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Tranexamic Acid for skin: your need-to-know guide

It's a bit of a mouthful, granted, but Tranexamic Acid is the latest buzzy skincare ingredient that you need to know about. If you haven't heard of it yet, consider this your go-to guide.

We talked to ingredient-driven skincare brand The Inkey List - specifically their askINKEY team - for their expert take on this key ingredient. With their knowledge-powered approach, we uncovered the benefits of Tranexamic Acid for your skin, how to use it in your skincare routine, which skin types it suits, and how it can help you tackle dark spots and pigmentation.

By Emily Kemp



What is Tranexamic Acid?

While undoubtedly a new player in the skincare world, Tranexamic Acid has been used in healthcare settings for years. Given in tablet form or as an injection, this medicinal acid has blood-clotting properties and can help control blood loss. It's often used for people suffering with heavy periods or to help manage bleeding after trauma.

As with many medicines though, as time goes by, various effects and benefits come to light. And with Tranexamic Acid, it appears there's a few important benefits that relate to the skin - AKA: music to every beauty buff's ears.


Benefits of Tranexamic Acid for your skin

So, what does Tranexamic Acid do? Over the last few years, dermatologists have begun using Tranexamic Acids to treat melasma, a skin condition where patches of darker pigmentation develop on the skin. Why? Well, Tranexamic Acid seems to help reduce - and even remove - this pigmentation. It's impressive stuff.

While this treatment is usually taken orally, it's thought that topical Tranexamic Acid (i.e. applied directly on your skin) can have similar effects - without the need to take a tablet. It's not exactly clear how Tranexamic Acid does this, but it's thought it works by interacting with the specific skin cells that create melanin and altering their pigment-forming function.

Because of this, Tranexamic Acid can also help reduce more general dark spots on the skin, age spots, and the type of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that can remain following breakouts. 


Is Tranexamic Acid suitable for all skin types?

The good news? Yes. The askINKEY team told us that Tranexamic Acid is safe for use by all skin types, whether that be blemish-prone, dry, oily or mature. Because of its specific benefits, it's best used by those who want to tackle hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone and dark spots. The Inkey List's Tranexamic Acid is a good newbie-proof product. Designed for overnight results, its gel-like formula is non-drying and suitable for all skin types. Another plus? It's easy on your bank balance too. 


When to use Tranexamic Acid in your skincare routine

Okay, so now you want to give Tranexamic Acid skincare a whirl. Maybe you've got some dark spots you want to shift, or post-blemish pigmentation you'd love to see the back of. But which stage of your routine should you use a Tranexamic Acid product?

The folks at The Inkey List recommend using it right at the end of your evening routine. The Inkey List's formula has been designed as an overnight treatment, so simply follow your usual PM skin regime but replace your moisturiser with Tranexamic Acid.

As for frequency, while most experts agree Tranexamic Acid is safe to use daily, The Inkey List recommends you use the treatment two to three nights a week. This is because their formula doesn't layer well alongside moisturisers and oils, so to prevent dehydration you should only use it a few times a week. On alternating nights you should moisturise as normal.


Does Tranexamic Acid have any side effects?

Topical Tranexamic Acid has few side effects - it's considered a very safe ingredient. The only issues you might encounter is skin dehydration, which can be counteracted by using plenty of moisturiser in the AM and on alternative nights where you're not using your acid.


The best Tranexamic Acid products to try

To round things up, here's our pick of the very best Tranexamic products for you to try: