The effectiveness of using TCA Trichloroacetic acid as a method of tattoo removal.
What Is TCA?
Trichloroacetic acid, or simply TCA, refers to a skin peeling chemical in reducing and removing acne scars and wrinkles and other skin condition. TCA also aids in removing tattoos. Nevertheless, its effectiveness in removing such is not yet established. It is the goal of this article to discuss what makes TCA a very effective tattoo removal method.
TCA is continuously tested in laboratories to determine how it can help in further fading and removing the tattoo entirely though it was already proven that it can do such. However, not all people are convinced of this. What these people did not know is that even before the introduction of laser tattoo removal treatments, tattoos were actually removed using chemicals. TCA is just one among the chemical agents that dermatologists used. The increasing popularity of TCA removal is because of the costliness of laser removal method hence TCA is an alternative.
Combining TCA and Laser Tattoo Removal
If you are wondering if it can be used along with laser treatments, the answer is yes. After a laser treatment or two, you can eventually resort to using TCA in fading your tattoo, saving you from the cost of the laser treatment. Definitely, if TCA is able to completely get rid of the tattoo then there would be no need for a laser treatment. Evidently, TCA can be administered either pre- or post-laser treatment. However, this will depend on the size of the tattoo. Small tattoos, further, can be removed in a few months. You may have to do large tattoos in parts though.
Effectiveness of TCA Tattoo Removal
The effectiveness of TCA is due to the promotion of turnover of the skin cells, causing peeling of the skin where TCA is placed. The tattooed area is slowly covered by new skin cells when they form. This is why tattoos are lightened and entirely removed in the process.
Further, one of the most common concerns of the people is whether TCA is painful or not. The application of TCA is not a painful method though minor skin irritation may be experienced especially during the first few days of application. This is a normal skin reaction though and should go away eventually. Since it is chemical, you will definitely experience pain if you will apply TCA on inflamed or wounded skin. You may take pain medications before you apply TCA on the tattooed area.
