TCA Peel

What It Is

The TCA Peel uses the active ingredient, trichloracetic acid, which has been used cosmetically to perform skin peels for many decades. The TCA Peel works by exfoliating the top layers of the skin to cause the old, dead skin cells to dry up and peel off over the course of several days to one week. Once this outer layer of the skin has been removed, a new layer of youthful, even-toned skin will be revealed.

TCA Peels are most commonly used to improve the overall tone and clarity of the skin, including reducing the appearance of brown spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma, sun damage, and age spots, as well as to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the skin.

Areas Treated

The TCA Peel can be performed on the face, neck, back, chest, arms, and legs. TCA Peels can be an affordable option for large areas on the body as it can be done at a fraction of the cost of a laser treatment.

If you plan to use the TCA Peel on areas other than the face, it is important to remember that these areas may not heal as well or as quickly as the face. Because of this, desired results are not always completely predictable.

How It Works

The TCA Peel works very similarly to other chemical peels on the market– removing the layers of damaged skin from the surface to reveal the newer, younger, brighter skin underneath. Light or Superficial peels are the gentlest chemical peels with relatively no downtime and will remove only the top layers of the skin. Medium or deep peels remove more layers of the skin and penetrate deeper.

Results

Immediately after the treatment, you will notice that your skin may be red and slightly swollen and within a few days, your skin will begin the peeling process. This will continue for 7 to 10 or more days and once the skin has peeled and has fully healed, you will see steady dramatic results of the TCA Peel. Your skin will continue to improve for 1 to 2 months after your treatment session as long as you wear adequate sun protection and refrain from unprotected sun exposure. You will notice smoother texture, even colour, a reduction in the depth of your fine lines and wrinkles, and a radiant complexion.

How long do the results last?

For best results, light or superficial TCA peels are performed in a series of 2 to 3 sessions, depending on the needs and condition of your skin. Medium depth TCA peels are usually performed 1 to 2 times a year and will require downtime of at least 1 week to allow the skin to heal.

The longevity of results from the TCA Peel is completely dependent on the depth of the peel as well as your post-treatment aftercare. We always recommend the daily application of a broad spectrum sunscreen to protect your newly rejuvenated skin from the potentially harmful effects of the sun. Dr. Jain will provide you with an estimate of how long your particular results should last and will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to ensure you maintain the best results for as long as possible.