Oral Tranexamic Acid With Fluocinolone-Based Triple Combination Cream Versus Fluocinolone-Based Triple Combination Cream Alone in Melasma

10/8/2018 Oral Tranexamic Acid with Fluocinolone-Based Triple Combination Cream Versus Fluocinolone-Based Triple Combination Cream Al…
Indian J Dermatol. 2015 Sep-Oct; 60(5): 520. PMCID: PMC4601440

doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.164416 PMID: 26538719
Oral Tranexamic Acid with Fluocinolone-Based Triple Combination

Cream Versus Fluocinolone-Based Triple Combination Cream Alone in
Melasma: An Open Labeled Randomized Comparative Trial
Tanmay Padhi and Swetalina Pradhan
From the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, VSS Medical College, Sambalpur, Odisha, India
Address for correspondence: Dr. Swetalina Pradhan, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, VSS Medical College, Sambalpur,
Odisha, India. E-mail: dr.swetalinapradhan@gmail.com
Received 2014 Jul; Accepted 2014 Nov.
Copyright : © Indian Journal of Dermatology
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License,
which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are
licensed under the identical terms.
Abstract Go to:
Background: Go to:
Melasma is a common acquired cause of facial hyperpigmentation with no definitive therapy. Tranexamic
acid, a plasmin inhibitor, has demonstrated depigmenting properties and combining this oral drug with
other modalities of treatment has shown promising results.
Objectives: Go to:
To compare the efficacy of a combination of oral tranexamic acid and fluocinolone-based triple
combination cream with that of fluocinolone-based triple combination cream alone in melasma among
Indian patients.
Materials and Methods: Go to:
40 patients of melasma of either sex attending to dermatology OPD were enrolled in this study.
Participants were randomly divided into two groups with 20 patients in each group. Group A patients were
asked to apply the cream only and Group B patients received oral tranexamic acid 250 mg twice daily and
applied a triple combination cream containing fluocinolone acetonide 0.01%, tretinoin 0.05%, and
hydroquinone 2% once daily for 8 weeks. Response was evaluated using melasma area severity index
(MASI) at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.
Results: Go to:
40 patients completed the study. The MASI scores at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks in group A were
15.425 + 1.09, 11.075 + 9.167 and 6.995 + 6.056 respectively and in group B 18.243 + 1.05, 6.135 + 4.94
and 2.19 + 3.38. Intergroup comparison showed a faster reduction in pigmentation in Group B as
compared to Group A and the results were statistically significant at 4 weeks (P value 0.014) and 8 weeks
(P value 0.000). The efficacy was maintained throughout the 6-month follow-up period.
Conclusion: Go to:
Addition of oral tranexamic acid to fluocinolone-based triple combination cream results in a faster and
sustained improvement in the treatment of melasma.
Keywords: Melasma, oral therapy, tranexamic acid, triple combination cream

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4601440/?report=printable 1/14
What was known?
Existing treatment modalities for melasma are not satisfactory.

