Safer to Get a TCA Peel After Having Milder Chemical Peels?

Thanks for your question. Getting a glycolic acid and / or salicylic acid peel is an excellent starting point to see how you react to these very mild peels. If you tolerated these peels, it would be very reasonable to try a TCA 25% peel. Simply expect that you will have a more strong and uniform crusting and peeling effect. While the peeling effect may be different and slightly more dramatic, most people truly enjoy the effect of the peel and love the results. Hope this helps!... more

A 10% TCA peel is generally safe for use in most skin types.  If you have very sensitive, Rosacea-type skin, I would be very cautious even with a 10% TCA.  If you have the TCA peel done within 2 weeks of your sal acid or glycolic peel, you may get a deeper peel. Good luck.

A chemical peel is a generic term for chemical exfoliation of the skin using acid. The concentration of the acid is less important than the pKa of the acid and the depth of the peel within the dermis. I routinely perform TCA peels in patients using a 25 % to 28% concentration with multiple passes to acheive the desired depth. If you have undergone previous peeling, this will accentuate the depth and efficacy of the ensuing peel.