Using TCA for Getting Rid of an Unwanted Tattoo

What is TCA?
Trichloroacetic Acid, also called TCA, is traditionally used as a skin peeling agent for the treatment of sun damanage, wrinkles, lines, and acne scars to the face. This is its most common usage and is sold over the counter for such treatment.

However, it is also effective as an aid to fade or altogether remove tattoos. In fact, researchers claim this has been proven in the lab under two medical tests.

It can be purchased over the internet without a prescription, and applied privately at home without going to any office or seeing a doctor.

How does TCA work to remove a tattoo?
TCA removes a tattoo by applying a method of controlled inflammation on the surface of the skin above the tattoo, using a q-tip to the apply the water-like gel. This inflammation causes a reaction in the skin in which the ink from the tattoo is broken up and surfaces to the top of the skin. Repeatedly applying this technique will cause the tattoo to fade or completely disappear over time.

TCA should at be applied once every 6 weeks. Two weeks its initial application, the treated skin should start peeling, and then from this point it will take aboout a week for the dead skin to peel off completely. At this point, it is recommended to wait another 3 weeks and then start all over again, repeating the process, which is known as a “skin peel”. After repeated skin peels, the tattoo should be either significantly faded or removed altogether.

Does it hurt?
Users reports a mild sting associated with this method. However, this is very mild compared to other tattoo removal methods such as laser treatment.

How much does TCA treatment cost?
Cost varies between different companies making TCA for tattoo removal.

Nuviderm is such company, whose treatments start around $40 per bottle.

Please note that TCA manufacturers claim that this product is not a tattoo removal cream, noting that the substance itself has more of a water like consistency, and works with a different methodology than creams.

However, anyone wanting to get rid of their tattoo and is considering using a tattoo removal cream would likely be very interested in TCA as well, no matter if you call it a gel, lotion, or a tattoo removal cream!