January 9, 2009
Chemical Peels: As we age, the accumulated effects of sun exposure, pollutants, acne, and scarring can damage our skin and cause us to look older than we are. Such skin damage can be treated with a chemical peel, a non-invasive procedure designed to promote cell growth and produce smoother, clearer skin. Chemical peels can be performed on the face, neck, chest, hands, arms, and legs.
Chemical peels are also used to treat melasma (a skin condition characterized by irregularly shaped patches of brown skin commonly found on the face and neck), and pre-cancerous changes in the skin. Chemical peels can be performed on the face, neck, chest, arms, hands, and legs.
Benefits of a chemical peel
A chemical peel can restore a more youthful appearance to wrinkled, unevenly pigmented, sun-damaged, or blotchy skin. However, a peel cannot reverse the aging process or completely remove deep scars.
What is a TCA peel?
- Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) can be used in many concentrations and is used to accomplish the following:
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- smooth fine surface wrinkles
- remove superfical blemishes
- correct pigment problems
TCA can be used on the neck or other body areas, and may require pretreatment with Retin-A or AHA creams. This procedure is preferable for darker-skinned patients.
Two or more TCA peels may be needed over several months to obtain the desired result, although mild TCA peels may be repeated more frequently.
The results of a TCA peel are usually less dramatic than and not as long-lasting as those of a phenol peel. More than one TCA peel may be needed to achieve the desired result.
TCA-peel patients are advised to avoid sun exposure for several months. The procedure also may produce some unintended color changes in the skin.