Pictures of TCA Reactions and Results

This was taken the next day when I woke up. The pinkish brown parts aren't seen so much on my camera but in real life it's darker than this. I wonder if it will still get darker as it heals.

This was taken a an hour after I did the patch test. As you can see, there are white parts on the upper right which are the remnants of the 'frost' of the TCA. This will completely disappear later on. It's a bit shiny because of the ointment.

Results and Review of TCA Patch Test

It's now the next day and the areas where I did the patch test are now pinkish brown as what the insert of the TCA peel kit stated. It also feels like a nasty sunburn and it feels a bit rough and dry to the touch. There are some parts of it that are swollen but it's manageable. I will drink another anti-inflammatory later.

So far, the TCA is working as how it should work based on the instructions given and what I've researched on the net. It burned my skin just right--just enough for it to peel a few layers of my skin. I've seen some pictures of other people's TCA peel on their tattoo and they look like really nasty burns that might even scar. I think that they didn't dilute the solution and used the full 100%-ouch! When it comes to TCA, I believe using a weaker solution like I did (around 40-45%) is the way to go. Some people are just too impatient with this process and want quick results. But they should know that a stronger solution doesn't mean the tattoo will disappear faster too. They don't realize that this acid in very potent solutions can cause 3rd degree burns (higher risk for infection) and scarring. I've read this post of a guy who did a TCA peel on his toe and had an infection. And when he went to a doctor to treat his infected burn, the doctor even considered amputating his toe if the infection wasn't controlled. Lucky for him it didn't turn out that way. So in other words, this procedure isn't a joke and should be done in the utmost care.

Another important thing to take not of too is the ratio of TCA and water put in the vial. It's easy to get carried away with the amount of water and TCA to put in the container but it's best to take note of the amount placed just to have a consistent formula for future peels. If a solution works on your tattoo then it's good to know how you came up with it instead of just relying on guesswork all the time.

The only hassle for me with this procedure is that it's placed on my foot (upper right side) and the after pain would make it uncomfortable for me to wear shoes. Though I think the friction/rubbing of my shoes on the burn wouldn't be too bad for the burn--just uncomfortable. I think it would still be okay for me to wear socks and my gym shoes and workout. But I guess no kickboxing for now.

I am also going to do a full on TCA peel a few days from now (while avoiding the patch test area). The reason why I'm not doing this now is that I have a lot of errands to do and I need the full use of my 2 feet lol. It would be such a hassle for me to walk around town while nursing a burn on my foot--the area hurts the most when the TCA is newly applied, but on the next day it doesn't so much anymore.

NOTE

I am really excited to see the results of the first peel. I believe in this process so much because I know that it works in one way or another. My basis for this was from my friend's experience with a nasty sunburn (as in from the sun) on his tattoo. The next day, some parts of his tattoo got blisters. I didn't see him again until a few months later and when I saw his tattoos again the parts where the blisters were didn't have any ink at all! Like it was never tattooed to begin with. The other areas of his tattoo became faded too. Actually, I was really hoping for that kind of results (blisters-2nd degree burn) on my patch test but considering that it's on my foot, I was glad because then it'll be impossible for me to wear shoes. If the tattoo was on my arm or any other part that wouldn't be pressed on by clothing or what not, then I'd be fine with blisters.

I'm expecting that the intial peel would fade my tattoo a bit but I'm not expecting magic to happen. Once again, the key to this is patience, patience, patience. Sigh.

Starting TCA today with a patch test...

I just received my TCA Peel Kit that I ordered from Ebay (from Yavonae) and couldn't wait to use it and get rid of this screwed up tattoo that I got 2 months ago on my foot. My reasons for removing this tattoo are purely for aesthetic reasons--the artist's workmanship was amateur and sloppy. He did a sketch on my foot first with a ballpoint pen and it looked really pretty. But the outcome from a tattoo needle made it look like scribbles of a 5-year old ugh. So now, I am hoping that this TCA peeling solution will at least fade my tattoo enough for me to put something over it since I know the skin won't go back to how it was pre-tattoo.

The instructions for using the TCA peel wasn't so detailed as I was hoping for from the package--they didn't give tattoo-specific instructions. Instead, they just gave instructions on how to use TCA in general. But anyway, here's a step by step guide on what I did:

1. Using the pipette, I measured half a pipette of 100% TCA with equal amount of purified water (this makes 50% TCA solution). But since I wasn't ready to try this strength, I added a little more water to dilute it to perhaps 40%. I have researched in some websites that it's best to try a weaker solution first to avoid severe burns and scarring. I still would rather have this tattoo than a scar definitely.

2. Next I cleaned the area with an alcohol swab they provided (although damping a cotton pad with alcohol is the same).

3. Then I dipped a cotton bud into the diluted TCA and wiped it on the area for a few moments. At first I thought I diluted the TCA too much because I didn't feel any tingling or pain, but after perhaps 30 seconds, it felt like burning hell. But don't be scared, the pain subsides rather quickly. In the instructions they tell you to fan the area to relieve the pain but I found that the cool air made the pain even worse. I let the solution stay on my skin around 20 minutes just to be sure and I noticed the TCA turning white or frosting which is supposed to be a good thing. The solution bleeds a little because even the areas I didn't wipe with the cotton bud turned white.

4. Then I rinsed the area with cool running water for a few seconds. Then wet a few cotton pads with purified water and wiped the area gently just to remove as much of the solution as possible. Then I pat the area with a dry tissue.

5. I applied Triple Antibiotic Ointment on the area (you can also use Neosporin-they have the same ingredrients.

Now a few precautions to take while doing this: always wear latex gloves or any protective gloves while handling the solution. I accidentally touched the solution with my middle finger and some parts of it went a bit numb. Stupid me. Always wash your hands after doing this just to avoid any product going to other parts of your body (eyes, etc).

I have taken photos of my tattoo pre and post peel and so far I have noticed the area with the solution to be much more faded than the other areas. The areas where the solution was also looks a bit pink (but not the pink/brown that the seller mentioned). It also feels a bit rough and numb to the touch and slightly swollen. I took an anti-inflammatory just to be sure.

I will post the photos soon and I'm crossing my fingers that this works!! Well with the pain, it better work! Can't wait for it to peel and see if the colors really have faded.

Keep you guys posted!