Plastic surgeons and dermatologists have long made the TCA peel a major constituent of their skin treatment programs for acne, wrinkles, and numerous other skin abnormalities and problems. TCA peels have recently been made famous by being featured on numerous TV reality shows like The Swan, Dr. 90210, etc... If you want better looking skin this article is a must read.
The latest rage in skin care is the chemical skin peel. Almost everyone has heard of skin peels and there are many of these available - lactic, glycolic, salicylic, TCA (trichloroacetic acid), and phenol. They come with all kinds of fancy names like the Obagi Blue Peel, Apeel, pumpkin and fruit peels, Power peel, etc… And they range in price from $50 to more than $1,000 per application. Of these peels which ones do what and which is the best? Which one has the longest lasting effects and needs fewer reapplications?
Well, there are basically 3 levels of chemical skin peels:
Minor, superficial peels - lactic, glycolic, salicylic.
Medium depth peels - TCA, Jessner's
Deep peels - phenol.
Due to the fact that almost no one uses phenol peels due to their toxicity and skin bleaching and pigmentation problems and that the minor peels really are that, minor and with minor results, we will only deal with medium strength peels here.
Medium strength peels are, by far, the most effective of all the skin peels. Of these, the TCA chemical peel is the easiest to apply (Jessner's can require multiple concurrent applications and taping to aide in skin penetration). The TCA peel is also the safest and, by far, the most effective against numerous skin ailments/conditions from acne and aging skin to even precancerous moles and legions. They are also listed by the American Medical Association as one of the most effective treatments for acne currently known to the medical community.
Most skin peels are applied to facial skin and surrounding areas as this is the area of the body that tends to be the focal point and blemishes due to sun damage, smoking, acne, etc… tend to conglomerate there. This makes the facial region the most commonly treated skin area. A TCA peel is applied to the facial area usually in a cream or liquid form. Doctors will mix a cream and the acid together to form a paste with the Obagi, Apeel, or other previously prepared creams and then apply this mixture to the face or body area to be treated. Some of the creams like the Obagi Blue Peel, Apeel, and Power Peel tend to have a indicating 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. Many doctors prefer to use a straight (non-cream) solution of TCA like Estheticians Choice. This works much faster as it is unadulterated, penetrates deeper and has longer lasting results. Patients also prefer this straight application for the long lasting effects and the more bang for your money results. Straight TCA peels tend to be used for more deeper peels also.
After the chemical peels application and proper time has been allowed for the desired depth to be achieved, the doctor will apply a neutralizer to end the acids activity and restore the skin to its normal pH (acidity level). This is usually just a mixture of baking soda and water made into a paste. Some doctors will add chipped ice to further cool and soothe the skin. The skin will now be inflammed and red and if no dye was used it will look like a bad sunburn. This will last for several days until it starts to peel off and reveal new more youthful and cleaner looking skin. Depending on the skin problems treated it may take several treatments, but a major difference will be seen immediately. A straight TCA peel will require less frequent applications than a cream and dye application like Obagi Blue Peel, Power Peel or Apeel.
The results from a regular TCA peel are far more reaching than any minor, superficial peel like glycolic or salicylic acids. Results from a TCA peel can last 6 months to a year or longer with a straight TCA peel. These deeper skin peels have been known to keep acne at bay, shrink and lessen acne scars, reduce and tighten up wrinkles, improve color, pigmentation, etc... However, a TCA peel cannot be applied as often as a more superficial peel as the skin needs to be allowed to fully regenerate itself. Generally speaking, a superficial peel like glycolic or salicylic acid can be applied every 2-5 weeks. Whereas doctors like to wait 2-6 months or more between deeper peels like TCA.
The process of chemically exfoliating the skin and causing it to peel 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... The TCA peel has been proven to treat these deeper skin conditions and numerous others and is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for these uses. TCA peels have for the last 20 years been offered at almost every dermatologist and plastic surgeon office and are now available for in home use. The resulting 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. Article courtesy of Bestskinpeel.com
