Amin FransiscaBefore they were ever used to fade tattoos, TCA (Trichloracetic acid) peels were often used to reduce wrinkles and lessen acne scarring as well as to remove foot corns and age spots. All TCA chemical peel ingredients has been rigorously tested and have been proven safe and effective for removing tattoos.
In a study in the British Journal of Plastic Surgery from 1988 almost 700 people with tattoos were treated with a TCA treatment over a 6-year period between 1979 and 1988. The results indicated an 85% success rate. These results proved it to be a simple, inexpensive tattoo fading technique.
TCA is a liquid acid that acts to gradually fade and remove inks. It also does not contain hydroquinone – a controversial bleaching ingredient commonly included in many tattoo removal creams. TCA peeling agents are now used commonly by many dermatologists, doctors and in health spas. They are often readily available without prescription to consumers from many stores as well as online. However, sales of hydroquinone is being greatly restricted around the world. It was banned in Australia and in the 21 countries in the EU as well as in some Asian countries because of its cancer causing potential and its risk of causing other skin ailments including exogenous ochronosis (a disease that may result from long-term use of various types of topical agents).
Hydroquinone is still available in some countries (including Canada) but usually only in low concentrations such as 2% – 5%.
TCA skin peels work from the epidermal layers down to the ink through a series of skin peels that are repeated over a number of months. TCA peels are usually less painful than laser therapy and the acid often produce a slight tingling sensation when applied with a q-tip. Baking soda and water mixtures are known to relieve this discomfort. The inflammation caused by the acid, which is only applied for a few minutes per treatment, causes a controlled burn. This results in the tattoo pigments rising to the skin surface and thereby fading the inks with repeated use.
Pre-fading a tattoo with a TCA peel kit before having laser treatments can save you money. You will need fewer laser sessions to remove the unwanted ink and you will also experience less pain due to fewer laser sessions since the faded ink will absorb less heat from the laser to destroy the remaining ink. As an added bonus fewer laser sessions will keep more money in your pocket, TCA products are surprisingly affordable.
Just remember to keep in mind that just like other tattoo removal methods TCA chemical peels will take a commitment of both time and patience. After the TCA is applied, users should usually wait between 3 – 6 weeks before beginning another application.
These chemical peels are not color-dependent which is untrue for many laser systems. These acids will work equally well on all colors of ink. Many people are under the mistaken impression that one laser system must be just as good as any other and this is definitely not the case.
Your success with lasers will be heavily dependant on the quality of equipment that is available, not only the power of the system but also the variety of wavelengths that the laser device(s) can produce. You need the right ‘color’ of laser light to match the ‘color’ of your tattoo ink. People have wasted a lot of money having laser therapy done with equipment that is not at all suited to the color of ink they have. The poor results can be easily explained away as – poor quality ink, the artist put it in too deep, your body isn’t healing properly etc. There can be many excuses when it’s possibly the equipment that is at fault.
It’s really buyer beware and you should read up on what types of lasers are suited to your needs and make sure your practitioner has that type of equipment your needs require.
Generally speaking black and dark blue or dark red are the easiest to get rid of with lasers. The tough ones are: lighter red (pink), light blue, turquoise (very difficult to target), light green, white, greens and certain yellow tones. These colors can require more laser sessions unless the ink is pre-faded
