TCA Tattoo Removal Tips

Trichloroacetic Acid, or TCA, is a common agent used to remove tattoos at home. TCA works in a similar manner to chemical facial peels. A diluted acid is applied to the area of the skin that has the tattoo, and the top layer of skin is essentially burned away, along with the ink that it holds. Because you are applying acid directly to the skin, it's a good idea to keep a few tips in mind when using TCA on your tattoos.

Use as a Pre-Treatment

• TCA can completely remove a tattoo in some situations, but in most cases it is intended to be used as a pre-treatment for traditional laser tattoo removal. Using TCA in advance will fade even the deepest tattoos, which means you will require fewer laser treatments for complete removal. This saves on time, money and the pain of being burned with a laser, since you will not have to do the treatment as many times.

Test for Reaction

• Before applying TCA directly to the tattoo, use a cotton swab to apply a small amount to an obscure place on your body. Swabbing an area about the size of a dime is more than sufficient. You may notice that the skin begins to "frost up" in the area where the TCA has been applied. This is normal. If swelling occurs or intense pain is present, you may be experiencing a negative reaction. Wash the area thoroughly and discontinue use of the product.

Bad Tattoos

• TCA works better on bad tattoos than on good ones. A professional tattoo artist, using professional equipment, will typically apply the ink to a deep layer of dermis. The deeper, darker ink of a professional tattoo is usually more difficult to remove than amateur tattoos. This makes homemade tattoos an ideal candidate for removal with TCA. It should also be noted that bright colors are more easily removed by TCA. Colorful ink usually fades away completely with the product, but darker ink colors, such as black, are more difficult and will require several applications.

Hypopigmentation

• People with light skin tones will produce the best results when using TCA. Although the product works just as efficiently on all types of skin, those with darker skin will experience hypopigmentation where the product is used. What this means is that the skin that has been treated with TCA will have a noticeably different pigment than the rest of the skin. A dark-skinned individual who uses TCA to remove a tattoo will have a patch of light skin where the product was used. Some people consider this less desirable than having the tattoo.