TCA Skin Peel

TCA skin peels are a type of chemical peel that uses trichloroacetic acid to remove the surface layers of your skin. The new skin that grows will be brighter, firmer, more even in tone and texture, smoother and younger in appearance. But TCA peels are a medical procedure, and, like any medical procedure, they carry a risk of complications. This risk is minimal, especially when the procedure is performed by a qualified dermatologist.

How a TCA Skin Peel Works to Improve Your Appearance

Chemical peels have been used for hundreds of years to maintain a youthful appearance. Trichloroacetic acid has been used in chemical peels for over a hundred years; the German dermatologist Dr. P.G. Unna documented its use as a skin peel ingredient in 1882. Today, the TCA skin peel is considered an effective medium peel.

There are three types of chemical peels, classed according to the depth to which they penetrate the skin. Mild peels remove only the very top layers of skin. They cause few side effects and carry very little risk, but must be repeated often to maintain results. Deep peels penetrate the furthest, and can bring about dramatic improvements in appearance. They carry a high risk of dangerous complications, however, and are usually reserved only for the most severe cases.

Medium peels, such as TCA peels, penetrate deeper than mild peels, but not nearly as deep as deep peels. They remove more of the surface of the skin for more dramatic, longer-lasting results than a mild peel, with less risk than a deep peel. TCA skin peels are a popular way to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes and mild scarring. TCA skin peels can treat hyperpigmentation problems like melasma, sun spots, sun damage and freckles. They can sometimes be used to remove acne scars.

Normal Side Effects of TCA Peels

TCA skin peels cause some normal side effects. These side effects are generally a bit more severe than those associated with mild peels, since TCA penetrates deeper into the skin. Pain and redness during the first 24 hours after treatment is normal. It’s normal for the skin of the treated area to harden into a brown crust that gradually flakes off. It’s normal for the new skin beneath that crust to be bright pink.

TCA Skin Peel Complications

TCA skin peels carry a very small risk of complications. In rare cases, TCA can damage your skin’s ability to produce pigment, leading to a permanent lightening of the skin known as hypopigmentation. When hypopigmentation occurs, lines of demarcation are often present as well. These lines delineate a boundary between the lightened skin of the treatment area and the untreated skin.

While TCA is often used to treat hyperpigmentation, in some cases it can cause hyperpigmentation. TCA can cause scarring, especially when combined with CO2 (or dry ice) in a combination skin peel. You can reduce your risk of scarring by never, ever picking at your skin as it recovers from a TCA peel.

You’re at increased risk for skin infection during recovery from a TCA peel, but you can minimize this risk by keeping the treatment area clean.

A common complication of the TCA skin peel is delayed healing, which simply means that some TCA peels take longer to heal. Another common complication of the TCA peel is increased sensitivity to sunlight. This doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors indefinitely, but you will need to protect the treatment area. Use a sunblock with an SPF of 30 whenever you go outdoors to protect your new skin from the sun.