TCA for Ice pick scars | Dr Davin Lim

How does TCA CROSS work? TCA Cross Acne Scars TCA CROSS (stands for Trichloroacetic acid chemical reconstruction of skin scars. This procedure uses high-strength acid applied to the scar & not the surrounding skin. This prevents damage to the normal surrounding skin, resulting in much faster recovery & less side effects. Ice-pick scars treated with TCA Paint & conservative fractional CO2 laser. TCA ‘scars the scar’– namely TCA breaks down the scar & denatures collagen, stimulating new collagen to ‘fill in’ the scar. The deeper the scar, the better it works. Collagen stimulation takes at least 3-4 weeks to form, & is maximal at 3-4 months, hence why we advise at least 6-8 weeks between TCA CROSS treatments. How is this treatment performed? The traditional method of TCA CROSS is to use a toothpick to dip into a jar of TCA. The toothpick is then placed into the scar. My method 12 years ago was to use a one ml syringe to deliver drops via osmosis. This was infinitely faster. In 2019 I started using brushes, a term I call TCA Paint. I feel that my method of treatment is safer, more controlled, faster & more efficient than the traditional toothpick method. Here are some points regarding TCA for acne scars- Makeup must never be worn prior to treatment. Take it off the night before, if make up is mixed with TCA it evokes an inflammatory response & extends healing times. I clean and degrease the skin with alcohol prior to TCA I choose an appropriate concentration -50-100% TCA