Chemical peels have long been a popular choice for individuals seeking to rejuvenate their skin and achieve a fresh, youthful complexion. These transformative skincare treatments offer a range of benefits, from addressing acne scars and fine lines to reducing hyperpigmentation and improving overall skin texture.
Chemical peels can improve skin tone and fine lines, giving you a smoother, glowing complexion. Chemical solutions, varying in strength, can remove just the superficial skin of the epidermis, or can penetrate to the deeper dermal layers. These solutions stimulate the layers underneath to grow, revealing smoother, younger, more even-toned skin as the outer layers get exfoliated.
SPOT TREATMENT USING TCA:
TCA CROSS is a technique that uses trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to treat atrophic acne scars, such as ice pick, boxcar, and rolling scars.
TCA CROSS is an acronym for Chemical Reconstruction Of Skin Scars.
TCA CROSS is better for treating deep narrow ice pick scars and rectangular boxcar scars than for rolling acne scars. It involves applying a tiny amount of TCA (70–100%) to the base of each scar to intentionally create a microburn, stimulating the skin's healing mechanisms to fill in collagen under the scar, improving its appearance.
By creating a microburn at the bottom of the scar, the inflammatory phase of wound healing begins, along with the production of new collagen, which helps fill in the depressed (atrophic) scar.
On average, each TCA cross session can reduce the depth of depressed acne scars by 25%.
Typically, four sessions are needed for a noticeable improvement in depressed acne scars.
TCA CROSS treatments can be done monthly or even at two-week intervals. The typical cost is $400, but it can be higher for extensive scarring.
After treatment, you can expect temporary redness, swelling, followed by a tight feeling, brown discoloration, crust formation, and then the brown skin peels off. This is the normal healing process.
One reason TCA CROSS may yield inconsistent results with rolling scars is that the acid does not stay at the base of the scar if the scar shoulders are shallow, potentially making these rolling scars wider. Hyperpigmentation is another risk of TCA CROSS.
FULL FACE OR FULL AREA TCA USE:
Trichloroacetic acid is not just used for focal TCA CROSS treatments. It can also be used for full face (or full area treatments) and is especially useful for treating acne scars.
A full face trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel is a type of chemical peel that uses a TCA solution to remove the top layer of skin, revealing smoother, brighter, and more even skin tone.
Some benefits of a full face TCA peel include:
- Reduction of photodamage, including brown spots, age spots, freckles, melasma, and other types of dark spots/hyperpigmentation.
- Improved skin texture, as it can restore skin elasticity and fix sun-damaged leathery texture.
- Enhanced skin tone, glow, and radiance.
- Reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the eyes.
- Reduction of acne scars, including ice pick, boxcar, and some rolling scars.
A full face TCA peel can be performed at different strengths. The depth of treatment penetration depends on the concentration of TCA used, the number of layers applied, and the pressure during TCA application. Higher TCA concentrations result in deeper peels and more dramatic results.
Higher strength peels require more downtime and carry greater risks of side effects, such as redness, swelling, crusting, and hyperpigmentation. Follow specific instructions to ensure optimal healing and results.
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Epidermal TCA peels (baby TCA peels):
- PCA Sensi peel has 6% TCA (light) 0.03 mm
- PCA Ultra peel 2 has 10% TCA (light TCA) 0.07 mm
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Superficial dermal TCA peels:
- You can also do 20% superficial (0.2 mm deep), which penetrates through the 0.1 mm epidermis and 0.1 mm into the dermis.
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Mid dermal TCA peels:
- 30%, 35%, 40% medium-depth peels (0.45 mm deep)
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Deep dermal:
- 50% TCA peels have been used on the full face, with a depth of 0.6 mm, but they can increase the risk of scarring.
- The Benefits of Chemical Peels:
Chemical peels offer numerous benefits that can help you achieve radiant and healthy skin. Here are some key advantages:
- Exfoliation and rejuvenation:
Chemical peels remove dead skin cells and promote cellular turnover, revealing a fresh layer of skin. This leads to improved skin texture, diminished fine lines, and a youthful glow. - Treatment of skin concerns:
Chemical peels can effectively address a range of common skin concerns, including acne scars, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, melasma, and uneven skin tone. - Stimulated collagen production:
The exfoliation and regeneration triggered by chemical peels stimulate collagen production, promoting firmness and elasticity for a more youthful appearance. - Customizable treatment options:
Chemical peels come in varying strengths and formulations, allowing for customized treatment plans tailored to your specific skin concerns and goals. - Enhanced skincare product absorption:
By removing the outermost layer of dead skin cells, chemical peels improve the absorption of skincare products, maximizing their effectiveness.
- Understanding the Types of Chemical Peels: Chemical peels are categorized into three main types: superficial, medium, and deep. The type of peel recommended for you will depend on your skin concerns, desired outcomes, and the recommendations of your skincare professional. Here's an overview:
- Superficial peels:
These peels are gentle and primarily exfoliate the outermost layer of skin. They are suitable for mild skin concerns, providing a fresh, radiant complexion with minimal downtime. - Medium peels:
Medium peels penetrate deeper into the skin, targeting moderate skin concerns such as acne scars, fine lines, and sun damage. They may require some downtime for proper healing. - Deep peels:
Deep peels are the most intensive and address severe skin concerns. They penetrate deeply into the skin to target deep wrinkles, extensive sun damage, and significant pigmentation irregularities. These peels generally require a longer recovery period.
- Why Choose Professional Chemical Peels: While there are at-home peel kits available, professional chemical peels offer several advantages:
- Expertise and safety:
Professional chemical peels are performed by experienced skincare professionals who understand the intricacies of skin types, concerns, and optimal peel formulations. They can tailor the treatment to your specific needs while ensuring your safety. - Customized treatment plans:
Professionals can assess your skin condition and recommend the most suitable peel type and strength to achieve optimal results. They can also provide guidance on pre and post-peel skincare routines to maximize benefits and minimize potential side effects. - Advanced formulations:
Professional chemical peels use high-quality, medical-grade formulations that are potent yet safe. These formulations offer a higher level of effectiveness compared to over-the-counter options. - Monitoring and aftercare:
Skincare professionals will closely monitor your progress, providing necessary aftercare instructions to ensure proper healing and maintenance of your results.
A specialist in burns and wound-healing, Dr. Patel understands how skin gets damaged and how it heals. Whether you’re getting a single chemical peel, or our very popular physician-strength Signature 7 Peel, you can get amazing results with minimal downtime.
During your consultation with Dr. Patel, she will recommend a chemical peel treatment appropriate for your skin condition so that you may experience the transformative power of chemical peels and reveal a fresh, radiant complexion.
Chemical Peels Frequently Asked Questions