The World Health Organization lists tranexamic acid as an essential medicine. Treatment of melasma with oral tranexamic acid has been described as an effective and safe therapy. In one study, a dosage of 250mg twice daily for 6 months was found to provide 65% patients with excellent or good improvement (Wu).
Hydroquinone decreases the formation of melanin in the skin.
Also, have green tea regularly as it helps to increase the glutathione levels in your body that reduces melanin production.
You can use topical products to lighten your skin. These products reduce melanin and are commercially available. Prescription or over-the-counter skin lightening products often have the following ingredients: hydroquinone, kojic acid, vitamin C, glycolic acid, azelaic acid, retinoid.
Laser Treatment Melanin
One of the best ways to reduce it permanently is through laser treatment. However, remember that before you go ahead with melanin pigmentation treatment, it is advised to consult your dermatologist for a thorough understanding of the procedure.
Use of strong oxidizing agents, such as permanganate, chlorate, chromic acid, peroxide, and peracetic acid, will bleach melanin, although the process is slow, taking 16 hours. The blacker the melanin, the longer the bleach takes to decolorize the pigment.
Skin layers and melanin
Vitiligo occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) die or stop producing melanin — the pigment that gives your skin, hair and eyes color. The involved patches of skin become lighter or white. It's unclear exactly what causes these pigment cells to fail or die.
Vitamin C is an effective skin lightener that has been described as a melanogenesis inhibitor due to its inhibition of tyrosinase and reduction of melanin and melanin intermediates, such as dopaquinone.
Vitamins B6 and B12 have also been proven to boost melanin production. Goddard says that vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been found to trigger the production of enzymes and chemical reactions that boost the metabolism of the hair proteins (keratin and melanin) in the hair follicles.
It is suggested that deficiency of vitamin B12 causes decrease in intracellular reduction potential that leads to oxidation of the reduced glutathione and decrease in GSH/GSSG ratio. The epidermal melanocytes are then stimulated to produce melanin as the tyrosinase inhibiting effect of GSH has been diminished.
Zinc similarly inhibits Tyrosinase activity, again in effect reducing the production of melanin.
Melanin is a substance in your body that produces hair, eye and skin pigmentation. The more melanin you produce, the darker your eyes, hair and skin will be. The amount of melanin in your body depends on a few different factors, including genetics and how much sun exposure your ancestral population had.
With aging, the outer skin layer (epidermis) thins, even though the number of cell layers remains unchanged. The number of pigment-containing cells (melanocytes) decreases.
Might Lighten Dark Spots
Vitamin C-based skin care products may lighten patches that are darker than the rest of your skin, called hyperpigmentation. In one study, vitamin C applied to the skin for 16 weeks significantly cut down on these spots.
It's brightening
Melanin is the pigment responsible for skin color. By inhibiting melanin production, vitamin C can help fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation. It may also help brighten your skin's appearance.
Further, vitamin C can reduce the appearance of dark spots by blocking the production of pigment in our skin.
Vitamin C powder for treating sun damage
Applying vitamin C to your face may help reduce the appearance of dark spots caused by sun damage. Topical vitamin C inhibits the production of melanin, which is what gives skin spot their dark color.