History of the TCA Skin Peel

TCA, or trichloroacetic acid, is a popular ingredient in many of today’s medium chemical peels. Medium peels penetrate deeper than mild peels, for longer-lasting results. Medium peels have more side effects and a longer recovery time than mild peels, but results can be maintained for as long as a year before the peel needs to be repeated. Let’s learn about the history of TCA peels.

History of Skin Peeling

Skin peeling goes back quite a long way in history. The Egyptians bathed in sour milk to preserve their youthful appearance; sour milk contains lactic acid, an ingredient still used in mild peels today. Later, medieval Europeans used old wine, a source of tartaric acid, also still in use today.

TCA Skin Peels Emerge

In the 19th century, chemical peels went high-tech. Dr. P.G. Unna, a German dermatologist, noted the use of trichloroacetic acid in chemical peels as early as 1882. Doctors continued to study and use chemical peels throughout the early 20th century. Early chemical peels were used for medical purposes, as well as for cosmetic reasons, to improve the appearance of scars, blemishes and wrinkles.

By the 1950s, dermatologists were searching for new peel ingredients and new combination peel solutions that could offer the best results with the fewest complications. TCA was already in use at that time, but early peel solutions were 50% TCA. With such strong peel solutions, the risk of complications like hyperpigmentation, pigment reduction and scarring was too high.

Dermatologists began to work on more effective, less dangerous skin peel solutions containing TCA. Their work has made skin peeling a safe, popular way to rejuvenate the skin.

Today, many skin peel solutions contain some percentage of TCA. Many professional peels, such as Jessner’s solution, contain about 35% TCA, often combines with other mild acids, such as salicylic acid, lactic acid and resorcinol.