12.5% TCA At Home Peel

Pre-Peel Treatment Instructions:

Using alpha-hydroxy products, such as glycolic acid, mandelic acid, and lactic acid, for a week before your TCA peel will assist in "prime" the skin for the TCA. On the other hand, do not use an alpha hydroxy acid, or any other acid, on the same day as your TCA peel. While preparing the skin isn't required, it may assist you in having a more effective peeling experience. 

If you are using this peel primarily for hyperpigmentation issues, use our 40% Lactic Acid Peel, along with our Fade Serum for 2-3 weeks pre-peel. Use the peel once weekly and the serum twice a day.

Ingredients:

 Ingredients: TCA, Glycolic Acid 5%, Lactic Acid 5%, Purified Water, Isopropyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Glyerine USP, Menthol Crystals, Sodium Chloride, Neolone, Benzyl Alcohol

Patch Test

We can’t stress enough how VITAL this is for a safe peeling experience. Your skin will respond to acids differently on different parts of the body. If you are planning to do a facial peel, then patch test on your face, below the ear along your jaw line. WAIT 48 HOURS TO BE SURE YOU DON’T HAVE AN ADVERSE REACTION BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH A FULL FACIAL PEEL. If you are planning to treat your hands, patch test the hands. If you plan to treat your neck, patch test your neck, and so on.

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Beginning the Application

Always begin with the lowest recipe. If your patch-test went well, thoroughly cleanse your skin, but cleanse it gently. DO NOT USE SCRUBS OR ANYTHING ABRASIVE. We include our Green Tea Pomegranate Cleansing Gel for pre-peel cleansing. Dry the skin thoroughly. Don’t apply the peel to damp skin. It will lessen the results. Apply Vaseline around your eye sockets, nostrils, on your lips and corner of the mouth. Put on your latex gloves, included with the kit, to keep your fingers from peeling and begin applying the acid as described below. Dip your gauze or q-tip into the acid. Make sure it’s wet but not dripping. 

BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO GET THE SOLUTION IN THE EYES

Apply TCA to the skin, liberally, with back-and-forth motions beginning with the forehead, moving down the face, avoiding the eye area and making sure to cover all areas of treatment thoroughly. If this is your first TCA peel apply only 1 layer of serum. If you have done a home TCA before and feel you need more strength, apply the first layer. Then wait 5 minutes. Apply the 2nd layer. This will give you a 25% “boost” in strength. Leave on the skin for 3-5minutes, based on the results of your patch test.

Use our Post Peel Neutralizer to deactivate the peeling serum. If you run out of our premixed neutralizer you can make you own by mixing 1 Cup of warm water to 2 Tablespoons baking soda. 

Frosting:

Frosting is likely to occur when using our 15% and higher. If the skin begins to turn white while the TCA is on the skin, this is called “frosting” and is common to TCA peels. DO NOT WORRY.

Begin removing the peel from the skin with your neutralizing solution. Your skin may be reddish for an hour or so, then it will begin to return to normal coloration. Don’t use textured washcloths when removing the serum because it could irritate the skin. Close your eyes tightly and remove the serum with a soft cloth or damp paper towel. Be very gentle to preserve your freshly processed skin.

Cleanse with our Green Tea Pomegranate Cleansing Gel, included with your kit, to be sure all the acid is fully removed from the skin. Use tepid water and your fingertips. Gently blot dry. Once the skin is completely dry, apply your anti-bacterial cream for moisture. Your skin may be red post-peel. This is completely normal, and will fade. Continue to apply moisture to your skin for the next 48 hours with your anti-bacterial ointment. When going to bed, do not sleep on a towel…it’s too abrasive and could irritate your freshly peeled skin. Use a soft pillowcase. 

The peel is now complete... let's go into post peeling information...

POST PEEL:

DO NOT PICK NOR SCRATCH THE SKIN….THIS COULD CAUSE SCARRING. The skin will peel on its own very nicely. You’ll see the full effects of the peeling within 3-4 days, perhaps sooner. If you begin to feel itching, then switch to an anti-itch cream….Cortaid or Lanacaine….and use those in lieu of the anti-bacterial ointment.

You must use sunscreen when going outside, SPF 30 or higher.

