Clinical Study of Effect of Tranexamic Acid Emulsion on Melasma and Freckles

Abstract

We investigated whether topical application of tranexamic acid(TA) emulsion is effective for improving the pigmentation in melasma and freckles. The subjects, 25 with melasma and 8 with freckles, used the TA emulsion for five to eighteen weeks, and the outcome was evaluated based on a doctor’s visual assessment of skin pigmentation. At the last observation point, TA emulsion had improved the pigmentation in melasma and freckles in 20 subjects(80%) with melasma and 6 subjects(75%) with freckles. No side effect was recognized, so TA emulsion is considered to be safe. As regards the time course, marked improvement was observed within 8 weeks for melasma, but within 12 weeks for freckles ; therefore, improvement was considered to require at least two months of topical application. We conclude that TA emulsion is an effective cosmeceutical product having a whitening effect on melasma and freckles through inhibition of melanin synthesis, and preventing the appearance of new pigmented spots and freckles.