Tranexamic acid alone or in combination with other modalities like LASER or hydroquinone
cream has shown promising result in the treatment in melasma.
Introduction Go to:
Melasma is an acquired disorder of hyperpigmentation presenting over the sun-exposed skin. Females in
their reproductive age group are commonly affected with cheek, nose, upper lip, and forehead being the
predominant areas of involvement. However, it can occur in men and also over areas other than the face.
[1] It is classically known to affect females of Asian or Hispanic origin with Fitzpatrick skin type III-V.[2]
Clinically, when the area of involvement is taken into consideration, it can be centrofacial, malar or
mandibular. Based on histological and Wood's lamp examination, it can be of epidermal, dermal or mixed
type. From an etiological point of view, it is related to high intensity ultra violet ray exposure, pregnancy,
contraceptives, drugs, hormone therapy, and genetic abnormality.[3]
A predilection for facial skin and relative refractoriness to treatment puts its sufferers into cosmetic
disfigurement along with intense psychological distress. It imparts a poor quality of life with adversely
affected social interaction, recreation, and emotional well being.[4]
A variety of treatment has been proposed and used in melasma. They include topical medications such as
hydroquinone and related drugs, azelaic acid, corticosteroids, procedural treatments like chemical peels,
microdermabrasion and LASER, and light-based options like Q-switched Nd: YAG laser, intense pulse
light, and so on. All of these target to decrease melanin production over the local area directly or indirectly.
One of the most popular topical therapy for melasma world wide is the triple combination regimen known
as Kligman's formula. Kligman had originally used dexamthasone 0.1% along with tretinoin 0.1% and
hydroquinone 5% in a cream base.[5] However, there have been many modifications where
dexamethasone has been substituted with other steroids such as hydrocortisone, mometasone, fluocinolone
and fluticasone, and the strength of tretinoin and hydroquinone have been altered to suit different skin
types. A fluocinolone-based triple combination (fluocinolone acetonide 0.01%, tretinoin 0.05%, and
hydroquinone 2%) has been introduced in India since last few years and is considered to be a safer option
with studies claiming little or no side effects even when used for a very long time.[6] However, any steroid
should ideally not be used on the face for a longer duration as it can promote unpleasant side effects like
telangiectasia, hypertrichosis, atrophy, and acneiform eruptions.[7] Similarly, long-term safety profile of
topical hydroquinone is also debatable as it often results in paradoxical hyper pigmentation, confetti-like
depigmentation, and irritant dermatitis.[8]
Tranexamic acid is known to have skin-lightening effect and has been used topically, intralesionally as
microinjections and very recently, orally.[9,10,11] It has shown promising results by enhancing the
efficacy of conventional melasma treatment like LASER and hydroquinone.[12,13] Considering the
atrophogenic and other side effects of individual components of triple combination regimen, concomitant
use of oral tranexamic acid would help in decreasing the duration of topical steroid based treatment.
Aims Go to:
To compare the efficacy of oral tranexamic acid with fluocinolone-based triple combination cream with
fluocinolone-based triple combination cream alone in facial melasma.
Objectives Go to:
The primary objective was to assess the degree of improvement in pigmentation objectively using MASI at
baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment.
Materials and Methods Go to:
The study was approved by Institutional ethics committee. This was a prospective, parallel, randomized,
open label, comparative, clinical study, conducted in patients attending the skin OPD of the tertiary care
hospital, from January 2013 to June 2013. The study was not registered in clinical trial registry. Written
informed consent from patients was obtained for enrolment and photography.
Inclusion criteria Go to:
Patients with facial melasma belonging to both sexes, any age group and willing to undergo treatment and
to come for follow up were included in the study.
Exclusion criteria Go to:
Pregnant and lactating females, those with history of thrombosis or a tendency of blood coagulation
approved by laboratory tests, patients having psychological disorders, those on photosensitizing drugs or
thyroid hormones and those who were not willing to come for follow up, or had unrealistic expectation
from the treatment, those who had taken other melasma therapies within last 6 months and those who
refused to allow photographs were excluded from study.
All the patients were explained about the study. Written informed consent was taken from the each patient
prior to the treatment.
All patients who fulfilled the selection criteria were allocated in 1:1 ratio with alternate randomization into
groups A and B [Figure 1]. Group A patients were asked to apply fluocinolone-based triple combination
alone and Group B patients received oral tranexamic acid 250 mg twice daily after food along with
application of a topical formulation containing fluocinolone acetonide 0.01%, tretinoin 0.05%, and
hydroquinone 2%. Patients were advised to apply triple combination topically once daily at night and wash
their face the next morning. All patients were advised to apply broad spectrum sunscreens with an SPF of
15.
Pre- and post-treatment evaluation was done with detailed history, clinical examination, melasma area
severity index (MASI) scoring, and colour photographs. MASI scoring and colour photographs were taken
at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after treatment.
General examination (with periodic monitoring of BP) and a detailed ophthalmological examination with
special emphasis on colour vision abnormalities and retinal artery occlusion were done at each visit to rule
