TCA Chemical Peel in Colorado Springs

When applied properly by trained professionals they can very safe.  The eyes must be protected to avoid chemical injury to the ocular surface.  If there is contact, the damage is superficially limited, but could cause scarring.  To avoid pigment or scarring issues it is best to follow a pre physician-strength peel treatment regimen.  For full face chemical peels, we always prescribe antiviral medication (acyclovir, valtrex) to avoid a herpetic (shingles) outbreak in the healing skin.  Dilute vinegar washes or spray is also helpful to reduce the risk of a fungal infection developing in the shedding skin.

A pretreatment regimen guided by our aestheticians in the Springs Aesthetics medical spa provides safer and better results when more aggressive resurfacing is planned.  A pretreatment regimen may include: topical retinol/tretinoin (0.05%-0.1%), hydroquinone (2%-4%), sunscreen, and alpha hydroxyl acid (4%-10%). More superficial glycololic acid peels by the Springs Aesthetics MedSpa aestheticians can be done to safely prepare the skin for more aggressive planned peel resurfacing with improved and longer lasting results.  Pretreatment improves skin tolerance, regulates fibroblast and melanocyte function, improves dermal circulation, and reduces prolonged redness.  Pretreatment regimens can be as short as 4-6 weeks in lighter skin types up to several months in darker skin types.

Jessner peels typically for most patients are only mildly irritating (sting-like).  TCA peels, however, with their deeper penetration are more uncomfortable.  At Springs Aesthetics we care about your comfort when receiving any treatment or even surgery.  Oral sedative medication can be provided, and we have Pro-Nox nitrous oxide (laughing gas).  We also have a medical grade skin cooler (Zimmer Cooler) that is hand held and can dramatically cool and improve comfort the comfort during your peeling process.  Anesthetic nerve blocks can also be performed, but are very rarely necessary.  Following the peel, you will experience some irritation, but is not very painful.

These peels have been performed for decades to the delight of many patients.  Chemical peels were around long before laser and radiofrequency resurfacing.  They can work very well for the proper patient.  It is critical that post peel instructions are closely followed.  These peels can be very effective, but they can also cause significant and prolonged redness and rarely scarring.  Dr. Burroughs began performing these peels nearly 20 years ago.

A TCA peel can take up to 10 days to heal, but the potential redness can sometimes take a few months to fully resolve.  Shown below is a patient still healing from a TCA chemical peel. The dark brown areas are where the peel has not completed and is still wrinkled. The lighter colored areas are where the peel has completed, and the skin is smoother and has a more even, consistent skin coloration. Most often the skin is completely re-epithelialized after a TCA peel between seven to 10 days.

A Jessner peel can heal much more quickly, and sometimes as fast as a few days.  There is considerable patient variation, however so you should always ask Dr. Burroughs or one of his team members.  Longer healing takes place in more sun-damaged skin, and those who have not done a pre-treatment regimen nor had any recent peels performed.

Healing from peels, even medium depth, has greatly improved with advances in medical grade skincare.  There are several products now that help prepare the skin for the peel as well as post peel products to speed healing and aide discomfort.  Alastin Nectar prepares your skin while Soothe and Protect Recovery Balm gives the healing skin a protective barrier to keep the skin moist, which fosters safe healing.  It also has anti-inflammatory properties to keep redness less significant than in days past.

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The best peel for you is determined by you.  We will help in the decision process, and will guide you on the most suitable peel for you given your specific goals, time to heal, and other circumstances.   Springs Aesthetics offers multiple payment options, including financing through CareCredit® and Alphaeon®. Dr. Burroughs will discuss your payment options during your consultation.

If you are experiencing skin damage and uneven skin tone, you could benefit from a medical grade chemical peel. If you are unhappy with the appearance of aging concerns such as fine lines and wrinkles, you could also qualify as a candidate.

If you are looking for a revitalizing remedy to rejuvenate the look of your skin, a chemical peel could be the solution you have been searching for.

Chemical peels treat the entire area of skin exposed to the applied acid.  This can sometimes provide a more even and consistent healing.  Peels may be performed on most lighter skin types.  Patients with indwelling electronic medical devices can safely undergo a peel, but cannot with radiofrequency.  Peels, like laser and radiofrequency, can be fine-tuned to different areas of need in the face.  For example, if lip wrinkles are the biggest concern on the face then they can be treated more heavily.  Peels don’t cause any fat loss, so in more fat atrophied “gaunt” faces this is a benefit.  Morpheus radiofrequency resurfacing can target unwanted fat areas (such as the jowls) for reduction, which peels and laser cannot.  Heavier peels, like laser, take longer to heal and carry higher dyspigmentation risks.   Radiofrequency, however, can be used on all skin types as it uses specially coated needle tips that deliver the energy below the surface of the skin.

Fractionated lasers and radiofrequency leave “gap” areas that aren’t treated.  This can speed healing especially for the radiofrequency approach.  PRP is best when added to laser or radiofrequency resurfacing because of better uptake.  This can boost the results of the fractionated resurfacing methods.  Fractionated approaches can be safer than an aggressive medium depth peel, but take multiple treatments compared to a single Jessner-TCA peel treatment in a suitable candidate.  Fractionated resurfacing is believed to carry longer lasting results in many patients following an appropriate series of 3 treatments with periodic touchups once or so a year.

We will guide you on maintaining and prolonging your results.  Some critical helpful regimens include:  topical antioxidants (CE Ferulic or Phloretin CF; judicious and appropriate sun block use; medical grade moisturizer; and retinol.  You want to protect your investment in your skin.  We at Springs Aesthetics have the tools, products, and expertise to help you look your best.