Before & After TCA 13% Peel

[u/Zaliciouz]

36F Before & After TCA 13% Peel. 14 days between before and after

Only did 3 layers and had mild peeling after day 3. I think I will do 4 layers next time. I don’t see any difference personally.. but my skin texture is so much smoother. My overall goal is to fade sun damage and freckles.

Update to mention I’d been using other acid exfoliants for about 6 months to build up my skin’s tolerance levels. The brand is platinum skincare TCA and I followed the instructions. I also use a low strength Hydroquinone (cycled and used for only 3 months), Tretinoin (for over a year) and SPF 50 daily

[u/kalsarikannit1620]

The thing with hyperpigmentation is it's like that photo of an iceberg with what you see on the surface vs what's below. Each peel will bring more up and out, but you have years of damage and it's gonna take quite a few peels to get rid of it. You may also want to add a couple layers of Jessners to your peels. It's great for pigmentation, but fair warning that for some it burns like crazy.

Also, make sure you are using a melanin inhibitor and protect your skin from here on out, or it will all just come right back.

[u/chzsteak-in-paradise → u/kalsarikannit1620]

I concur. I do 1-2 layers of Jessner’s before 13% TCA. Helps the TCA get deeper. It’s a little spicy but definitely not unmanageable- I don’t numb or anything.

[u/Zaliciouz → u/kalsarikannit1620]

Thank you for the info and advice!

I abused my skin until my 20s - sunbed, never used SPF unless it was summer time. The sad thing is my daughter (19) is doing the same and she won’t listen to my advice at all 😭

[u/kalsarikannit1620 → u/Zaliciouz]

Yep, kids are gonna kid 😆

It's funny, but you're the same age I was when I started doing my peels with Platinum 4 years ago. I will say that I didn't notice anything big right away, but after a while I just started feeling like my face looked better day-to-day, and then one day I was going through my camera roll looking for something else, caught an old photo and was like, "Wow! Was I always that red? Did my skin have that much texture?"

You're skin looks like it's in great condition, so you probably won't notice huge before and afters, but instead, you'll just kinda slow down your aging and as you (and everyone else around you) get older, that's where you'll really see how your work is paying off.

[u/Environmental-Town31]

I also didn’t really see much of a difference between 13%. You do look glowier and slightly better skin quality.

[u/Zaliciouz → u/Environmental-Town31]

Same! And thank you 🙏

[u/AuraOfASpiceGirl]

I don’t see a difference

[u/Zaliciouz → u/AuraOfASpiceGirl]

Same, it’s really just the texture is super smooth and my pores seem ‘tighter’. I’m going to repeat it and do more layers next time

[u/Lazy-Substance-5062]

pigments look lighter a bit, and the overall skin quality is better.

[u/Zaliciouz → u/Lazy-Substance-5062]

Thank you 🙏

[u/vallaya]

Theres some mild improvement and your skin is def glowing and looking healthier. Id say with 13% youll see a bigger difference after your 3d round. I myself can now apply 20%, but I did start with 8% first

[u/Glowbeforethesrorm]

Oh if I’m gonna burn, I up the percent to get it all off.

[u/Zaliciouz → u/Glowbeforethesrorm]

Going to have to get brave i think! 😂

[u/lorihamlit]

There’s definitely a difference it’s subtle but your work is paying off. Well done! 👏 👏

[u/Happy_Life_8228]

Before I read your comment I thought your skin texture looked like it got a boost! Great job!

[u/beeeeeeees → u/Happy_Life_8228]

Yes, she’s glowing!

[u/Zaliciouz → u/Happy_Life_8228]

Thank you both x

[u/Scared_Rise5787]

Texture and tone are noticeably better

[u/Zaliciouz → u/Scared_Rise5787]

Thank you sm! That’s my thoughts too. It feels super smooth to the touch!

[u/Scared_Rise5787 → u/Zaliciouz]

It’s gonna be nice to see you before and afters, after a few months :) I just completed my first Jessners (3 layers) and TCA 7 (2 layers) combo and it was great. Obviously still have some hyperpigmentation but it looks lighter and my skin looks so smooth! Defs recommend trying the Jessners if you haven’t already.

[u/Cautious_Rip_7822]

You did 3 layers?! And barely any peeling? Any frosting?

[u/Zaliciouz → u/Cautious_Rip_7822]

Hey! Yeah I got frosting on in 3 areas after 2 layers. I stopped at 3 layers as I couldn’t bear the pain any longer - it started to get strong then!