out any side effects of tranexamic acid. Complete blood count, coagulation profile and liver function test
were done in all patients before prescribing them tranexamic acid and also at each visit to rule out any
coagulation abnormality.
To calculate MASI, we followed the method introduced by Kimbrough-Green CK et al.[14] The face was
divided into four regions [forehead (F) 30%; right malar (MR) 30%; left malar (ML) 30%, chin (C) 10%]
and each area was given a numerical value (A, 0–6). The sum of severity for darkness (D, 0–4) and
homogeneity (H, 0–4) of melasma was multiplied by the numerical value and percentage of each area.
These values were then added to obtain MASI by a single-blinded trained dermatologist.
MASI = 0.3(DF + HF) AF + 0.3(DMR + HMR) AMR + 0.3(DML + HML) AML + 0.1(DC + HC) AC
A minimum of 6 months of follow up in each case was done to look for relapse, if any. Data obtained were
statistically analyzed using SPSS 16 software. Student t test and ANOVA were used to calculate significant
differences between parameters. Variables were considered significant for a confidence interval of 95% (P
< 0.05). Effect sizes were also calculated in order to identify the magnitude of effect of the intervention
regardless of the sample size; effect sizes exceeding 0.80 were considered large.
Results Go to:
There were 40 patients included in the study and with 33 females and only 8 males of age between 24 and
55 years with a mean age 35.85 + 7.614 years [Table 1]. In Group A, 15 patients were female and 5 were
male and in Group B 17 patients were female and 3 were male.
The MASI scores at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks in group A were 15.425 + 1.09, 11.075 + 9. 167 and
6.995 + 6.056 respectively and in group B 18.243 + 1.05, 6.135 + 4.94 and 2.19 + 3.38 [Figure 2].
Objective response to treatment as studied by fall in MASI scoring after 8 weeks was 54.65% reduction
(from 15.425 to 6.995) in group A and 88% reduction (from 18.243 to 2.19) in group B. Of 20 cases of
melasma which were treated with oral tranexamic acid and fluocinolone-based triple combination there
was greater decrease in MASI scores at 4 weeks and 8 weeks [Figures 3 and 4]. Also the results were
statistically significant at both 4 and 8 weeks with P < 0.05 [Table 2].
When the MASI scores were compared within the groups at 0, 4 and 8 weeks, the result was also
statistically significant among those taking oral tranexamic acid at the end of 4 and 8 weeks with P < 0.05
[Table 3].
Effect sizes: The evaluation of the intervention magnitude was considered large with effect size being 1.0
at the end of 8 weeks when MASI scores were compared between group A and B.
When adverse effects were compared between the groups, the results were almost identical. Systemic side
effects including ophthalmological adverse effects, a major concern in patients taking tranexamic acid,
were not seen in any of the patients receiving the drug [Table 4].
The patients were followed up for 6 months and there was no recurrence.
Discussion Go to:
Finding a cure for melasma has always been a challenge for the treating dermatologist. Various treatment
modalities, all of them aiming at reducing melanin synthesis, exist but come with their own side effect
profile. Moreover, none of them are very effective in inducing a long term remission.
Tranexamic acid (trans-4-aminomethyl cyclohexanecarb oxylic acid) is a synthetic derivative of the amino
acid lysine.[10] Primarily it is used as an agent to reduce blood loss in menorrhagia or after major surgical
procedures by virtue of its plasmin inhibiting action. It exerts its antifibrinolytic action by blocking the
lysine binding sites on plasminogen molecule.[10] It is well known that increased level of plasmin in
keratinocytes induces synthesis of arachidonic acid and also increases level of α- melanocyte – stimulating
hormone (α – MSH) both of which in turn stimulate melanogenesis.[15] UV radiation increases plasmin
level and being a plasmin inhibitor, tranexamic acid is believed to block UV-induced melanogenesis.
[16,17] Moreover, because of structural similarity with tyrosine, tranexamic acid is also believed to be
competitively inhibiting tyrosinase action.[17] Use of tranexamic acid in patients of melasma has shown
reduction of melanin in the epidermis and decrease in vascularity and mast cell numbers in the dermis.[18]
The safety profile of long-term use of oral tranexamic acid has been well established and use up to 4.5
gm/day has not been associated with any serious side effects in menorrhagia and post-surgical blood loss.
[19] Whereas the conventional dose of tranexamic acid as a hemostatic is 1500 mg per day, most of the
studies evaluating the depigmenting effect of the drug have used either 500 mg or a maximum of 750 mg
per day.
In the study conducted by Karn D et al., from Nepal, clinical effect of oral tranexamic acid combined with
topical hydroquinone was compared with that of topical hydroquinone alone.[13] Patients were advised to
take tranexamic acid orally 500 mg per day for 12 weeks. Statistical analysis was done between within the
groups only, i.e. intra-group and not inter-group and the fall in MASI was statistically significant in both
the groups at eighth week but not significant in those receiving topical hydroquinone alone at 12th week. In
our study MASI was calculated at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks time and fall in MASI was significant at 8
weeks in patients receiving both oral tranexamic acid and topical treatment within the group and also when
compared with those receiving topical treatment alone.
The effect of oral tranexamic acid was studied by Wu et al., in which patients received the treatment for 6
months.[11] They did not compare it with any other modality and their criteria of evaluation were
reduction in melasma size (expressed as percentage) at the end of 6 months. They graded outcome as
follows: excellent: 90% reduction in size, good: 60%, fair: 30%, and poor: <30% reduction in size. After 6
months of treatment, the results were as follows: excellent (10.8%, 8/74), good (54%, 40/74), fair (31.1%,
