Age Spots Treatment before & after photos
56%
17 reviews
Worth It Rating Our index shows the percentage of community members saying this was "Worth it". See cosmetic treatment rankings
Age Spots Treatment Cost $600 average cost

SAFE TCA Peel at Home - San Antonio, TX

4 posts
Comments (15)
Updated 5 Jun 2009
Posted 2 Oct 2008
Worth It
Spent: $100 in San Antonio, TX

As a 48 year old with many years of sun damage and those pesky newly appearing age spots, I decided to uncover some new skin without the high price of a spa or dermatologist.  You CAN do it safely if you are very careful.

Start with only a 12.5% solution (a small bottle of this can be found online for about $25).  Begin with only a one layer peel the first time.  Complete instructions are usually included....always follow them!  If you do okay with a 1 and 2 layer peel, you can add layers each subsequent treatment, spaced 3 weeks apart.  You will eventually know how much your particular skin can tolerate.  I have not done more than a 3 layer peel.

Never buy a strong solution.  There are horror stories out there of people using 50 and 100% TCA, with terrible consequences, including permanent scarring.

Just as a guideline, I only dip my Q-tip into the the solution once for a single layer on my whole face.  Always wait 5 minutes between layers.  I have also done 3-layer spot treatments on age spots -- it takes a few treatments for them to completely disappear.   A small bottle of the solution should give you many muti-layer treatments, saving you $100's over going to a specialist.

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

My Doctor:

I did it myself
Vote: 64 members found this review helpful

Comments (15)

Post a Comment
Sort:
Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager - 4,028 posts) 2 Oct 2008
Thanks a lot for posting this, Jiminy Cricket! Much appreciated. Personally, I'd be afraid to do it myself, but then I don't think I'd trust a "professional" either. :)
Vonns (1 post) 22 Jan 2009
Hi J! Curious about how much it burned and what store you bought your peel from? (I'm 25 with moderately sundamaged skin and want to try a peel but not spend a lo)t.
Jiminy Cricket (4 posts) 23 Jan 2009
Vonns-- You can find TCA online very easily. I bought a small bottle for $25 and have done at least 3 peels with it. The one thing I stress is that you start out at a low strength, like 12.5% and see how your skin does. I had very little burning.
PRose1 (2 posts) 3 Jun 2009
Are you gonna tell us where you bought it? -there are alot of scams out there!
YvonneC (2 posts) 4 Jun 2009
We'll appreciate that you can tell us the exact website you bought from.
Jiminy Cricket (4 posts) 4 Jun 2009

{edited} I am including the website where I bought my TCA. Hopefully this is allowed on the site.

 

