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; this relates to the depth of penetration of the acid. The depth of penetration correlates to the percentage of TCA in the solution. In my hands, a medium depth TCA peel (35%) is usually used. Prior to application of the TCA, I use a light chemical peel known as the Jessner's peel, which is salicylic acid based. This cleans epidermal cells down to the layer of the stratum corneum, allowing the TCA to penetrate more deeply and more evenly.
Safety: Is a TCA peel safe. The answer is yes if used by an experienced Physician; it is a serious treatment and requires a practitioner with superb training and experience. TCA penetrates the skin via a process known as coagulative necrosis; it can only penetrate to a specified depth based on its concentration. The key is to make sure the peel is formulated correctly. Most Facial Plastic Surgeons will have a Pharmacist who formulates the peel in a consistent, specified fashion.
Downtime: Much less downtime than a CO2 laser treatment, but more downtime than a Dermabrasion or a Portrait Plasma Skin Regeneration (PSR); there is a week of initial recovery followed by moderate redness for 4 weeks or so. However, since TCA is relatively inexpensive to formulate, it gives a great result for less patient cost than most of the other treatments mentioned.
Conclusion: TCA chemical peel is a treatment I have always used in my practice as part of the armementarium of skin resurfacing, and something I will probably continue to use based on the consistency of results, acceptable downtime, and cost factors involved.

TCA Peels are potent medical-grade treatments  that effectively improve skin texture, uneven color, pigmentation from acne, large pores and melasma.  These peels result in an aggressive exfoliation resulting in collagen stimulation  and epidermal renewal.  For great results with a minimum of down-time, these peels continue to be effective ways of correcting problem skin!#BluePeel  #melasmatreatments  #sundamagedskintreatments

TCA Chemical Peels are considered potent medical-grade peels that work to maximize skin texture, uneven discolorations and wrinkles. They are  highly effective for  aggressive exfoliation and epidermal stimulation. Benefits of a TCA peel would include: improving the skin's ability to repair and renew itself, erasing signs of aging, melasma, sun-damage, fine  lines , uneven texture, large pores and dull skin after acne breakouts. #3stepPeel  # melasma # largepores  #Bluepeel

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 California, TCA peels greater than 20% should only be applied by board certified healthcare professionals specializing in plastic surgery or dermatology and who are experienced with deep chemical peels. These concentration requirements vary from state to state. The concentration Downtime for TCA peels is typically 5-7 days during which time treated skin appears to “slough” off.

Patients with darker skin may benefit from pre-treatment with topical retinoids (i.e. Retin-A or Renova) and/or hydroquinone to reduce the risk of post-treatment darkening of the skin, which is the most common side effect.  For all skin types extensive measures must be taken to avoid sun exposure after treatment, especially during the first two weeks.

I hope this helps.

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 have a week of downtime and commit to strict daily sun protection before, during and after chemical 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.