Summertime is for making lasting memories at the beach or by the pool, but all that time in the sun can damage your skin, leaving you with fine lines, sunspots, and itchy dry patches. All this sun-damaged skin can make you appear older than you actually are. But while it can be incredibly stubborn to remove, there are innovative steps you can take to restore your skin’s natural glow.
Utilizing her training from Stanford and Georgetown Universities, board-certified oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Malena M. Amato can help banish your summer skin damage with a TCA peel. A simple trichloracetic acid dermatological peel can help remove old, sun-damaged skin and reveal smooth, glowing, younger-looking skin underneath.
What Is a TCA Peel?
The TCA peel is a gentle update to the traditional chemical peel, containing a special compound called trichloroacetic acid, a more potent form of the organic acid found in vinegar. Different concentrations of TCA are used to produce different treatment outcomes. Milder TCA peels offer the benefit of minimal to no recovery period, while stronger peels have results quicker and do require some recovery time.
How Do TCA Peels Work?
TCA peels work by deeply exfoliating the skin and inducing cellular turnover. Unlike the physical exfoliants used at home like your basic sugar scrubs or exfoliating cloths, chemical peels do much more than remove surface debris. These treatments gently exfoliate the thin top layer of damaged, dry facial skin. The process removes discolored skin, irregular textures, amongst other skin ailments, to reveal new, healthy skin underneath while promoting new cell and collagen growth.
What To Expect From a TCA Peel?
When you arrive at Eyelid & Facial Plastic Surgery Associates, you will be escorted to our medical spa facility and asked to make yourself comfortable. Your skin will be thoroughly cleansed several times with a liquid cleanser to ensure all the oil is removed so that the peel solution can penetrate evenly. When the peel solution is applied, you may experience some stinging and the sensation of heat while the peel solution is active, but you’ll remain comfortable with the help of cooling airflow.
After several minutes, the peel solution is removed, and an ointment is applied to speed the healing process. It’s essential that you follow the post-care instructions given to you by Dr. Amato. You may experience some redness and peeling of your skin, and this process should be allowed to continue without intervention, meaning that if it does begin to peel, you shouldn’t try to expedite the process.
Most importantly, remember to apply high-SPF sunscreen and wear a protective hat to keep the new layer of skin out of the sun to prevent any damage.
TCA Peels in Austin, Texas
A TCA chemical peel is one of the most straightforward procedures you can have to make the most significant impact on your skin to correct sun damage, acne scars, and textural irregularities.
For more information on TCA Peels with Dr. Amato, contact us by phone at (512) 501-1010 or fill out our form online to schedule your consultation, and let us get you on your way to your most beautiful, radiant skin.