Trichloroacetic acid treatment( TCA) for the removal of acne and acne scarring

Trichloroacetic acid treatment( TCA) for the removal of acne and acne scarring

 Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the hair-sebaceous units, which effects 99% of the population at some point in their lives. To some, acne is a small problem that eventually parishes with puberty, whereas others experience acne until and through their 30s and40s, especially women. What is characteristic about the second group of people is the scarring, since it is directly linked to the acne duration. A mild acne scarring is observed in 95% of the cases, whereas in 22% the scars reach significant sizes. Acne scars may leave not only physical but an emotional trace as well.
What exactly is the TCA peel (trichloroacetic acid) and how can we use it to remove acne?
The TCA is a non- toxic chemical (trichloroacetic acid) that has been used in skin peel for over 20 years. When TCA is applied on the skin, it causes chemical damages (dryness and exfoliation of the outer skin layer) for a period of several days up to one week.  When the old skin has been fully exfoliated, a new layer of undamaged skin appears. The skin is smoother with even complexion.
This type of chemical peel does everything the glycolic and salicylic acid do, but we can also use it to treat more severe forms of acne. It has been clinically proved that it can even cure the acne completely.
TCA has a particularly long history as an effective way of achieving histological and clinical improvement of the skin (the rejuvenating effect). The clinic effect is due to the reorganization of dermal structural elements and increase in skin volume. In order to achieve a maximum benefit from this type of chemical peel and to overcome complications such as scarring and hyper pigmentation a technique called CROSS is applied (chemical reconstruction of skin scars). It consists in the application of higher concentrations of active substance, and the local treatment of the scar area. This technique avoids serious complications and gives very efficient results.
The CROSS method effect in acne scar treatment works by focusing on skin thickening and collagen production, which are stimulated with a high concentration of trichloroacetic acid. The treatment is faster and has a lower rate of complications compared to the conventional medium or deep chemical peel of the whole face.
The procedure should be performed every 1 to 3 months, so it can have time to start the process of skin thickening and collagen production. You don`t have to apply a local anesthetic or a sedative as patients feel comfortable during the procedure. It is best to use moisturizing sunscreen for at least 4 weeks.
There are no cases of serious complications of areas treated with this peel like long erythema, constant hyper- or hypo- pigmentation. A mild erythema (redness) may occur but it fades after 2-8 weeks. A characteristic inflammation after a transient pigmentation may also occur, but it disappears within 6 weeks.
For the past 10 years the trichloroacetic peel has been successfully used for acne treatment and scarring, enlarged pores, oily skin, and rejuvenation. The TCA peel is highly effective for the treatment of problematic skin and it does not cause side effects.