Chemical peels are used to cause blistering and peeling off of your skin. It helps new skin to regenerate resulting in smoother skin. Trichloroacetic acid or TCA peels are chemical peels. A trichloroacetic acid peel can be used to cause superficial or deep peels depending on its strength or concentration. While TCA peels have the advantage of giving you smoother skin, they also put you at risk for a few complications.
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is a condition where one or more areas of your skin becomes darker. This condition can occur due to uneven penetration of the trichloroacetic acid applied, having a dark skin type, taking birth control pills or becoming pregnant six months after a TCA peel. Hyperpigmentation can be managed by applying hydroquinone, a bleaching agent or tretinoin for exfoliation of the discolored areas. Staying out of the sun as much as possible and using sunscreen after a TCA peel may prevent more hyperpigmentation.
Hypopigmentation
Hypopigmentation is another risk of TCA peels. After a TCA peel, you will lose one or more layers of skin. This reduces the amount of pigment producing melanin in your skin. Therefore your skin is expected to be lighter than it was previously or hypopigmented temporarily. Your complexion should return to normal after new skin develops. For some, hypopimentation may become permanent due to uneven penetration of the trichloroacetic acid or infection. The book "Aesthetic Rejuvenation: A Regional Approach" states that hypopigmentation is often permanent and associated with deep peels.
Acne and Folliculitis
If you have acne-prone skin, you may develop acne after a TCA peel. This can be due to the creams applied to the skin after a TCA peel. These creams tend to clog your pores and create an environment where acne can flourish. Topical acne medications cannot be applied to acne that forms after a chemical peel due to the fragile nature of the skin. At this point, oral medications may be given to resolve an outbreak of acne. The book "Chemical Peel" states that this type of acne can be resolved in about a week with medication.
References
- "Chemical Peels"; Mark G. Rubin.; 2006
- "Aesthetic Rejuvenation: A Regional Approach"; Ranella Hirsch, Neil Sadick, Joel L. Cohen.; 2008
- "Complications in dermatologic surgery"; Keyvan Nouri.; 2008.
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