Does a 12% TCA Peel Need to Frost in Order to Work?

TCA, or trichloroacetic acid, is a chemical commonly used by medical professionals for facial rejuvenation. Essentially, it is a caustic acid that burns off the superficial layer of the skin, so there are definite risks involved. The results depend both upon application technique and the concentration of the acid in the solution. Although 12% is on the low side, I really don't see this as a do-it-yourself procedure.

A 12% TCA peel does very little that is beneficial to the surface of the skin. A frostwill occur with a much stronger concentration, usually at least 35%. Furthermore,I am not a fan of TCA peels.
If one desires an aggressive approach for significant actinic damage to the skin or wrinkles, I recommend either a phenol type peel or laser resurfacing. In my opinion, the best superficial skin resurfacing is with the use of unbuffered low pH glycolic acid. We perform glycolic peels with 50% unesterified glycolic acid and we recommend home maintenance with the application of an appropriate 10% glycolic acid preparation.