Everyone has
heard of skin peels and there are many - lactic, glycolic, salicylic, TCA
(trichloroacetic acid), and phenol. Of these there are basically 3 levels:
Minor,
superficial peels - lactic, glycolic, salicylic.
Medium depth
peels - TCA, Jessner's
Deep peels -
phenol.
We will only
deal with medium strength TCA peels here as they are the easiest to apply
(Jessner's can require multiple concurrent applications and taping to aide in
skin penetration), safest, and, by far, the most effective against numerous
skin ailments/conditions. They are also one of the most effective treatments
for acne currently known to the medical community.
The most common
treated area is the face. TCA is applied usually in a cream. Doctors will mix
Obagi, Apeel, or other previously prepared cream with TCA and then apply this
mixture to the face or body area to be treated. The creams tend to have a skin
dye of green or blue so the doctor can easily see what areas have and or have
not been treated. It is usually applied with a cotton or foam applicator. This
is then left on for 10-20 minutes. Some doctors prefer to use a straight
(non-cream) solution of TCA. This works much faster and penetrates deeper and
is used for deeper peels.
After
application and proper time for the desired depth is achieved, the doctor will
apply a neutralizer. This is usually just a mixture of baking soda and water
made into a paste. Some doctors will add chipped ice to further cool the skin.
The skin will now be inflamed and if no dye was used will look like bad
sunburn. This will last 2-4 days until it starts to peel off and reveal new,
clean, younger looking skin. Depending on the skin problems treated it may take
several treatments, but a major difference will be seen immediately.
The results
from a TCA peel are far more reaching than with a regular, superficial peel.
Results can last 6 months to a year and it has been known to keep acne at bay,
shrink and lessen acne scars, reduce and tighten up wrinkles, improve color,
pigmentation, etc... A TCA peel cannot be applied as often as a more
superficial peel. Generally speaking, a superficial peel can be applied every
2-5 weeks. A Stronger, medium depth peel needs more time between peels for the
skin to properly heal and regenerate. Doctors like to wait 2-6 months or more
between these peels.
This process of
chemically exfoliating the skin is more rapid and deeper in a TCA peel than in
most peels. Many skin peels, like lactic, glycolic and salicylic are good at
reducing oily buildup (overactive sebaceous glands), and very minor skin
imperfections. but they cannot effectively treat acne, wrinkles, fine lines,
etc... TCA has been proven to treat these deeper skin conditions and is offered
at almost every dermatologist and plastic surgeon office. The improvement in
skin color, tone, etc... Is so drastic that women, even men are lining up in
droves to have this done all over the world.