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TCA CROSS
Best TCA Cross Treatment in Islamabad
TCA CROSS is the chemical reconstruction of skin scars (CROSS) using trichloroacetic acid (TCA). It is most often used as an outpatient clinic procedure to treat atrophic acne scars. It’s inexpensive, safe and efficient, but is not always effective.
Acne is a common inflammatory skin condition and may result in atrophic, hypertrophic or keloid scars. Acne scars can cause significant psychological distress and social impact.
What are the indications for TCA CROSS?
The decision to perform TCA CROSS depends on:
The type and severity of acne scarring
Patient preference and expectations
Clinician experience and expectations.
TCA CROSS is useful in the following types of atrophic scar:
- Boxcar acne scars
- Rolling acne scars
- Ice-pick acne scars
How does TCA Cross work?
TCA CROSS is technically straightforward to perform and can be undertaken in a matter of minutes, depending on the number of scars to be treated. It is generally repeated on several occasions at 2 to 4-week intervals.
- The patient should be in a comfortable semi-recumbent position and remain still during the procedure.
- The skin is cleansed with chlorhexidine/saline-soaked gauze.
- A fine blunt end-point instrument (such as a tooth-pick) is dipped into
- TCA and the excess is removed.
- TCA is focally applied to the base of the atrophic scar.
- The instrument is removed at the start of frosting of the skin surface (usually within 10 seconds).
- The procedure is repeated for appropriate remaining scars.
Great care should be taken to avoid sensitive surfaces.
How does TCA Cross work?
TCA CROSS is technically straightforward to perform and can be undertaken in a matter of minutes, depending on the number of scars to be treated. It is generally repeated on several occasions at 2 to 4-week intervals.
- The patient should be in a comfortable semi-recumbent position and remain still during the procedure.
- The skin is cleansed with chlorhexidine/saline-soaked gauze.
- A fine blunt end-point instrument (such as a tooth-pick) is dipped into
- TCA and the excess is removed.
- TCA is focally applied to the base of the atrophic scar.
- The instrument is removed at the start of frosting of the skin surface (usually within 10 seconds).
- The procedure is repeated for appropriate remaining scars.
Great care should be taken to avoid sensitive surfaces.
What Are The Risks Of TCA Cross?
As with any medical treatment, there are some risks of treatment as well:
- Redness can persist for several months
- Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation can occur. This is when there is a darkening to the skin that has been treated
- Rarely post inflammatory can rarely occur This is when there is a lightening to the skin which has been treated.
- Scars can widen
- Scars can look worse
- There may be no results or very minimal results
- Infections can occur
What Are The Risks Of TCA Cross?
As with any medical treatment, there are some risks of treatment as well:
- Redness can persist for several months
- Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation can occur. This is when there is a darkening to the skin that has been treated
- Rarely post inflammatory can rarely occur This is when there is a lightening to the skin which has been treated.
- Scars can widen
- Scars can look worse
- There may be no results or very minimal results
- Infections can occur
Why TCA CROSS?
Efficienct Treatment
TCA Cross is a very successful treatment for the right type of acne scars. About 75% of patients receiving this form treatment feel their results are good or excellent.
All Skin Types ! Treated
TCA Cross has been found to be safe in published reports from Brazil, Egypt, Korea and India.
Safe & Effective
Research also supports TCA Cross as being both safe and effective for acne scars.Complications were not reported.
TCA With Other Treatments
TCA Cross may be combined with other skin care treatments which can include subcision, Tixel, surgical excision of scars and laser resurfacing.
TCA CROSS VIDEOS
TCA CROSS TREATMENT
FAQs
Important points on TCA CROSS
- This stands for TriChloroacetic acid Chemical reconstitution of Skin Scars
- This procedure was invented by a Korean Dermatologist over a decade ago and remains the Gold Standard for the treatment of deep ice pick acne scars in all skin types
- TCA CROSS only treats the area of scarring and not the surrounding skin
- This procedure can also treat deep open pores, shallow prominent pores as well as narrow box car acne scarring
- I vary the concentration depending on the scar type and skin type
- Up to 100% TCA is used for deep ice pick acne scars
- Recovery following TCA is between 5-6 days
- A special healing balm/antibiotic balm applied 5 times a day for 5 days speeds up recovery
- Following treatment, the treated acne scars will be red for several weeks
- Depending on your skin type, 2-4 sessions are needed for optimal outcomes
- TCA CROSS can be combined with lasers and fillers in the same session
What Is The Basis Behind TCA Cross?
Is it painful?
No. Treatment is more uncomfortable than painful as each droplet ‘feels like a tiny ant bites’. All patients tolerate this procedure very well with out the need for any local numbing cream
Is it painful?
No. Treatment is more uncomfortable than painful as each droplet ‘feels like a tiny ant bites’. All patients tolerate this procedure very well with out the need for any local numbing cream
What is the difference between TCA CROSS and a TCA chemical peel?
TCA CROSS only treats the area of scarring, hence the healing up time is only 5-6 days at most. TCA chemical peel uses a lower concentration of TCA – usually 30-35% and treats the whole face.
TCA peels are great for improving skin texture and skin tone, and will treat age spots, brown discolouration, sun spots, actinic keratosis, and wrinkles. It is not specific for deep scars as the concentration is too low. Healing times from a TCA peel is between 7-10 days. I still perform 5-6 full face TCA peels per year, but this procedure has been superseded by high density Fraxel Laser. TCA low concentration (8% to 10%) is excellent for treating skin pigmentation and fine wrinkles.
