TCA Tattoo Removal: Does It Work?

Before its use to remove tattoos, TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peels were commonly used to remove fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars. Before that, more than 50 years ago, it had been used in various concentrations to remove calluses, corns, stretch marks and age spots.

All TCA chemical ingredients have been thoroughly tested and have been shown to be effective for tattoo removal or to fade tattoos quite often to prepare the area for a cover-up. In a study published in the British Journal of Plastic Surgery in March 1988, six hundred and seventy patients with tattoos were treated with TCA during the 6-year period between 1979 and 1984 with a success rate of 85%. It has been shown to be a simple and inexpensive tattoo removal technique.

TCA is a cosmetic liquid acid, rather than a cream, that works to gradually fade and remove tattoo inks from the skin and does not contain hydroquinone, a controversial skin-whitening agent commonly found in many tattoo removal creams. tattoos. TCA Acid is also commonly used by many skin care professionals, including dermatologists, doctors, and health spas. Over-the-counter sales of hydroquinone are banned in Australia, 21 European countries, and some Asian countries due to fears of cancer and other skin conditions. It is available in some other countries, but only in low concentrations, such as 2% – 5%. Hydroquinone is most often used to treat conditions such as hyperpigmentation (or darkening of the skin), uneven skin tone, or dark circles under the eyes.

TCA skin peels work from the epidermal surface of the skin (the top layers) to the tattoo ink over time, through a series of skin peels. Chemical peels are considered less painful than laser sessions and in most cases are similar to a slight tingling sensation. A mixture of baking soda and water is known to relieve this discomfort. Many users claim that it hurts less than getting the original tattoo. The inflammation causes a controlled burn that causes the ink to rise to the surface and slowly fade with repeated use.

Pre-bleaching a tattoo with a home TCA peel kit before undergoing laser treatment can save you money. This is because a faded tattoo will require fewer laser sessions to remove and will result in less painful laser sessions as pre-faded inks will require less heat from the laser to destroy or break down the inks. A tattoo faded with TCA acid will often recover faster after a laser session, as a previously faded tattoo is easier to remove. Less ink remaining on the skin equals less time under the laser not to mention less pain. Fewer laser sessions keep more money in your pocket. You should be aware that like other tattoo removal methods, TCA acids will take time. After applying TCA, users should generally allow 3-6 weeks before starting the next application.

Another advantage of these peeling systems is that they are not color dependent, which is not the case with most laser systems. These acids will work equally well on all colors of ink.

Lasers tend to have an easier time with darker colors such as black and dark blue or dark red, but have a harder time removing lighter red, light blue, turquoise, light green, white, green and certain shades of yellow. These colors may require more laser sessions unless the ink is pre-bleached.