Houston TX Medical Spa

Trichloroacetic Chemical Peels

There are a variety of agents that can be used when undergoing a chemical peel. These agents come in a variety of intensities. Trichloroacetic Acid, or TCA, is one of the more common chemical peel chemicals. It is an intermediate peeling agent but can achieve deep results.

TCA is used in concentrations from 20% to 50%. It is important to note that it is not generally recommended that people use a concentration of more than 35% for their chemical peel. Using a concentration above 35% results in a high risk of scarring. The depth of the penetration of the chemical peel is directly related to the concentration used; using a higher concentration results in a deeper chemical peel.

Trichloroacetic Acid is preferred for darker-skinned patients over Phenol, a deep chemical peel agent. This is due largely to Phenol’s tendency to leave skin much lighter than it was previously. In addition, Phenol frequently ruins the skin’s ability to produce pigment or tan.

TCA is useful when it comes to smoothing out fine surface wrinkles and removing superficial blemishes. In addition, it is adept at correcting skin pigment problems. When undergoing a TCA chemical peel, it may be necessary to have a pre-treatment using either Retin-A or Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) creams.

Following a TCA chemical peel, it is imperative to use sunscreen and sunblock for several months afterwards. Repeat treatments will be needed to maintain the results of the peel. In addition, it is a good idea not to do this immediately before an important even as they may take several days to heal. The amount of time it takes to heal depends on peel depth.

If you are considering undergoing a chemical peel to rejuvenate your skin and would like more information on TCA or chemical peels in general, contact Houston chemical peel expert Dr. Vo of Dermagenix at 713-662-3376.