What is tranexamic acid?

 

Tranexamic acid is a star ingredient for hyperpigmentation! Tranexamic acid is a synthetic derivative of the amino acid L-lysine. Tranexamic acid is a synthetic derivative of the amino acid L-lysine. L-lysine is an amino acid that is found in our food and supplements. For example, Tofu is a delicious and great source of it! Tranexamic acid is a bioequivalent of L-lysine which means they’re like twins. When something is bioequivalent, it means that our bodies recognize it and use it in the same way. Here are 4 reasons tranexamic acid lessens hyperpigmentation

Tranexamic acid is also wonderful because it aids in the production of carnitine, a fabulous substance that breaks down the body’s fatty acids. Because carnitine has the ability to degrade fat, it’s believed that it helps reduce excess sebum which is a key factor responsible for acne, inflammation, and likewise hyperpigmentation.

As mentioned before, Tranexamic acid is a synthetic derivative of lysine. Lysine does not only help compose delicious food like Tofu, but it’s also a “tyrosinase activity inhibitor.”

Well, what does that mean???

“Tyrosinase” is an enzyme found in our melanocytes, and melanocytes are the cells that produce melanin. However, before our actual melanin and pigment (what gives us color) is created, tyrosinase must mix in.

Tyrosinase is important for a very important chemical process (oxidation) with an amino acid called Tyrosine. Once they mix in together, pigment granules are then formed and transported to the upper layers of the skin to give us color. However, when we’re talking about hyperpigmentation, we want less of this mixing right, right? That’s where tranexamic acid comes in. Tranexamic acid inhibits (hinders) tyrosinase, so less mixing will occur and likewise pigment granules aren’t overproduced. With that, the chance of having super intense dark spots are decreased.

 

Here’s another good thing about Tranexamic acid: it helps to decrease some of the inflammation that happens because of UV light. UV causes a mini-inflammatory response, and a protein called plasmin that helps with clotting (making a bleed to stop) is transported to the irradiated (affected) skin by immune cells (cells that fight attack). However, this is all an inflammatory process. Things are going on red alert. With that, more tyrosinase activity is triggered. So now, more melanin is produced, and of course, it goes to the top layer of your skin. To provide another example, you know how you get a cut and then it heals, but then the area is a bit browner than the rest of your skin? The same effect can happen with exposure to UV light, but tranexamic inhibits or hinders this.

 

Tranexamic acid isanti-angiogenic.