Tranexamic Acid Serum

In today's article, we will review one of the most popular brands in skincare right now, tranexamic acid, a drug available in oral and tablet forms for various purposes, including reducing bleeding during menstrual periods. Now, it has been formulated for topical use on the skin.

Tranexamic Acid Serum

 

Tranexamic acid offers several benefits and is prescribed for many patients dealing with pigmentation issues. It's commonly used after deep pigmentation chemical peels to maintain results for conditions like melasma and hyperpigmentation. Tranexamic acid effectively reduces redness, making it suitable for use after resurfacing and depigmentation treatments. It's also known for its pigmentation-reducing properties.

Tranexamic acid for hyperpigmentation can be an excellent solution, especially if you have been struggling with dark spots, discoloration, and melasma. Chances are you've probably already tried products like vitamin C or even hydroquinone at one point to diminish dark spots, but maybe you haven't had any luck.

Is it time to try tranexamic acid?

Well, if you don't know, tranexamic acid has gained a lot of popularity as one of the newest dark spot treatments on the market, and I think it's important that we mention in this article everything you need to know about tranexamic acid serum so you can start fading away those dark spots as soon as possible.

If you guys are new here, this article is all about helping you make informed decisions when it comes to your health and wellness.

What is Tranexamic acid?

Now, Tranexamic acid is a synthetic analog of the amino acid lysine and has been used to treat or stop excessive blood loss in various situations, including major trauma and surgery. In 1979, they discovered that one of its side effects was lightening up dark spots on the skin, which paved the way for skincare manufacturers to start incorporating tranexamic acid as a solution for dark spots. Many people have been able to see an improvement in their discoloration just by adding it to their regimen at around the 8 to 12-week mark, which is amazing.

And how it works is really interesting because it's great at targeting hyperpigmentation, whether it's post-inflammatory or from hormonally induced melasma.

If you take a look at one of the causes of dark spots, you find that a lot of the time it comes from UV light, which activates plasmin. This, in turn, activates tyrosinase activity, which then produces melanin pigments, something we want to avoid.

Importance of Tranexamic Acid Serum

However, when we use tranexamic acid, we find that it blocks this initial pathway, UV-induced melanin synthesis, by stopping the interaction between our keratinocytes, which are our skin cells, and melanocytes, which are our melanin-producing cells. By stopping this interaction, we prevent dark spot formation. The best part is that it's very gentle and works well with other ingredients because it doesn't exfoliate or stimulate collagen. Therefore, you can use it alongside vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide, and kojic acid.

how to use and layer Tranexamic acid Serum?

Now that we've defined what tranexamic acid is and how it works, let's discuss how to use and layer it. Many of the products containing tranexamic acid come in the form of a serum or moisturizer, but you can also find it in a peel.

 Tranexamic Acid Serum, how to use 

The ideal concentration to look for is between 3 to 5 percent, and you can start by using it once a day to see how your skin reacts to it, then gradually increase it to twice a day. If you're starting in the morning, begin with a gentle facial cleanser, followed by your vitamin C serum, then apply the tranexamic acid, and don't forget to finish with an SPF of 50 or higher. Sunscreen is crucial because, without it, you may reverse a lot of the progress you've made. Combining it with vitamin C can help maximize its brightening effects by enhancing its effectiveness against the tyrosinase enzyme.

If you're using a retinol or retinoid at night, layer it under your preferred retinoids and retinol for additional benefits to improve overall skin tone and texture. Regarding the choice of products, for vitamin C, you can opt for the least expensive one that produces good results, such as the 10% ascorbic acid by CeraVe. You can layer it with Paula's Choice 3% tranexamic acid, especially if it's your first time since going straight to 5% can lead to dryness, irritation, and some flaking.

Discoloration Repair Serum

The Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum contains 3% tranexamic acid, 5% niacinamide, and 0.5% bakuchiol, along with vitamin E and milk thistle to improve the appearance of dark spots within 8 to 12 weeks. Bakuchiol can be an excellent alternative to retinol, especially if you've had a negative reaction to retinol and can't tolerate it. It's essentially a meroterpene phenol and functions as an analog of retinol. After 12 weeks of using bakuchiol, significant improvements in skin damage, firmness, and elasticity have been observed, which is truly remarkable. When using the Discoloration Repair Serum, start with three times a week and work your way up to twice a day to allow your skin to adjust, and, of course, don't forget the sunscreen.

The product itself is somewhat dry and contains approximately two percent tranexamic acid. Upon examining the ingredient list, you'll find a substantial amount of tranexamic acid and a vitamin C derivative. This combination makes it specifically formulated for pigmentation concerns rather than addressing redness.

While some sources suggest you don't need to combine it with a moisturizer, individuals with sensitive skin may find tranexamic acid somewhat drying. It's advisable to pair it with a more moisturizing product, not limited to hyaluronic acid but something containing ceramides and essential oils to soothe your skin.

If you have mild pigmentation issues or are looking to maintain pigmentation problems like melasma, then tranexamic acid from The Inkey List could be the product for you.

it's a good maintenance product but may not completely resolve pigmentation issues. It can be somewhat drying and may lead to some redness.