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Afraid I Burnt my Skin with 25% TCA Peel

I applied the TCA 25% solution, quickly and I fear not evenly. In less than 1 min. my left cheek started to frost and I had too take it off, It burned very, very, badly. My left cheek turned brown as soon as I rinsed off the solution. The procedure was done 24 hours ago. Is it normal for my skin to turn brown so fast? My right cheek bone today is brown as well. I am keeping Emu oil and A&D ointment on my face. I will start with the vinegar rinses tom. Thanks in advance for your time~

Doctor Answers 2

August 9th, 2010

See a doctor immediately.

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TCA is nothing to play with and since you have no training, you are playing with it! The damage can be mitigated under the care of an expert (I'd suggest a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon who does a lot of peels). Without proper care, you will scar or at least have persistent discoloration. Unfortunatley, it will cost you a lot more to fix your complication than if you had seen a doctor for the treatment.

Learn more: http://www.drmarylupo.com

Mary P. Lupo, MD


New Orleans Dermatologist
5.0 out of 5 stars 18 reviews

August 9th, 2010

Strong peels should be done under medical supervision

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25% TCA is a powerful peel that should be done by a medical professional.  Improper use can cause infections, permanent scarring, and pigment irregularities. Proper use requires understnding about the layers of the skin and the proper depth of penetration. This is extremely important with TCA because it will keep going deeper and deeper until it is neutralized - and it does not "self-neutralize".  I have treated several patient with deep burns from self-administered TCA. 

Matthew Schulman, MD
*Treatment results may vary

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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.