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December Specials are Now Live! Click Here to Purchase.

December Specials are Now Live! Click Here to Purchase.

December Specials are Now Live! Click Here to Purchase.

December Specials are Now Live! Click Here to Purchase.

December Specials are Now Live! Click Here to Purchase.

December Specials are Now Live! Click Here to Purchase.

TCA Peels

TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid) Peels By Marné Walsh, PA-C Winter is the perfect time for a TCA peel to treat photo-aged skin and pre-skin cancers! What better time of year to repair years of cumulative damage from the sun? TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid) is an analog of acetic acid, the active ingredient in vinegar. It is non-toxic and has been used for more than 20 years as a chemical skin peel by experienced physicians. It causes controlled cell turnover to the upper layers of sun-damaged skin, resulting in regenerative changes. Cosmetic benefits include collagen stimulation resulting in fine wrinkle reduction and tightening plus exfoliation, which improves texture and fades brown spots. Medical benefits include dramatic reduction and destruction of pre-skin cancers. Our TCA peel appointment is 30 minutes for the face and 45min if you add the neck/chest or arms. It offers a range from superficial to medium-depth levels, which in controlled by the percent of the peel and the number of applications of TCA. Our patients report first experiencing a sensation of warmth. A few minutes into the peel application, a heat sensation is felt for a few minutes. Then it subsides to a warm sensation. The down-time is minimal and usually involves 1-3 days of pinkness, similar to sunburn. This is followed by peeling on days 3-6. The deeper the peel, the more pinkness and peeling is to be expected. Marne - TCA Outdoor activities should be limited during the healing period, but most people return to work the day following a peel. Keeping the skin heavily moisturized and protected with a zinc-based sunscreen of at least SPF 30 speeds healing and optimizes results.   New, healthier skin then replaces the older, photo-damaged skin. During this process, collagen production is stimulated over a period of 1-3 months.   Other areas such as the neck, chest, arms, hands and lower legs can also be treated. Depending on the extent of photo-damage and the depth of the TCA peel, 1-3 treatments may be recommended. TCA peels can also be used in conjunction with photodynamic therapy (PDT), an FDA approved treatment for some pre-skin cancers. Pre-treating the skin with a TCA peel one month prior to PDT enhances the efficacy of the treatment. Both of these treatments, PDT and TCA peels, are considered excellent “field treatments” for pre-skin cancers because they treat a large area at one session rather than one spot at a time. Additionally, both treatments can destroy pre-skin cancers that are not yet clinically evident. TCA Peel Highlights: Treatment: TCA Peel Face (we offer superficial and deep peels) Time: 30 minutes Target: Photo-aging Pre-skin cancers Pigmentation (spots, Melasma) Fine lines, wrinkles, crepiness Downtime: Avoid sun for 1 week 1-7 days depending on depth Cost: $248 per treatment (insurance may reimburse when there is a medical cause)