12.5 TCA users..How many layers is effective for you?
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Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:43 am

Hi there,
I was wondering how many layers are you applying in order to get an effective peeling with TCA 12.5?
Thanks
Ahu

free skin care · Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:15 pm

have you started peels with the 12.5 and are not getting desired results or are you wanting advice on how many layers to start with?

Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:04 pm

Hi there.
I have done 2 layer TCA 12.5 3 days ago on my forehead for the first time and still waiting for the peeling to start.
I have asked this question because I have a feeling that this will not give me the results I was expecting so for the next time I am trying to decide whether to go for 3-4 layers of 12.5 OR 1-2 layers of a higher strenght.

So I am really curious about what strenght and how many layers are working for the ones who managed to get results.
Hope that's clear
Thanks
Ahu

free skin care · Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:42 pm

it really depends on the person. you can try layering up to 5 times before moving up. I had the same problem with the 15%. I didn't feel any tingling until maybe my 3rd layer. after 5 layers it stung a little bit. and by the third day, i had a little bit of peeling. The next time I tried it, I didn't want my bottle of TCA to go waste, so i showered (which I also did the first time around) AND i exfoliated to help open up the pores and remove any excess dead skin cells. It worked much better, and I actually got frosting in certain areas after just 1 layer. After the peeling was finished I was ecstatic with the results. I just wanted a medium peel. Nothing too drastic because I wanted to be able to leave the house if I chose to. lol. Some areas turned a little brown, but not too noticeable.

If you decide to exfoliate first or just decide to move up to a higher %, I do recommend that you try the 5 layers first, and see what kind of peeling you get. If it's not enough and you still have some in the bottle that you would like used up, then you may try exfoliating LIGHTLY before the peel. Always, always proceed with caution with TCA. You don't want to do more damage to the skin. Some people get too excited about the prospects of the results that they forgo caution, and end up with worse problems than when they started. it's always better to start with too light, than too strong!

I'd also like to mention that the forehead is much "tougher" than the rest of the face. it may take a few more days before it peels. My forehead usually doesn't peel until about the 5th day while the rest of my face is done peeling. maybe only a little patience is required. Smile

GL!

Sat Nov 17, 2007 10:35 pm

Okey, this is really insightful and answers many questions in my mind. I am on my 4th day and still no peeling and waiting patiently. As you said depending on the results I will get, I will decide what to do for the next time.
Many thanks
Ahu

free skin care · Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:16 pm

ahutukel wrote:

Okey, this is really insightful and answers many questions in my mind. I am on my 4th day and still no peeling and waiting patiently. As you said depending on the results I will get, I will decide what to do for the next time.
Many thanks
Ahu

It will peel, it will just take time. When I do my arms at a lower % they take ages...like 7 days or more.

I say go for the higher strength next time.

Another trick is that when I feel I have done a peel and it hasn't been strong enough (ie. skin is not tight and shiny the following day) is to apply another layer or two then. Then you are not waiting so long to do another, and it seems to result in a really good peel.

cheers

rebecca

free skin care · Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:48 am

Hi Ahu,
I've been lurking in this forum, and finally had to register so that I could find out how you made out. How did your first peel go? Did you peel or did you flake? The next time, would you go so far as to use actives to get the peel going.
I have used a lot of LA40% and a few TCAs. I find that the TCA works better, and for me there is no irritation. I only use 12.5%. However, the lactic acid will burn, especially if you have any kind of irritation. It has been a few months since I did my last TCA, and I wanted to find out how you made our with your first.

Jackie

Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:43 am

Hi Jackie,
Since it was my first TCA (12.5), it was scary but it turned out to be fine. But the peeling took like forever (I started peeling after 10 days).

The side of my face where I have applied the patch test with 1 layer of TCA, only flaked just a little bit while I was washing my face or applying EMU oil. Don't see much of a difference in the pigmentation.

The next night I have applied 2 layers on my forehead (where I have this huge brown square patch) and on 5-6 sun spots. And by the way I have only put EMU and CP on my face after the peel. But since I didn't see any peeling in 10 days, I stopped the EMU and only used CP for couple of days then I started peeling. The dead skin on the spots fell down while I was washing my face or applying my sunblock. The forehead was a different story. It started to peel like a sheet but very very stubborn. It was only peeling when I was washing my face which was scary because I assumed it would peel naturally not while I was washing. But it didn't leave any scars.

So the overall experience was a bit annoying but fine. I see (if I am not dreaming) slight lightning on the areas where I have applied 2 layers which would normally take 2 months only with the skin bleachers. So I can't wait for the next one.

Now I am back using my actives. I will do that for 2 weeks and then give a break with only using CP and EMU then apply a 3 layer TCA 12.5 on the same areas. But this time I will try not to moisturize as much. Will do this 2-3 times more and once I feel confident I will do whole face.

How is your experience with Lactic and TCA? Did you see any results?
Cheers
Ahu

Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:30 am

ahutukel -
It sounds like I did exactly what you did with your tca. Following a patch test last week, I did two layers of 12.5 tca only on my forehead on monday, I followed that with the neosporin/bactri?? stuff. I figured, if it looked really scary, I could hide it with my bangs. monday night,I noticed slight redness, as if I had just a bit too much sun...
On tuesday, I noted that my skin was shiny, and tight. Today wednesday, I noted slight look of drying of the forehead. I have been washing my face, and then in the morning, I have been applying my Dr Denese, foundation with 30 spf in it. I have not been applying anything else to it.
I did get a small sample size of emu oil, what reason would I use it for? would it be to enhance the peel, or would it be to heal or moisturize?

I am anxious to see if I go ten days to see peeling as you experienced. I am dying to try it on the rest of my face, but I want to see how my forehead does first.

Question: Do you plan to apply it to your eyelids? and under eye area??? I could definately benefit from wrinkle decrease, and some skin tightening in those areas, but what have others experienced using it on those areas??

THnks

free skin care · Thu Nov 29, 2007 6:57 am

Hi Ahu,
Thanks for replying. Although I have used TCA 12.5 before, it's my first time using it in a while, and I'm a litle scared. I did it on tuesday night, and by wednesday night, all of my spots had turned really dark. I'm african american so they really turned black. I'm kinda scared. But I think I had the same thing happen the last time. My skin looks shiny where I guess it will peel. It feels a little tight, but not real tight.
I think I'm not going to use moisture, but use CP instead. I read somewhere on this forum, that you can use vinegar and walter compresses to help with the peeling once it starts.
If I'm shiny, and have really dark spots, how long do you think before the peeling starts. Will I peel or just flake. BTW, I did 2 layers, but only about 3 minutes apart. Before I removed, I neutralized with baking sode and water.
Also, can someone please explain to me if the TCA is actually neutralized. I get conflicting information. One, that it can't be neutralized once applied, and the other that baking sode will neutralize it. Thanks.
Jackie

Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:09 pm

I've done a 12.5% TCA 3 times. It usually takes 3 layers minimum to get frosting. The next day my skin has already turned brown and by day 3 it starts to peel around my mouth. After 4 days all peeled and pink.
I plan on doing a 25% TCA peel over the holidays. Maybe 2 layers to start just to see if I can improve on a couple of lines that I have above my lips.
Hopefully all will work well.

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