What is a TCA Chemical Peel?

A Form of Resurfacing: The TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peel is one of the oldest forms of skin resurfacing. Skin resurfacing refers to use of an agent or device to remove layers of skin, thereby allowing newer, refreshed skin to grow in its place. Dermabrasion and lasers are also used for skin resurfacing. Chemical peels such as TCA and phenol have been around for many years and have a long track record of success. A TCA peel can be used as a mild, medium, or deep chemical formulation;... more

TCA stands for trichloroacetic acid and is a common agent used for chemical peeling, one type of facial resurfacing. It comes in varying concentrations, allowing for varying depths of peeling (depending on the concentration). TCA peels can help treat pigmentation, discoloration, fine lines and aging grooves. A TCA peel should be done by a well-trained physician (dermatologist, plastic surgeon) in their office. The downtime and recovery can range from a few days to several weeks,... more

TCA stands for trichloroacetic acid. It is a very common chemical used to perform medium depth chemical peels. The concentration of the chemical will vary, depending on the desired depth of skin penetration. In general, concentrations used for such peels vary between 20% and 35%. The procedure results in red, swollen, and crusted skin which peels over the weeks following the procedure. This will help improve the skin texture, tone, and reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and... more

Thank you for your question. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is a commonly used agent for chemical peeling and has the potential to decrease the appearance of sunspots and fine lines. Chemical peeling removes the outer layer of skin generating new cell growth and collagen formation that results in younger looking skin. Depending on the concentration and application, TCA peels can target superficial to deeper layers of skin. Generally these concentrations range from 10-50%. In... more

Trichloroacetic acid or TCA chemical peel is one of the most tried and true aesthetic procedure. The strength varies from 10% to 70% where 35% is most commonly used to bring out medium depth peel. The application of the TCA by a board-certified dermatologist can effectively minimize precancerous lesions, smooth out facial texture and fine lines. Some dermatologists may perform Jessner's peel prior to TCA peel to bring about medium-to-deep peel and augment the cosmetic benefit. Expect to... more

TCA stands for trichloroacetic acid. This chemical peel is good in varying strengths to improve pigment and fine lines. Your skin needs to be evaluated for the peel before it is done. TCA does not work well for all skin types. It can also help decrease sun damage and remove some signs of aging. Best Regards.

TCA is Tri Chlor Acetic acid. It is one of the best established solutions used in chemical peeling. It comes in concentrations varying from 10% to 40% for mainstream usage in the office, allowing superficial & medium depth peels. It also can be used in higher concentrations 80-90% for acne scar treatment using the CROSS technique. The TCA results , when done by a well trained dermatologist or plastic surgeon , are excellent.

Trichloracetic Acid is what TCA peel stands for. The TCA peel is an excellent peel to treat discolorations, pigmentation, superficial and fine lines. It is an excellent effective procedure that can be varied by the individual practitioner with a variety of methods to cause changes in depth of peel.

TCA is a chemical peeling agent that smooths fine lines and removes some skin imperffections such as brown spots and sun damage. TCA may be combined with another peeling agent known as Jessner's solution. This allows a more uniform and thorough result. TCA is generally conisdered a"medium depth" peel and thus you should expect more than you would acheive with a glycolic peel, but less than with laser skin resurfacing. Healing time is usually 3-5 days.

You know from experience that when you scrape you knee or elbow, the fresh pink skin which appears a few days later is smooth, healthy looking and glowing. This finding has NOT escaped the ancients and for centuries many people have tried to walk the very fine line of CAUSING a superficial injury which brought about fresh looking skin afterward. In effect unlike sanding the skin (which WAS done to certain facial gun powder injuries in the trench warfare of WWI) - MECHANICAL (skin)... more

TCA, trichloroacetic acid, is a common agent used for chemical peels for the face. It comes in various concentrations, to allow for various depths of peeling. Chemical peel is one option for facial resurfacing, which includes laser and dermabrasion. Chemical peeling with TCA is a quick cosmetic procedure and normally performed in the physician's office. Downtime and recovery ranges from a few days to a week or so, mostly depending on the depth of the skin peel. Be sure to follow the strict... more

TCA is Trichloroaceitc Acid, and is a powerful acid. It should only be applied by a doctor. When applying, it will penetrate deeper and deeper into the skin. As you go to different depths, you can improve fine wrinkles and pigment more. The trick is not to go too deep -- if you do, then you can have depigmentation or scarring. A blue peel, is a product by Obagi, which mixes a blue pigment with the TCA. I like it as it lets me see more objectively how deep I go, to make sure the peel is... more

TCA, or trichloroacetic acid, is a great medium depth Chemical peel for skin discoloration or pigment concerns. It is done in the office and generally takes about 5 minutes. It is not good for deeper resurfacing or wrinkle removal.