption disorders of topical drugs.…”

Hypopigmentation as a side effect of melasma treatment with tranexamic acid intradermal microinjections

“…In this case, maintenance therapy was motivated by previous studies reporting greater recurrence rates with microinjections of TXA as compared to oral TA 250 mg twice daily, thus suggesting that intradermal TA injections should be administered frequently to achieve equivalent efficacy to oral TA. 5,7 We F I G U R E 1 Multiple hypopigmented asymptomatic macules on both hands and forearms…”