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Study summary · Skin, hair & photoaging

Does the topical application of tranexamic acid (TXA) increase the efficacy of laser therapy in treating melasma?

In one paragraph

Topical Tranexamic Acid Serum, a meta-analysis — the combination of laser therapy and topical TXA significantly decreased the MASI score (P < 0.0001). The abstract for Topical Tranexamic Acid Serum states no limitations. Source: Lasers Med Sci 2023, PMID 37326860.

Source: Lasers Med Sci 2023, PMID 37326860 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: medium

Lasers Med Sci · 2023 · PMID 37326860 · DOI 10.1007/s10103-023-03810-5

Plain-English summary written and published by Magellan Longevity · medical review by Gabriel Radu, DO (physiatrist, NPI 1376861765). We summarize what the paper reported — we did not run this study.

The takeaway

Combining laser therapy with topical tranexamic acid is an effective treatment for melasma, with fractional CO2 laser and daily TXA showing the best results.

The question

Does the topical application of tranexamic acid (TXA) increase the efficacy of laser therapy in treating melasma?

What they tested

The combination of laser therapy and topical tranexamic acid will be more effective in treating melasma compared to laser therapy alone.

How they did it

A meta-analysis was conducted by systematically searching PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the International Clinical Trials registry. Two independent reviewers screened articles using the Covidance database per PRISMA guidelines. Clinical improvement was measured using the Melasma Area of Severity Index (MASI) or modified MASI (mMASI). Nine studies describing the combined use of topical tranexamic acid with various laser therapies were included.

What they found

The combination of laser therapy and topical TXA significantly decreased the MASI score (P < 0.0001). Subgroup analyses indicated that fractional CO2 laser was the most effective laser type, and a regimen of monthly laser plus twice daily topical TXA was most effective in decreasing MASI/mMASI scores.

What it means

Combining topical tranexamic acid and laser therapy is an effective and safer treatment option for treatment-resistant melasma. Specifically, monthly fractional CO2 laser combined with daily topical tranexamic acid showed high effectiveness and safety.

Limitations

The abstract does not explicitly state any limitations of the meta-analysis itself, such as heterogeneity among studies or publication bias.

Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.

“combining topical tranexamic acid and laser therapy is an effective and safer treatment for melasma”— from the published abstract, Lasers Med Sci 2023

The paper at a glance

TitleEffectiveness of laser and topical tranexamic acid combination therapy in melasma: a meta-analysis
JournalLasers Med Sci
Year2023
PMID37326860 ↗
DOI10.1007/s10103-023-03810-5 ↗
TopicSkin, hair & photoaging

Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗

Where Magellan uses this paper

This citation sits behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are set from the research and are independent of affiliate commissions.

Topical Tranexamic Acid Serum

In randomized controlled trials and multiple meta-analyses, topical tranexamic acid significantly lowers melasma severity scores (MASI/mMASI and melanin index) and performs comparably to the long-standing standard agent hydroquinone, frequently with fewer irritant side effects;

Topical Tranexamic Acid Serum

Topical tranexamic acid (TXA; trans-4-aminomethylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid) is a synthetic lysine…

Check price on Amazon ↗

Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.

Cite this page

These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.

APA
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Does the topical application of tranexamic acid (TXA) increase the efficacy of laser therapy in treating melasma? [Plain-English summary of Lasers Med Sci 2023, PMID 37326860, DOI 10.1007/s10103-023-03810-5]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d37326860.html
BibTeX
@misc{magellan_d37326860, title = {Does the topical application of tranexamic acid (TXA) increase the efficacy of laser therapy in treating melasma?}, author = {{Magellan Longevity}}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d37326860.html}}, note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 37326860; DOI 10.1007/s10103-023-03810-5; Lasers Med Sci 2023. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO}, urldate = {2026-08-11} }
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How this summary was made. Every section above restates what the published abstract of PMID 37326860 reports — the question, the design, the numbers, the authors’ own conclusion and their stated limitations. We do not add claims the paper did not make, and we keep negative and no-effect findings in. Magellan’s evidence grades are set from research like this and never from affiliate commissions.

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Educational information, not medical advice. This is a plain-English summary of published research; it is not a treatment recommendation and nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual studies can be wrong, and a single paper rarely settles a question. Talk to your physician before acting on any research, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.