In honor of our Chemical Peel Event, we wanted to help you learn a little more about our TCA Peel. This information is from Real Self, a great resource for all things cosmetic or medical.
TCA Peel Overview
What it is: A TCA peel is a type of chemical peel used as a skin resurfacing technique. A solution of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is applied to the face to remove the outer surface layers of skin. This then allows new, healthier skin to emerge.
TCA chemical peels have been found to help with sun damage, facial wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and pigment abnormalities.
The concentration of the peel varies according to need, and downtime can last up to one week.
A trichloracetic acid (TCA) peel is often used for the treatment of wrinkles, pigmentary changes and skin blemishes. Many patients can benefit from having TCA applied not only on the face but also on the neck and other parts of the body that have been exposed to the sun. For spot peeling of limited areas such as around the mouth or eyes, TCA formulas are often preferred because they have less bleaching effect than solutions containing phenol, another popular peeling agent. For the same reason, some surgeons have found TCA to be effective in treating darker-skinned patients.
How is a TCA peel performed?
The surgeon will select the best chemical or chemical mix for the individual patient. A solution is applied using a sponge, cotton pad, cotton swab or brush to the areas to be treated (or the entire face, avoiding the eyes, brows and lips).
Who should consider a TCA peel?
Any of the following conditions may indicate that you might be a good candidate for a TCA peel:
- can help treat many signs of aging
- wrinkled or sun-damaged facial skin
- vertical wrinkles around your mouth, such as those that cause lipstick “bleed”
- “crow’s feet” lines around your eyes and perhaps some skin laxity in your lower eyelid area
- fine wrinkling of your upper eyelids
- brown spots or blotchy skin coloring
- certain precancerous skin growths
- acne or chicken pox scars
- superficial facial scars from a past injury
Like the other resurfacing methods, the TCA peel is effective in treating wrinkles, blotchiness or age spots, and scars from acne or other causes. It can be used on the entire face or specific areas. Certain other characteristics of your skin, such as its thickness and texture, may influence whether you are a good candidate for this chemical peel.
