TCA CROSS: Effective Treatment for Acne Scarring in Ralei, North Carolina*

Acne scarring occurs as the outcome of severe acne including cystic acne. Icepick scars, boxcar scars and rolling scars are terms used to describe the different forms of deformities that occur. Treatment is usually with multimodality therapy and can include surgical excision, sub-excision, microneedling,, dermabrasion, soft tissue fillers and chemical peels. TCA CROSS is a useful technique that is noninvasive and fairly easily performed. TCA cross stands for TriChlorAcetic Acid Chemical Reconstruction of Skin Scars. It utilizes high concentration of TCA applied directly into the scar which helps to remodel the skin and improve collagen content. Because of risk of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, patients are often prescribed a hydroquinone to reduce risk. Treatments are usually performed monthly for about 2 or 3 treatments to become effective and provide moderate improvement in most cases. This procedure helps atrophic acne scars and is usually not the first line therapy but often used after other techniques have been performed. This 34-year-old woman had suffered from severe acne as a teenager and underwent 2 sessions of TCA Cross spaced apart by several months. She also had Vi peels performed afterwards which is an effective light chemical peel. She had nice improvement with a smoother surface of her cheeks after treatment.