TCA CROSS

Trichloroacetic (TCA) acid is a substance which causes a focused area of injury like a chemical burn when applied to the surface of the skin. TCA CROSS stands for TCA Chemical Reconstruction of Skin Scars. This involves the precise application of small amounts of TCA to the base of atrophic (depressed) acne scars. This triggers the wound healing response which can lead to the depressed scar becoming less dipped and becoming less noticeable.

TCA CROSS is used for atrophic acne scars such as boxcar and rolling scars. In most cases more than one treatment is required.

Multiple areas can be treated in a single session. Following treatment the area will be red and sore with scabbing for 1-2 weeks. You should apply Vaseline regularly until the treated areas have healed. Redness will last for a few weeks after this before final healing occurs but rarely may persist.

This can be an effective treatment, however it does have some risks: There may be widening of the scar following treatment or loss of pigmentation which can be permanent and is very difficult to treat. Other risks include persistent redness, increased pigmentation (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) and decreased pigmentation (hypopigmentation). Pigmentary change is more of a concern in those with darker skin types.

Because the healing response is unpredictable, it is always advised to attend for a test session where one or a small number of sites are treated first to assess for complications.

Please read the following consent form, which contains a full list of potential risks, carefully before attending for the procedure:

TCA CROSS Consent Form