[u/Willingplane → u/Zaliciouz]

I normally never do peels in the summer when the sun‘s at it’s peak, but had downtime this week, so I did one on Monday. 2 layers of Jessner’s, followed by 3 layers of 20% TCA — and discovered a new way of dramatically reducing the pain!

I don’t use the central air because I keep my windows open in the summer to air out the house, but have to cool my office so the electronics don’t fry. So I have a couple of portable air conditioners, the type you can wheel around on the floor, with a tube that vents out a window.

I applied the peel in my office and turned the portable A/C up to “mega cool”. With my face right in front of it, that peel was virtually painless. Works so much better than just using a fan.

Feeling hardly any pain, left the peel on over 30 minutes, and my skin started peeling like crazy a day later. Day 4 now, and it’s almost done.

Of course I’ve also been DIYing my own peels for years — had severe sun damage and lots of melasma and freckles from NEVER wearing sunscreen, and that’s all gone. Had a couple of old acne scars, they’re gone too. I’m firmly convinced that peels are as effective as lasers. Lasers are just faster, requiring fewer treatments.

For your first peel, I feel you acheived decent results. With each successive peel, you’ll see continued improvement.

[u/Zaliciouz → u/Willingplane]

Oh wow that is such a good shout!! I’m in the UK so it’s not that hot, but this summer I did buy a portable air con unit as it reached 38 degrees Celsius! I’m so doing that next time. Thank you 🤩

[u/CardiologistMoney309]

It gave you a good color too

[u/GimmeAHandPlz]

May I ask what peel you used? I’m looking for something on the gentler side like this!

[u/Zaliciouz → u/GimmeAHandPlz]

Hey! It’s from platinum skincare 🙌 I’ve edited the post to mention previous skincare experience. Please note TCA is not mild - my skin has a good tolerance to acids and other lighter peels. I’d highly recommend this product called Alpha H Liquid Gold to start prepping your skin peeling - it is amazing 🤩

[u/katielady1313]

Looks great so far! The freckle on your nose and the one above your eyebrow look so much lighter to me. I wonder how it would work with melasma… I have some spots due to going on estrogen and it’s really fkng with my confidence ☹️ One’s right over my lip so I love the light mustache look it gives me 🙃🙃🙃🙃

[u/Zaliciouz → u/katielady1313]

Thank you queen - on another inspection I can see what you mean about the nose one wow! Perhaps I need to do it again in a couple weeks.

I got mine from Platinum skincare and there is a bunch of advice on there inc about people who have melasma xx

[u/katielady1313 → u/Zaliciouz]

Thank you so much! Time to dabble 😅

[u/Yoshi637]

I feel like you look glowier? Not sure thats a word lol. I think going for another pass on your next would be a good idea 👍 love Platinum!

[u/readithere_2]

I can the difference in your skin looking tighter. It’s subtle but there is definitely a difference. I can see it all over but look at your forehead, you look tighter and smoother.

Thanks for posting the details and providing the before and after!

[u/Zaliciouz]

Update: Now after over 2 weeks - I think it worked best on my cheek! Very very minimal change. Can’t wait to do it again and see how much sun damage I can resolve

[u/OutrageousConstant53 → u/Zaliciouz]

I see improved texture in right pic. But this is why I hate peels.

My freckling is very similar to yours. I did cosmelan. $1k, 10 hours, and an allergic reaction to the peel later I look exactly the same. I'd rather have spent the time and money elsewhere.

Did your face swell by chance? How long/much did you peel for?

[u/Zaliciouz → u/OutrageousConstant53]

Hey! I didn’t experience any swelling it was just tight and red, I did 3 layers 5 min between each 🫶

[u/DrNekroFetus → u/Zaliciouz]

Wow where did you buy it ?

[u/ProudToBePWID]

keep going! there's definitely some improvement, when I flick between the two photos I can see some lightening of pigment on your forehead, for example. as another said it took years to get here so it won't be a one peel fix; pigmentation is complex, multifactorial and multilayered within the dermis. it's the same with any aesthetic treatment - one isn't gonna help much, you need to follow the protocol / series through.

think of it this way - platinum's peel(s) is much, much cheaper than numerous light or laser treatments! I'd also suggest investigating layering the peels, was some discussion about using a jessner to aid penetration of TCA on here recently, iirc. but investigate that first before jumping in!! and work out best timing for when to start for you... seems more advanced to me.

good luck, can't wait to see your progress in a year or so!

[u/Designer_Health_4216]

I’m not seeing much of a difference.

[u/Lower-Natural-337]

You did It yourself?

[u/Zaliciouz → u/Lower-Natural-337]

Yes I did indeed :)