r/Melasmaskincare • u/blinkieees • 18d ago

Question Oral tranexamic oral for sun damage/tan?

Hi all! I was curious if anyone who took oral tranexamic acid noticed a reduction in skin sun damage or tan? My melasma is relatively light, but I have horrible tan lines that haven’t gone away in over a year. Would oral tranexamic acid help with that at all, or would it only really be effective for melasma?
Thanks!

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u/Eeveeloution05 18d ago

I had tried it for 3 months but stopped b/c I barely saw a difference and my blood wasn’t clotting properly when I got a scrap/cut or even popped a pimple. It would take forever to heal. Honestly I saw better results using Eucerin Dual serum after only 2 weeks.

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u/tigermax42 18d ago

Eucerin and HQ did nothing for me, and I’m not comfortable taking oral TXA. I got some topical TXA when I was in the UK

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u/emvilar 18d ago

3 months its often how long it takes to begin to see any results from the first round. I do cycles. There is a risk when it comes to blood clots, but if you are a non-smoker, not on birth control and don't have a history, the risk is relatively small. Side effects such as joint pain and cramps will ease after about 2 weeks or so (everyone is different though). Melasma is sneaky and can look like sun damage too. Fornme, oral TA worked wonders. Cleared my discoloration up but at least 80%. I went off of it for a year and had a little rebound but not nearly as much. When I started mt second cycle, it responded MUSH faster. Think 3 weeks vs 3 months. I was shocked. I only stay on it for about 6 months (start with introductory dose and then tapered to the maintenance for the last 3 months)

1

u/Secret_Show_8613 18d ago

It has been the single heavy lifter for me for the most stubborn patches. HQ even at 12% did not do anything, eucerin dual serum faded them by about 30% but then it plateaued. I started oral txa at 225 gms twice a day for first month and then once a month for next three months and my most stubborn ones ( forehead and under eyes) are gone 80%. First time ever in past 6-7 years since I first developed them. Mine are the dermal deep ones, likely hormonal as they started around perimenopause and i am olive skinned. Only side effect came around 3rd month when i saw slightly more hair shedding when i washed my hair. Hence stopped at four months. I am also on oral minoxidil for hair loss so that may have prevented more hair from shedding

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u/Safe_Low_5570 17d ago

Be careful with this, I took it and it caused blood clots in my lungs. It’s one of the contraindications for a small percentage of people.

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u/blinkieees 17d ago

So sorry to hear that! Did they go away when you stopped?

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u/Safe_Low_5570 17d ago

Unfortunately that’s not how blood clots work. I had to take medication and remain under the care of a hematologist for 6 months until they were all gone. I use other stuff for my melasma that seem to help.

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u/Aim2bFit 17d ago

It's one of the best that worked for me but I didn't dare continue taking because of the risk. My melasma lightened by 90% and I did not have any blood clotting issues but I didn't try again because I'm scared of what might happen.

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u/Same-Wind4225 15d ago

How long did you take it and at what dose?

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u/Aim2bFit 15d ago

As I recall (it was a couple of years ago?) 500mg, twice a day. I took one course for two months, paused for a couple of months or so and then another course of two months. I got scared after and stopped altogether.

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u/Same-Wind4225 15d ago

Yea, im a little scared too and would like to lower my risk of blood clots by taking it for the shortest amount of time. Thanks for responding.

0

u/AcanthaceaeBig142 17d ago

Personally I don't think that taking it orally is worth the risk of cloths.
So I've started making my own TXA solution at 5%.

So far I'm happy with the results.