A chemical peel involves the application of a chemical to the skin for various purposes, such as reversing the effects of sun damage or for the appearance of more youthful skin. Chemical peels are used to create controlled burns that cause the top layer of your skin to peel off. This way, new skin that is smoother and tighter can develop. Chemical peels can be mild or deep peeling agents, depending on the strength of the chemical being used. An example of a chemical peel is the trichloroacetic or TCA peel. When considering this treatment, it's important to understand that there are different strengths or potency levels of a TCA peel.
10 to 25 Percent
Trichloroacetic acid produces a mild peeling effect at a concentration of 10 to 25 percent. At this concentration, a TCA peel causes the superficial layers of your skin to peel off. The book "Aesthetic Rejuvenation: A Regional Approach" suggests that superficial chemical peels rarely produce significant effects, unless they are done four to 10 times. TCA peels in this percentage range can be used to treat mild skin discoloration caused by liver spots or solar lentigines and epidermal melasma.
35 to 50 Percent
According to the book "Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery for Darker Skin Types," trichloroacetic acid concentrations of 35 to 50 percent is considered the gold standard for chemical peels. This is due to its history of stability, low cost and versatility. This concentration of TCA produces a medium-level peel. The book "Aesthetic Rejuvenation: A Regional Approach" suggests that a medium-level peel can penetrate your dermis. In this case, there is inflammation and sloughing off of the dermal layer of your skin. The book goes on to state that TCA peels at 50 percent concentration or higher penetrate the skin unevenly and that 50 percent TCA peel have been largely replaced by combination peels.
Combination Strength TCA Peel
Trichloroacetic acid at a strength of 35 percent can be used in combination with other chemicals to produce a medium-level peeling effect. Other chemicals used in combination with 35 percent trichloroacetic acid are Jessner's solution, solid carbon dioxide and 70 percent glycolic acid. The process for combination TCA peels involves pre-treatment of your skin with one of these chemicals. After this, your skin is then treated with 35 percent trichloroacetic acid, allowing for a more even result. TCA peels at 50 percent or greater concentration may lead to hyperpigmentation and scarring. The chances of these occurring with a combination TCA peel is lower.
References
- "Aesthetic Rejuvenation: A Regional Approach"; Ranella Hirsch, Neil Sadick, Joel L. Cohen.; 2008.
- "Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery for Darker Skin Types"; Pearl E. Grimes.; 2007
- "Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide"; Harvard Medical School, Anthony L. Komaroff.; 2004.
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