Ingredient
Tranexamic Acid
One of the few topicals with evidence behind it for melasma.
What it is
An ingredient used for stubborn pigmentation, particularly melasma — the symmetrical brown patches that often appear on the cheeks and forehead and are made worse by sun and heat. It is not an exfoliant and does not sting.
Who it suits
Melasma and stubborn post-inflammatory marks that niacinamide and vitamin C have not shifted. Melasma is genuinely difficult and often needs a dermatologist — this is a reasonable thing to use alongside, not instead of, that visit.
Strength and how to start
2% to 5% topically, usually once or twice a day. Give it three months before judging; melasma moves slowly and comes back when sun protection slips.
Pairs with
Melasma without daily sun protection does not improve. This is the ingredient that actually decides the outcome.
Works on tone from a different direction.
Be careful with
Aggressive exfoliation
Irritation makes melasma worse, not better. Scrubs and strong peels frequently set it back.
In Bangladesh
Melasma is common in Bangladesh and heat alone can trigger it — not just UV. Standing over a stove, a long commute in the sun, and the months around April all matter. Shade and a hat do work that a serum cannot.
Common questions
Will melasma go away?
It is usually managed rather than cured, and it returns when sun protection slips. Anyone promising permanent removal is promising something no topical can deliver.
Products coming at launch
We are not selling yet. When we open in early 2027 we will stock products built around this ingredient — with the source of every batch recorded. Leave your number and we will tell you once.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Skincare products are not medicines. Speak to a dermatologist about persistent or worsening skin conditions.