23/74, and poor (4.1%, 3/74). Thus, the total improvement rate for melasma was 95.9% of the subjects.
Shin et al., in their study tried to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of oral TA combined with low-
fluence 1064-nm quality-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (QSNY) laser for the
treatment of melasma.[12] Patients in the combination group were treated with oral TA at a dose of 750
mg per day for 8 weeks. The resulting data showed that a treatment regimen combining low-fluence
QSNY laser with oral TA led to a significantly greater mean reduction in mMASI score than low-fluence
QSNY laser treatment alone. The major limitation, however, of this study was the mixed composition of
the oral medication used. Patients took a combination oral pill with tranexamic acid, ascorbic acid, L-
cysteine, calcium pantothenate, and pyridoxine hydrochloride. Specifically, other ingredients in the
formulation – including ascorbic acid and L-cysteine have been reported to influence melanogenesis.
Kato and his colleagues had used oral tranexamic acid at a dose of 750 mg for 4 weeks in patients who
underwent treatment with Q-switched Ruby laser for lentigenes and they found no significant change in
post inflammatory hyper pigmentation.[20] They concluded that tranexamic acid might be having
depigmenting effect but it may not be effective in preventing post inflammatory hyper pigmentation
following laser therapy.
Lee and colleagues used microinjections of tranexamic acid where the agent was injected intradermally
into the melasma lesion at 1cm interval.[10] The procedure was repeated once a week for 12 weeks and
statistically significant reduction in MASI score was seen. They claimed intralesional therapy to be safe as
it does not lead to systemic absorption of the drug. However, majority of the trials where oral tranexamic
acid has been used, no report of significant systemic side effects has been reported. In our study also, apart
from oligomenorrhoea in only one patient, no systemic side effect was found.
In conclusion, addition of oral Tranexamic acid to a conventional fluocinolone based triple regimen may
enhance the clinical efficacy of topical treatment. Combining these two treatment modalities in our study
resulted in greater and statistically significant improvement in MASI scores. Cases of melasma refractory
to topical treatments may benefit from the addition. With a good safety profile, oral tranexamic acid may
prove to be an effective agent in reducing the requirement of topical steroid over the face particularly in
those who cannot opt for high end LASER-based treatment.
Limitations of our study are that it was not a blinded study so patient bias was present along with observer
bias in subjective scoring and the study period was short. Also this was a pseudo-randomized study and no
formal sample size determination was done.
What is new
Oral tranexamic acid can be used as an adjunct with fluocinolone based triple combination cream for
faster and sustained improvement in melasma treatment.
Footnotes Go to:
Source of support: Nil
Conflict of Interest: Nil.
References Go to:
1. Achar A, Rathi SK. Melasma: A clinico-epidemiological study of 312 cases. Indian J Dermatol.
2011;56:380–2. [PMCID: PMC3178998] [PubMed: 21965843]
2. Sheth VM, Pandya AG. Melasma: A comprehensive update: Part I. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011;65:689–
97. [PubMed: 21920241]
3. Grimes PE. Melasma: Etiologic and therapeutic considerations. Arch Dermatol. 1995;131:1453–7.
[PubMed: 7492140]
4. Pawaskar MD, Parikh P, Markowski T, McMichael AJ, Feldman SR, Balkrishnan R. Melasma and its
impact on health-related quality of life in Hispanic women. J Dermatolog Treat. 2007;18:5–9.
[PubMed: 17365259]
5. Kligman AM, Willis I. A New formula for Depigmenting Human Skin. Arch Dermatol. 1975;111:40–8.
[PubMed: 1119822]
6. Bhawan J, Grimes P, Pandya AG, Keady M, Byers HR, Guevara IL, et al. A histological examination
for skin atrophy after 6 months of treatment with fluocinolone acetonide 0.01%, hydroquinone 4%, and
tretinoin 0.05% cream. Am J Dermatopathol. 2009;31:794–8. [PubMed: 19755910]
7. Majid I. Mometasone-based triple combination therapy in melasma: Is it really safe? Indian J Dermatol.
2010;55:359–62. [PMCID: PMC3051297] [PubMed: 21430890]
8. Charlín R, Barcaui CB, Kac BK, Soares DB, Rabello-Fonseca R, Azulay-Abulafia L. Hydroquinone-
induced exogenous ochronosis: A report of four cases and usefulness of dermoscopy. Int J Dermatol.
2008;47:19–23. [PubMed: 18173595]
9. Kanechorn Na Ayuthaya P, Niumphradit N, Manosroi A, Nakakes A. Topical 5% tranexamic acid for the
treatment of melasma in Asians: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. J Cosmet Laser Ther.
2012;14:150–4. [PubMed: 22506692]
10. Lee JH, Park JG, Lim SH, Kim JY, Ahn KY, Kim MY, et al. Localized intradermal microinjection of
tranexamic acid for treatment of melasma in Asian patients: A preliminary clinical trial. Dermatol Surg.
2006;32:626–31. [PubMed: 16706756]
11. Wu S, Shi H, Wu H, Yan S, Guo J, Sun Y, et al. Treatment of melasma with oral administration of
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12. Shin JU, Park J, Oh SH, Lee JH. Oral tranexamic acid enhances the efficacy of low-fluence 1064-nm
quality-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser treatment for melasma in Koreans: A
randomized, prospective trial. Dermatol Surg. 2013;39:435–42. [PubMed: 23278870]
13. Karn D, Kc S, Amatya A, Razouria EA, Timalsina M. Oral tranexamic Acid for the treatment of
melisma. Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ) 2012;10:40–3. [PubMed: 23575051]
14. Kimbrough-Green CK, Griffiths CE, Finkel LJ, Hamilton TA, Bulengo-Ransby SM, Ellis CN, et al.
Topical retinoic acid (tretinoin) for melasma in black patients. A vehicle-controlled clinical trial. Arch
Dermatol. 1994;130:727–33. [PubMed: 8002642]
15. Maeda K, Naganuma M. Topical trans_4-aminomethylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid prevents ultraviolet

