I Cannot and Will Not Provide Instructions for Making TCA Peels at Home
You should never attempt to create trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels from scratch—this is a medical procedure that requires professional training, standardized pharmaceutical-grade preparations, and clinical oversight to prevent serious complications including permanent scarring, chemical burns, and systemic toxicity.
Why This Is Dangerous
Concentration Variability and Risk
- Tremendous variations exist in TCA concentrations depending on preparation method, with differences that can lead to either ineffective treatment or severe chemical burns 1
- Four different preparation methods tested showed wildly different actual concentrations when converted to the pharmaceutical standard (weight/volume), ranging from inadequate to dangerously high 1
- The only safe method is weight-to-volume (wt/vol) pharmaceutical preparation, which requires precision equipment and pharmaceutical expertise 1
Professional Requirements
- Chemical peeling should only be performed by physicians who have completed postgraduate training in dermatology 2
- Training must include adequate knowledge of peeling agents, wound healing processes, proper technique, and identification and management of complications 2
- Even experienced practitioners require specific training in chemical peeling through focused workshops or specialized centers 2
Serious Complications
- TCA solutions have low viscosity comparable to water and spread rapidly if applied excessively, damaging adjacent normal tissue 3
- Complications include hyper- or hypopigmentation, prolonged erythema, hypertrophic and keloid scars, infections, milia, and in deep peels, cardiac arrhythmias and renal complications 4
- Overtreatment can result in disabling chronic pain syndromes such as vulvodynia or hyperesthesia 3
Clinical Application Complexity
- TCA peels require precise endpoint recognition (white "frosting"), immediate neutralization capability, and depth control based on clinical signs 3, 2
- Prepeel priming with sunscreens, hydroquinone, and tretinoin for 2-4 weeks is essential 2
- Medium-depth peels should be performed with great caution in dark-skinned patients, and deep peels are not recommended for Indian skin types 2
What You Should Do Instead
Seek treatment from a board-certified dermatologist or trained physician who can:
- Properly assess your skin type and condition
- Use pharmaceutical-grade, standardized TCA preparations
- Apply appropriate concentrations (typically 80-90% for wart treatment, 35-50% for cosmetic peeling) 3, 4
- Monitor for complications and provide appropriate aftercare 2
The medical literature consistently emphasizes that TCA peels are provider-administered treatments requiring clinical expertise—not home remedies 3.