TCA peel - I think I destroyed my face.. HELP?!?
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Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:41 pm

I'm posting this out of desperation, Long time lurker but never felt the need to post - but I have to consult the experts about this!

About 2 weeks ago I did a TCA peel at home to help some residual acne scars and shrink my pores.. it was only 11% but I layered 2x on my cheeks (until it frosted) so I guess then it would be considered 22%. During the peeling process I was trying to keep my face as moisturized as possible, what I didn't realize was the moisturizer I was using had AHA in it! DOH!!!

Anyway once the thickest layer peeled off I was left with more scars, acne, and even BIGGER pores, I mean these things are massive now.

I have made peace with this fact - but whats really scaring me is my skins new texture and overall condition. My skin is STILL shedding, everytime I go to wash it millions of white balls of skin easily come off (gross!)..and when I go to put on makeup I can see the little white scales of dead skin underneath.. It's so sick. So basically, I can't get my skin to stop peeling.. the skin looks almost like plastic, very shiny but not in a good way.. the texture is all uneven and bumpy, like millions of small pimples but they're just tiny bumps.. I'm just so scared this is permanent. I know skin can regenerate itself but I don't know how deep I must have gone to still be peeling like this..?

Have any of you guys experienced anything like this?? I'm so ready to just tweeze off all this dead skin, since it flakes off so easily in the shower.. but I don't know if that would do more harm than good.. Sorry this is so long!

free skin care · Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:55 pm

hi cupcakez,

okay, i've never even remotely experienced anything like you are describing. BUT i thought i would weigh in here with my intuitions. how long has it been, exactly, since you frosted?
i think what you should do is absolutely NOTHING for a week--no cleanser, no moisturizer, no soap, no water, even. allow your skin to finish peeling completely and begin the healing process on its own. don't confuse it.
your skin WILL regenerate itself eventually, so not to worry. that's the skin's natural motivation, to heal itself. your skin is in a wound-like state and the ecosystem of your skin is out of whack, so your main focus should be to let your skin do its own thing and work itself out.
i'm counseling you to do this because i have been around enough of my friends who had these peels to know that the recommendation for optimal recovery is to do nothing...zilch...nada but stay OUT of the SUN at all costs.
after about a week, you might want to try putting eucerin or jojoba or avocado oil, or something else really benign. if you have acneic skin, then hazelnut is an excellent benign oil. once a day, and again, no cleansers or treatment moisturizers.
also, you might want to make sure your diet is in top form and that you are consuming loads of water and green vegetables.

i hope that helps. have faith in your body. i thought i ruined my skin once, too, and it took a while, but it's in much better shape now.

relax and heal.

--avalange

free skin care · Fri Jan 15, 2010 7:01 am

avalange wrote:

i think what you should do is absolutely NOTHING for a week--no cleanser, no moisturizer, no soap, no water, even. allow your skin to finish peeling completely and begin the healing process on its own. don't confuse it.

I totally agree with this. I use Perfect Complexion's TCA Complex peel (12%) and her instructions say not to use anything while you are peeling - no face cleansers, no moisturizers, etc. Don't wash your face, just use a wet washcloth to wipe your skin off. Your skin probably needs to dry up so it can peel on its own and then you can start using gentle things on your skin, but stay away from anything that has "actives" in it for a few weeks.

free skin care · Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:10 am

The TCAs I've done will sometimes continue flaking for about 2 weeks after. Yes, really messes up the makeup. Like others have posted, use nothing if you can. But if your skin is really unbearably dry, I think emu oil would be ok - but only if you've used it successfully in the past (with no allergy). I could never get by with nothing on my skin, it just felt worse.

I've heard that the first layer of TCA is at full percentage, but the second layer only boosts by 25%. Thus your 2 layers of 11% are equivalent to 13.75% (11% + (11%*.25).

It almost sounds like you've had an allergic reaction with all the little bumps.

Oh and one final thing - don't pick at it. That can create scars.

I hope this gets better quickly for you.

free skin care · Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:16 am

I have done a couple of TCAs and I know it is scary at times but it is amazing what the body can do to heal itself givin the right ingredients.

One thing that I would add if you haven't already (along with doing/using nothing on your skin) is to start drinking the green smoothies with spinach, celery, chia seeds and frozen fruit. And also take some skin supplements. Both the skin supplements and the smoothies have threads dedicated to them on this board.

Even my daughter was amazed at the change in my skin with the green smoothies so much so that she's been asking how to make them. And a friend of mine wanted to know why my hands looked so much better than hers.

