Anti Aging Skin Care » Acne Skin Care » Treating Acne Scars and Wrinkles with TCA Peels

Treating Acne Scars and Wrinkles with TCA Peels

There are number of skin peels such as lactic glycolic salicylic, TCA (trichloroacetic acid) and phenol. Of these, there are basically three levels:

• Minor superficial peels - lactic glycolic salicylic.
• Medium depth peels - TCA and Jessner's
• Deep peels - phenol.

We will only deal with medium strength TCA peels in this discussion, as they are the easiest to apply. Whereas Jessner's may require multiple concurrent applications and taping to aide in skin penetration, safest and by far the most effective against numerous skin ailments or conditions. They are also one of the most efficient 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 A peel or other previously prepared cream with TCA and then apply this mixture to the face or body area to be treated. The creams have a tendency to have a skin dye of green or blue so the doctor can easily differentiate the areas already treated with the areas that have not been treated. It is generally applied with a cotton or foam applicator. This is then left on for 10-20 minutes. Some doctors decide to use a straight (non-cream) solution of TCA. This works much faster, penetrates deeper, and is used for deeper peels.

After application and appropriate time for the desired depth is achieved, the doctor will apply a neutralizer. This is generally 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, it will look like bad sunburn. This will last for two to four days until it starts to peel off and expose new clean younger looking skin. Depending on the skin problems treated, it may take numerous treatments but a major difference will be seen immediately.

The results from a TCA peel are far more effective than with a regular superficial peel. Results can last from six 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. A TCA peel cannot be applied as frequently as a more superficial peel. Generally speaking, a superficial peel can be applied every two to five weeks. A stronger medium depth peel requires more time between peels for the skin to properly heal and regenerate. Doctors like to wait for two to six months or more between these peels.

This procedure of chemically exfoliating the skin is more rapid and deeper in a TCA peel than in most peels. Various skin peels like lactic glycolic and salicylic are good at reducing oily buildup (overactive sebaceous glands) and minor skin imperfections. However, they cannot successfully treat acne, wrinkles; fine lines.TCA has been confirmed to treat these deeper skin conditions and is offered at almost every dermatologist and plastic surgeon's office. The improvement in skin color tone is so drastic that women, even men are lining up in droves to have this done all over the world.