The infamous TCA peel has been featured on almost every beauty makeover show from the Swan to Dr. 90210 for its skin restoration abilities. What exactly is a TCA peel, why is it so popular, and what can it do for you?
To best understand the infamous TCA peel, its mechanisms and how it works, and how it defers from other skin peels and what makes it better we must first discuss what a chemical peel is and what they can do for your skin.
What really is a chemical peel? A chemical peel is a controlled caustic solution applied to the skin which will result in the breaking of cellular bonds in the top layers or dermis of the skin. This will result in flaking and peeling as the old skin sloughs off and new skin underneath is revealed. This can take 3 to 8 days depending on the type of skin peel and the depth achieved or desired. A deeper peel (like the TCA peel) will usually result in a completely rejuvenated and more youthful, fresh look.
Some skin peels are more superficial than others (superficial meaning that they don’t penetrate as deeply and are more of a lunch time type peel, requiring less or even no down time, but having minimal results at the same time). A glycolic or lactic or fruit peel tend to be very light or weak and are considered by most dermatologists and plastic surgeons to be more superficial and requiring numerous treatments or applications to have the desired results. Light peels tend to have minor results that are not long lasting (needs to be repeated every 2 weeks or so). Medium to deep peels like the TCA peel, Obagi Blue Peel and Phenol peel can go much deeper and produce astounding results that will last several months or longer. The Phenol peel is rarely used anymore due to its toxicity.
The Obagi Blue Peel, created by Dr. Obagi, is just a brand name TCA peel and is a cream mixture with a blue green dye in it that dyes the face to indicate where it has and has not been applied. The Obagi Blue Peel still requires the addition of TCA from a TCA peel to make it active. Many doctors have recently been switching from the cream Obagi peel to more pure TCA peel solutions. This is due to the fact that these solutions are stronger, cause more of a burning sensation, work much faster and actually end up penetrating farther and causing longer lasting results. Basically, the straight or more pure TCA peel solutions are the most desired as they literally give the patient the best results for their money.
TCA peels have been found to be highly effective and approved by the FDA for treatment of various skin disorders like skin pigmentation problems, wrinkles and aging skin, fine lines and crows feet around the eyes and even all ranges of acne (even nodular – the most severe and scarring form). Yes, TCA peels have been found to be one of the most effective skin care treatments currently available and are now available for in home use at tremendous savings to the consumer.
TCA peels used to be only an in office treatment offered by doctors, dermatologists and plastic surgeons at $500 - $2000 per application. It was a beauty or skin care treatment reserved primarily for the rich. Now, TCA peels can be purchased at a great savings for in home use. TCA peels have quickly become one of the most sought after treatments known to the plastic surgery and makeover community. And it is no wonder as they can actually cure and treat severe cases of acne, reverse and treat aging skin, and remove skin problems like bad pigmentation spots, pre cancerous legions and even treat cancerous areas.
The TCA peel is one of the most effective and widely applicable skin care treatments available either in office of for home use and should be made a staple of any skin care regimen. Article courtesy of Bestskinpeel.com