Do not use makeup while you are peeling.

If you experience slight swelling, use cold compresses. Again, this could happen with a very few clients and is within the norm of what we see with home TCA peels. If severe swelling should occur, consult a physician.

Post Peel Moisture:

Keep your body hydrated by drinking lots of water during this process. It will help you peel a bit more quickly. Additionally, splashing your face with water hydrates topically. After splashing the face with water, gently pat dry and apply more of your anti-biotic cream, or your anti-itch ointment, if needed during the first 48 hours post peel.

I’ve read that I don’t need to use moisturizer. Why do you recommend it? Indeed moisture can “mask” the peeling that is about to take place or is taking place. However, doing a “dry” peel is uncomfortable and could result in red, irritated skin. Symptoms may be redness or scratchy skin. Scratching is something we don’t want you to do…..clients may scratch in their sleep without realizing it.

To see how much peeling is taking place, allow your skin to dry completely after cleansing and wait about 30 minutes to evaluate the peeling. If you feel you have very oily skin and feel you have enough moisture in the skin and don’t wish to add more, that’s fine. However, if the skin feels very dry and tight, then apply moisture to avoid the uncomfortable itchy feeling that will result. We recommend our Advanced Hyaluronic Serum for deeper penetrating moisturization, or if you are naturally oily and don't need a lot of moisture, our Green Tea Pomegranate Moisturizer is a great choice.

Allow about 10 days to assess the full results of the peel. Then make a decision as to whether-or-not you’d like to do another one. Wait at least 2-3 weeks between applications and do no more than 3 applications, spaced 3 weeks apart. Then, wait 3-6 months before using again. If you have very “tough” skin, use sooner with normal cautions and don’t over-use the product.

Once your skin has completely healed (about 10 days), you can begin using your normal cleansing products. Wait at least 2-3 weeks before resuming glycolic and/or lactic acid treatments. Don’t shave, use hair removal, or any chemical product that could irritate your newly peeled skin for at least 2 weeks post-peel.

Some Common Questions:

Can I treat the area around my eyes? If you wish to spot-treat crow’s feet, etc., use a pointed q-tip, along with our 12.5% TCA solution to target specific areas-of-concern around the eyes.

If the acid is burning while on my skin, what should I do? I haven’t had it on long enough. The acid does burn while on the skin, for most clients. Fan your face and remove, with your neutralizing solution, in 3-5minutes. Use the results of your patch-test to gauge how long to leave it on the skin. If your skin starts to “frosts” (turns white in patches), but is irritated or burning, neutralize immediately and completely. 

When will I start peeling? Peeling beings on-or-about the 4th day of the process. Peeling should last about 7-8 days in varying degrees. I did my patch-test and it didn’t burn at all. 

Why didn’t it work. Skin is connective tissue and, typically, a patch test isn’t a large enough area to produce irritation.

Do I need to use sunscreen?  Yes! Avoid the sun while peeling and be sure to use an SPF 30 or higher post-peel to protect your skin. It will be photo-sensitive .

Can I go swimming in chlorine water or ocean water? No! Don’t expose your skin to anything but tap water, a gentle cleanser, and healing moisture while the skin is recovering from the peel.

Can I use Proactive or my other treatment cleaners while I’m peeling? No. Please use our green tea pomegranate cleansing gel, Cetaphil or other gentle cleansing until all your peeling is finished.

Can I use the TCA to get rid of moles? No. While the TCA will often remove skintags, it’s best not to use it on moles. Have those checked by your dermatologist.

I have some light brown patches on my skin. It’s been 7 days since my peel. Post peeling hyperpigmentation is not unusual when using TCA peels. Wait 10 days, after the initial application and be CERTAIN there is absolutely no irritation present. Then, use a light scrub, such as our Microdermabrasion Cream, and LIGHTLY massage the areas of discoloration with the cream. Do not be aggressive……..just lightly massage the area. Use once a day until the discoloration has faded.   

Store TCA Peels in cool, dry place for 12-18 month shelf-life.

Formulated in the USA at FDA Registered Laboratory Facility.
ACS (American Chemical Society) Reagent Quality - Medical Grade - the highest purity available.