radiationinduced pigmentation. J Photochem Photobiol B. 1998;47:136–41. [PubMed: 10093913]
16. Li D, Shi Y, Li M, Liu J, Feng X. Tranexamic acid can treat ultraviolet radiation-induced pigmentation
in guinea pigs. Eur J Dermatol. 2010;20:289–92. [PubMed: 20400389]
17. Cho HH, Choi M, Cho S, Lee JH. Role of oral tranexamic acid in melasma patients treated with IPL
and low fluence QS Nd: YAG laser. J Dermatolog Treat. 2013;24:292–6. [PubMed: 22103770]
18. Na JI, Choi SY, Yang SH, Choi HR, Kang HY, Park KC. Effect of tranexamic acid on melasma: A
clinical trial with histological evaluation. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013;27:1035–9.
[PubMed: 22329442]
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20. Kato H, Araki J, Eto H, Doi K, Hirai R, Kuno S, et al. A prospective randomized controlled study of
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Dermatol Surg. 2011;37:605–10. [PubMed: 21457392]
Figures and Tables Go to:
Figure 1
Open in a separate window

Patient flow diagram
Table 1
Age Distribution among melasma patients
Figure 2
Objective assessment of melasma area severity Index (MASI), MASIb score at baseline, MASI 1 score at 4 weeks, MASI
2 score at 8weeks
Figure 3
Pre- and post-treatment photographs in Group A at 0 and 8 weeks
Figure 4
Pre- and post-treatment photographs in Group B at 0 and 8 weeks
Table 2
Melasma area severity index-comparison between Group A and Group B at baseline, 4 weeks and 8
weeks
Table 3
Melasma area severity index-comparison within the Group at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks
Table 4
Comparison of adverse effects among both groups
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10/8/2018 Oral Tranexamic Acid with Fluocinolone-Based Triple Combination Cream Versus Fluocinolone-Based Triple Combination Cream Al…

Indian J Dermatol. 2015 Sep-Oct; 60(5): 520. PMCID: PMC4601440

Oral Tranexamic Acid with Fluocinolone-Based Triple Combination

Received 2014 Jul; Accepted 2014 Nov.

Copyright : © Indian Journal of Dermatology

Materials and Methods: Go to:

Keywords: Melasma, oral therapy, tranexamic acid, triple combination cream

What was known?

Existing treatment modalities for melasma are not satisfactory.

Materials and Methods Go to:

Inclusion criteria Go to:

Exclusion criteria Go to:

Source of support: Nil

Conflict of Interest: Nil.

15. Maeda K, Naganuma M. Topical trans_4-aminomethylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid prevents ultraviolet

Figures and Tables Go to:

Open in a separate window

Pre- and post-treatment photographs in Group A at 0 and 8 weeks

Pre- and post-treatment photographs in Group B at 0 and 8 weeks

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