Beginning the TCA Peel Process - December 2006

(After First Peel - skin has already peeled)

I am currently trying a TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid) Peel to remove a tattoo on my leg. My friend put this tattoo on my leg with a sewing needle and India ink at my house when I was 14 years old. I have gotten tired of it and I want it gone. I don't really want to shell out the bucks for Laser tattoo removal if I don't have to.

After several hours of research on the internet, I thought I'd try a TCA Peel. This is a method by which you kill a couple of layers of skin at a time with a mild acid, and the skin peels like a bad sunburn.

If the method is done correctly, I have heard that it produces wonderful results, that is, removes the tattoo and doesn't leave nasty scars (like I read that some Laser treatments can leave). The whole process can take 6 months to a year, doing a peel once a month or so.

I thought I'd share my experience with you.

The first thing I did was to look around the internet for TCA, and wasn't sure which form to buy it in. There is something called "Wrecking Balm" that is expensive and contains TCA. From what I read, it does the same thing as cheaper TCA mixtures, but has a neat name (and marketing scheme).

I wound up buying TCA liquid from EBay, which was inexpensive and supposedly does the same thing as all the other TCA products. The best deal I found was from a seller named "newcomplexions" and they (he, she, or it) have an ebay store called "Better Complexions". I got a good deal and shipping was fast. (auction title was "BEST 2oz 100%TCA Cosmetic Chemical Skin Acid Peel &Heal")

The directions were not that great IMHO, and the extra stuff that came with it was:
"Acid Inhibitor" (looks like baking soda to me!)
"Amazing Healing Serums" (looks like vitamin E capsules to me, but OK)
"Egg White Facial" (powdered egg white??? Woof!!)

Ok, so I cleaned my leg and put the TCA on with a Q-tip. Didn't really feel anything for a few seconds, then it started to sting a little. I kept the area wet with the TCA solution for about 5 minutes, by which time it was stinging the whole area. It didn't sting too bad, but I was glad to rinse it off. I used some of the acid inhibitor which didn't seem to do anything, but what the heck.

What I had at this time was a stinging area of skin that looks mostly white-ish. By the next day, the skin had the appearance of a nasty sunburn, and felt like one.

The picture above is one day after applying the second peel. BTW, I didn't take a picture of the tattoo before I did the first peel because I didn't think I would be doing a blog. I have been applying the "healing serum" to it and it seems to help. The skin still stings a little, though.