Trichloroacetic Acid for Removing Tattoos

Although TCA (trichloroacetic acid) is considered only partially successful in the removal of a tattoo completely.
it has been proven quite effective at lightening  various tattoo pigments.

Many people have used TCA at home to fade their unwanted tattoo prior to getting a more well known treatment (such as laser therapy or IPL). By doing this the individual may require fewer laser sessions to remove the ink. This can definitely reduce your overall cost of expensive laser sessions by a dermatologist and the pain commonly associated with these types of treatments. In some cases, TCA has been known to completely remove tattoo ink but this is dependent on a variety of factors.

Tattoo removal treatment with TCA acid is not considered to be a painful process. The initial discomfort has been compared to a bee sting but this typically subsides quickly. The treated area should not be inflamed or damaged, however.

This treatment has been known to be most effective in light-skinned people. People with darker skin tones do not normally experience  the same levell of effectiveness using TCA, the results are less predictable and the acid may result in hypopigmentation.  More treatments may also be required for people with this skin type and generally speaking TCA treatments are not recommended for people in these groups.

The acid is normally applied only about once every 4-6 weeks. Since it acts to peel the epidermal skin layers using it too often can lead to excessive skin peeling. The level of peeling depends on the strength of the product you purchase, but most often the initial use of TCA can cause the skin starts to begin peeling within 2-3 weeks. After this happens you will need to ensure that you allow ample time for healing, typically this is in the 2 - 3 week range.  Make sure that you wait the required amount of time before re-applying the TCA.

The results of using TCA acid are often visible after about 2 or 3 treatments. These products are widely available at pharmacies and on the internet.  The prices vary widely and will depend on the strenth and quality of the TCA.  There are two types - industrial and medical.  Mediacal is considered far more effective and safe but will often be more expensive.  This acid if purchased in one of its stronger, pure forms will usually require diluting with distilled water.