Realistic Goals are Important When Treating Acne Scars
Sometimes acne can leave unpleasant scars that may bother you socially and affect your self-confidence and quality of life significantly. The scars cannot be fully removed, but they can often be clearly faded to be less of a bother.
When treating acne scars, realism is important: the scars reducing by 50-70% in size is an excellent result. Achieving this usually requires multiple rounds of treatment and combination treatment.
What is TCA CROSS?
Chemical Reconstruction of Skin Scars is a technique used to treat acne scars. In TCA CROSS, strong trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is applied over small, sharp (under 1,5 mm sized) depressed scars to smooth them and increase collagen production.
In the treatment, the doctor attentively applies trichloroacetic acid over an area of depressed scars using a small applicator. Slight stinging can be felt during the treatment.
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TCA CROSS Treatment
The skin should not be tanned at the time of the treatment, and the skin should also be well protected from the sun after the treatment.
After the treatment, small pinpoint scabbing may appear in the treated area, followed by redness that may last for a few weeks.
The treatment is often combined with acne scar laser treatment, and it can be performed during the same treatment session, just before lasering the skin.
The final result of the treatment can only be seen 3 to 6 months after the treatment.
TCA CROSS – Risks of the Treatment
TCA CROSS is generally a safe treatment, and the risk of scarring related to the treatment is low.
Possible rare side effects may include infection in the treated area, prolonged redness, or hyperpigmentation in the treated area. These side effects can be treated or will resolve over time.
The treatment is not recommended during pregnancy.
The treatment is not suitable for dark skin.
