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!