Edited by Sharon: We've added your provider info to the top of the review. Thanks! We don't allow links in comments unless it is educational in nature, but a Google search of the company will bring up their website.
YvonneC (2 posts) 6 Jun 2009
Thanks!! The other user who posted her peeling pictures is purchasing from the same company. Now I feel more confident to do it myself. RealSelf.com is such a great website!
Jiminy Cricket (4 posts) 5 Jun 2009
Just FYI. I actually DO recommend my TCA peel provider, the website where I purchased it. I may have checked "DO NOT" because I did it myself.
Aesthetician (10 posts) 30 Jun 2009
Search under "Yavonae" on the internet for purchasing TCA. They offer TCA and Clycolic acids at different strengths. Also, you can make a weaker solution with a stronger by adding water. Both TCA and Glycolic are water based. Instructions tell you how to mix, apply, and aftercare. Check it out.
Dider (24 posts) 18 Aug 2009
About how long have your peels lasted? Also, have you increased the strength, yet? I have tried some vitalize peels (3)but they have basically done nothing for my skin. I'm thinking of trying something a little stronger. I'm talking more like 20% TCA combined with a jessner's peel. Are these peels safe under your eyes? That's where most of my wrinkles are. Thanks!
Dekejis (2 posts) 20 Aug 2009
Great advice, Jiminy Cricket! Peels CAN be done at home safely, but you MUST work your way up from lower concentrations. Note that the majority the people on the board who have complained of burning or scarring or lesions from a home TCA peel jumped in and did a 30-50%+ peel without working up to it. Be an educated consumer and read up before trying out peels; start with something very light, like a 10% glycolic peel - *get to know your skin and how it reacts* to the chemicals and use it for a while to get your skin accustomed to peeling. Different peels have different strengths and a TCA peel is a stronger peel, so if you're just starting out, consider a more superficial peel at first. Remember that peels don't always visibly peel, but they are still working under the surface (even a light peel is still stimulating collagen production!) and that even when they do, it can sometimes take as much as a week or more for the actual peeling to start. Take your time and progress slowly - peels are cumulative, as you can get just as good a result doing a series of 10% peels as you can one 25% peel, so there's no reason to push it for instant results. Let your skin build up its own natural protective barriers as you progress and you'll be so much happier with your results!
Fears (1 post) 31 Aug 2009
My experience- was scared to do peel at home for fear that the product would burn my face off, leave scars, make me blind, leave uneven areas, etc. First time I used 15% TCA from Perfect Peel Solutions (ebay or website) and it started burning after 30 seconds or so - about a 5 on scale of 1-10 - no white frosting on face - left on a few minutes with blow dryer running on cool and then rinsed off - used Eucerin face lotion SPF 30 - I was worried at first because you're face turns red, very tight feeling and wrinkled- and after 4 days still no peeling - thought I may have just scarred my face forever - but then on day 5 it peeled. Takes about 10 days to complete process. Worst part was the worried feeling that its never going to peel, but actually stay wrinkled and tight. Don't worry - it will peel. Since then I've used 20% with 2-layers which completely removed all my freckles from sun this past summer - AMAZING - you will actually see the freckle/sun damage spots on your peeled skin. Please know that it will all come right back if you don't stay out of the sun - same spots will come back in the same spots if you're in the sun. Happened to me -granted, I peeled them off with the peel, but I plan on staying out of the sun for the rest of the year. 39-yr old with medium skin - tanning bed for over 20 yrs and my skin looked perfect until age 36- then it all caught up to me. Peels have worked wonders but it is a pain to look terrible for a week.
lucidity (15 posts) 2 Jan 2010
After much research, I think I've decided to buy my peels from Platinum Skin Care. Their 'About Us' page sold me, really. Made me realize that not all TCA peels on the market are equal. They're more expensive that some others, but I'd rather spend more and get a quality product. This is, after all, acid that I'm going to be putting on my face! :)
hotmomma (1 post) 3 Mar 2010
Guys, I have been doing research myself regarding TCA peel and got finally convinced to try it. But the kit are far expensive and way too much high. After reading articles about TCA and finding the right product at an affordable price, I have purchased 20% TCA Peel Set which includes Green Peeling Oil, Bleaching Soap and Cream and Hydrocotisone Cream for only $30 plus $10 shipping! What I will be purchasing outside the kit is the ointment that will be used after each soak of TCA. I used TCA for my skin peeling and not for my face. I was afraid to try it on my face because it may burn my face. Surprisingly, at a lower cost, my skin rejuvenated and revealed a younger looking skin! If your'e interested with the products, just tell me guys and I'll be willing to accommodate.
grumpygramma (1 post) 2 Jun 2011
I am quite experienced with peels and have used for years.My advice for anyone would be not to start with TCA, but with Glycolic Acid.Especially if you are doing your full face.
You start with 1 to 2 minutes and neutralize with soda. After several peels you can move up to 6 minutes.You must be very careful and follow directions or risk a bad burn and scarring.
I have to tell you one thing I did that I wouldn't recommend to anyone, however it worked beautifully for me.
I used the wart remover you get in an aerosol can and zapped some particularly ugly and stubborn age spots. It got red, scabbed slightly and after 3 days I put a piece of tape across it and pulled the scab off with tape. The results are incredible. My skin looks smooth and slightly pinkish which I am sure will go away in a few weeks.

Post a Comment

Use of this website and the posting of any reviews or other content on this website constitutes acceptance of the RealSelf® Terms of Service. The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. © 2011 RealSelf, Inc. All rights reserved.