HTH,
Mary

Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:03 pm

Thanks everyone for your help!!! I have some hope that maybe I'll get my old skin back (not like thats any prize in itself but lol)

It's still flaking but very thin flakes.. and the texture is still weird in some places.. shiny but shiny like a scar would look, this is where I'm hoping new skin will generate to eventually cover this.. I'm only washing it once a day (breakouts are bad now, so I don't know what would happen if I skipped this) and using very gentle moisturizer (neutrogena oil-free fresh moisture). Actually I think that's the problem - my skin seems so stripped of oil/moisture maybe I should switch to something a bit heavier - because its soooo uncomfortable if I don't slather this stuff on..Like it would hurt to smile.

I'm just so confused on what my skin actually needed in the first place.. if it was dry, pores were 'plugged'/clogged and I had dead skin cells making the texture feel rough, woulden't that of made me the perfect candidate for a TCA peel/exfoliation? Or is it recommended for more oily types? Because the peel only accentuated my problem.

Also I have another issue.. like I said the peel caused a huge breakout, I had a deep cyst form on my cheek and it eventually popped, dried up and became a red flat scab (about the size of a dime).. Its somewhat soft but rough and red enough that I know it's a scab.. I've been putting a band-aid with a layer of neosporin on it every night but the scab is pretty much at a stand still - don't know where to go from here - If I let it dry out it will probably scar ..But if it's always moist how will it heal? ...Can I post pics on here? Thanks in advance to all u girls helping me!

free skin care · Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:28 pm

cupcakez wrote:

Also I have another issue.. like I said the peel caused a huge breakout, I had a deep cyst form on my cheek and it eventually popped, dried up and became a red flat scab (about the size of a dime).. Its somewhat soft but rough and red enough that I know it's a scab.. I've been putting a band-aid with a layer of neosporin on it every night but the scab is pretty much at a stand still - don't know where to go from here - If I let it dry out it will probably scar ..But if it's always moist how will it heal? ...Can I post pics on here? Thanks in advance to all u girls helping me!

Hi cupcakez

I hope you have been using a sunscreen. I find the zinc sunscreens to have helped soothe inflammation AND also helped wounds heal faster. But please note that some zinc sunscreens can be drying.

I would disagree with band-aid and neosporin.

Hope everything gets better for you soon! Razz

free skin care · Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:18 pm

Julie from Perfectcomplexion.net swears by the method of using a layer of neosporin on your face when you have had a peel that has been a bit too much. She also says that to cover redness, try only using concealer instead of foundation or MMU. I have tried the concealer idea and it works really well. As for the neosporin, sometimes on my peels my mouth and nose area get a bit too much so the neosporin is very healing and soothing while your skin starts to adjust and heal. I find when I have a scab area like you described that if I keep it covered with neosporin on it, it heals faster with less scarring. I used to be a professional chef and I have gotten some pretty bad burns over the years. On my own, I found that keeping a wound moist is the best healing method but I am now starting to read doctors recommending that approach now too. Good luck!!

free skin care · Sat Jan 16, 2010 7:16 pm

Hello!

Personally (and for future reference!) I would not attempt 2 layers of TCA 10% without preparing my skin first with Retinoids and HQ for at least a month. The chances of getting hyperpigmentation and scarring for some from "messing up" the peel are too high for me to take the risk.

As some people have said here, you should do NOTHING. And I would not even use the Neutrogena cream, I would use either Neosporin or Aquaphor. You NEED a barrier so that the skin can heal in peace so that's why those creams are best.

Finally, you NEED to use sunscreen even if you're inside, even if it's cloudy while your skin heals.

All the best,
Josee

free skin care · Sat Jan 16, 2010 10:44 pm

Cupcakez: I have never had a TCA peel but for burns and wounds I always use Neosporin with pain relief and organic, pure Aloe-vera. Both are great healers. Neosporin prevents infection and helps with pain; Aloe-vera soothes and prevents scar formation. Make sure the Aloe-vera is pure and not part of a cream or such. I use Aubrey organics brand! It might also be a good idea to see your dermatologist and get some advise from a professional. Wishing you best of luck that your skin will improve soon!

free skin care · Sun Jan 17, 2010 12:08 pm

Please don't pick, and forget the makeup for now. I would have said do nothing, just rinse with water once a day, but I'm concerned about the breakouts doing damage.

I usually do nothing after my doctor peels (light TCA - I frost and peel for about a week) for a day or two and then use Isomers Copper Peptide clear serum. Due to your complication of the breakouts, I would try to get into a derm immediately to minimize damage. I don't want you to scar. Good luck and please let us know how you are doing.

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