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 185 Moggill Road, Taringa 4068 www.westderm.com.au (07) 3871 3437 (07) 3871 1570

westsidedermatology specialist skin care and skin cancer centre

fpwa

Facts on TCA cross chemical peels and acne scars

•  Deep acne scars can be very difficult to treat and do

not respond to laser treatments

•  TCA Cross method does not treat the full face, rather

the acne scars themselves are treated•  In specialist hands, results are excellent. Patients will

require two to three treatments for best outcomes

•  Treatment with the TCA cross method is virtually

painless and recovery is quicker than with laser

treatment.

How does the TCA cross chemical peel work for acne

scars? 

TCA applied at a very high concentration stimulates

collagen formation from the base of a deep ice pick scar.

This collagen formation is gradual, and over 2-3 treatments,scars ll up from the depths of the pick scar.

Ice pick scars- ideally

treated with TCA cross

and punch surgical

techniques

How is TCA cross performed? 

Scars are mapped and photographed before any treatment.

This provides a record for both patients and the treating

Dermatologist. Under sterile conditions in a procedural

room, the treating Specialist uses an applicator to instilla tiny amount of TCA into the base of the scar. Each scar

is treated individually. On average it take between 10-20

minutes to perform a session of TCA cross. The procedure

itself is very well tolerated, with little discomfort.

How long will I take to recover from TCA cross chemical

peels? 

Immediately following TCA cross, the treated skin turns

white. Over a few hours, the area becomes much redder

than the surrounding skin. Pin point areas surrounding

the treated area may peel over the next 3 - 4 days. Theskin slowly returns to its normal colour over 8 - 21 days. In

darker skin patients, pigmentation changes maybe more

prolonged. It is essential that sun exposure is avoided for at

least 2 weeks following a TCA chemical peel.

How many treatments will I need? 

As with many other acne scar treatments, multiple sessions

are advised for the best results. As a guide we encourage

patients to complete 2-3 sessions, over a period of 3-6

months. Very deep scars can be treated with surgical

techniques during the time of TCA Cross, whilst laser canalso be conducted during the procedure. Individualized

treatments will give the best results.

How much will my acne scars improve with TCA cross? 

As a guide we should aim for at least 50 - 70% improvement

of deep ice pick scars after a series of 2 - 3 TCA cross

chemical peels. Scar specialists do not recommend Fraxel/

Fractional laser for deep ice pick scars, as TCA peels or

punch surgical excision outperforms lasers in this setting.

Can lasers be combined with TCA cross?

Yes. Specialists often combine a number of techniques to

give the best possible results to patients. We can combine

TCA CROSS CHEMICAL PEELS FOR ACNE SCARS

Acne scar specialists at the Brisbane Specialist Acne Clinic perform a technique of

chemical peels to treat deep acne scars. Deep ice pick scars respond poorly to Fraxel/

Lasers however they can be addressed with TCA peels or surgical techniques.

8/18/2019 acne scars and chemical peels

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 185 Moggill Road, Taringa 4068 www.westderm.com.au (07) 3871 3437 (07) 3871 1570

westsidedermatology specialist skin care and skin cancer centre

fpwa

subscision, punch excision, punch elevation, laser and TCA

cross in the one session. Remember, most patients will

have a number of different types of scars, and therefore a

combination of treatments will be needed.

Is TCA cross chemical peel safe in dark skin types? 

TCA cross can be used to treat acne scars in all skin types.

Darker skin patients may develop slight darkening of the

treated skin (1 - 2mm areas), but this fades over a periodof weeks. Occasionally post treatment darkening may last

a few months. The use of sunscreen after this procedure is

very important.

What is the cost for TCA cross procedure for acne scars? 

The cost of this procedure will vary depending on the

complexity of scars and the areas treated.

As a guide $350 for small areas,

$890 for larger areas.

2-4 treatments are needed for best results.Medicare rebate does NOT apply to this procedure

Why choose a Specialist for TCA cross treatments for

acne scars? 

Trusting a physician who is an expert in acne scar revision

can be daunting for many patients. Remember, there are

many types of acne scars, in different skin types. Cosmetic

and laser dermatologists are equipped with training,

expertise and the latest technology to deliver the best

results to their patients.

Deep ice pick scars respond poorly to Fraxel/ Fractional lasers. TCA cross is

the treatment of choice for deep scars like this.

Ice pick, box car, and linear scars prior to treatment

 After 2 sessions of punch excision, TCA cross, subscision treatments

TCA CROSS CHEMICAL PEELS FOR ACNE SCARS cont’d

SPECIALIST INSIGHTS ON 

TCA CROSS CHEMICAL PEELS FOR ACNE SCARING

Dr Davin S. Lim

Consultant

DermatologistWestside DermatologyGroup

TCA cross is my favored method

of treating deep ice pick scars.I often combine a few methods

including punch excision and

punch grafting with TCA cross inthis situation. Fraxel and other

Fractional lasers have minimal

impact on deep ice picks. Ialways reinforce to patients that

multiple techniques are needed

for the best results. Very rarely

do patients present with onlyone type of acne scar- a multiple

treatment approach works best!