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Tranexamic acid

Ingredient · In our Post-Breakout Acne Cream, Skin Renewal Formula and Skin Brightening Formula

Tranexamic acid

Tranexamic acid is best known as a tablet for heavy periods. Applied to the skin, it's being studied as a way to fade stubborn dark spots and melasma.1,2

Abstract lilac etched glass, illustrative ingredient artwork
Tranexamic acid

Photos are illustrations, not the medicine. Tranexamic acid is made in a lab.

Off-label, early evidence

Tranexamic acid tablets are FDA-approved for heavy menstrual bleeding.1 Using it on the skin for dark spots is off-label, and the studies are small. Our creams are compounded by a licensed pharmacy, and compounded versions are not FDA-approved.4

FDA-approved for this useWell studied, used off-labelEarly evidenceLittle or no human data

The studies below used FDA-approved products or other forms. Our compounded version hasn't been studied in trials, and results may differ.

What it is

Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic, a medicine that slows the breakdown of blood clots.1 Exactly how it fades pigment is still being worked out, but small trials suggest it can lighten melasma.2,3

Why it's in this product

Melasma is famously stubborn, and options that don't rely only on hydroquinone are useful. In our creams, tranexamic acid works alongside azelaic acid and niacinamide.

Post-Breakout Acne CreamSkin Renewal FormulaSkin Brightening Formula

What the studies in people show

  • Randomized trialMatched hydroquinone in a split-face trialIn 50 women with melasma, 3% tranexamic acid on one side of the face improved melasma about as much as 3% hydroquinone with a little steroid on the other side, over 12 weeks.2
  • Meta-analysisHelpful alone or as an add-onA review of 11 studies with 667 people found tranexamic acid lowered melasma severity, both on its own and added to standard treatments. Side effects were minor.3

What we don't know yet

Many of the studies in that review used tranexamic acid by mouth or injection, not on the skin, and most were small.3 We still need bigger, longer trials of the topical form.

Safety, in plain English

On the skin, the main side effect reported was temporary irritation.3 The tablet form carries warnings about blood clots,1 so tell your clinician about your full health history.

A licensed clinician reviews your health history and decides whether this cream is appropriate for you. Exploring it here never means you'll get a prescription.

Curious about tranexamic acid?

Start with a free assessment. A licensed clinician reviews your health history and decides whether treatment is appropriate. No pressure, and no prescription unless it makes sense for you.

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Sources

  1. U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. Tranexamic acid tablets: prescribing information. DailyMed
  2. Ebrahimi B, et al. Topical tranexamic acid as a promising treatment for melasma. J Res Med Sci. 2014;19:753-757. PubMed 25422661
  3. Kim HJ, et al. Efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid in melasma: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Acta Derm Venereol. 2017;97:776-781. PubMed 28374042
  4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers. FDA

Sources checked November 8, 2026. This page is general education, not medical advice, and it doesn't mean any treatment is right for you. Photos: Unsplash (Mr. Pugo, Mark Huigen, Izzy Gibson).