How Well Does TCA Work for Tattoo Removal?l

TCA (trichloroacetic acid) is a skin peeling product used to remove acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles on the face. But is it an effective solution for tattoo removal?

As with all tattoo removal options available today there seems to be no shortage on the varying results. There are many different solutions for the removal of tattoos today including: pulsed light, laser, fade creams, cryosurgery, salabrasion and skin peel with acids. All of these methods for tattoo removal claim to say they are the most effective.

It should come as no surprise, that results with these methods seem to vary with each person and their tattoos, because so many factors are involved. How well a tattoo vanishesare affected by factors like: skin type and color, how rapidly a person’s body heals, how old or new that tattoo is, the types of colors in the tattoo, type of ink, how deep the ink was put into the skin, where on the body the tattoo is located and more.

TCA however, does have two medical studies published in the British Journal of Plastic Surgery and the South African Medical Journal. In both of these studies positive results were observed. Similar results were presented from both studies that TCA as a treatment for tattoo removal was found to be safe, simple and an effective tattoo removal agent with an 85% success rate at either removing or fading the tested tattoos.

When using TCA it creates a controlled inflammation on the surface of the skin. It is applied directly on the tattoo with a q-tip. The pigments from the ink break apart and seperate as the skin becomes inflamed and rise to the top. Eventually, the top layer of skin peels away. Your body naturally re-grows the skin. This process is repeated as often as it takes to get the desired removal or fade of the tattoo. Depending on how fast a person heals—it usually is repeated at six week intervals.

It is recommended to keep the area awayfrom the sun during the complete process. Because new skin is photo-sensitive, it is vulnerable to damage by the sun.

Surprisingly, TCA is said to work very well on all types of ink colors. Even the colors that seem to not work well with laser treatments seem to fade with TCA.

One final thought, some people seeking the ultimate solution for tattoo removal will use the cream products or undergo the TCA skin peel process as a first choice to fade the tattoo, and then undergo laser treatment. That way the laser procedure, which seems to be the best overall solution, is not as costly and extensive.