Acne is one of the most common skin conditions in the entire world—and unfortunately, acne scars are a common consequence of the problem. While some acne scars will fade over weeks or months as the skin heals and produces new collagen, others—like ice pick scars and boxcar scars—require help. This is where TCA Cross acne scar treatment at New Jersey’s Skin & Laser Center of NJ comes into play.
TCA Cross stands for “trichloroacetic acid chemical reconstruction of scars” and involves applying a high concentration (50 to 100 percent) of the acid to specific scars, stimulating the production of new, healthy collagen within the scar tissue. Most patients report a substantial improvement in the appearance of their scar tissue after these treatments. When performed by an experienced and qualified provider at Skin & Laser Center of NJ, TCA Cross acne scar treatment is safe, effective, and requires minimal downtime.
In late 2016 she founded the Skin & Laser Center of NJ, LLC in Mahwah, NJ where she continues to treat her medical and cosmetic patients, and further pursues her interest in laser medicine. Dr. Lieb’s mission is to provide high quality dermatologic care using up-to-date medical information and cutting edge technology in an efficiently run practice. Dr. Lieb is board certified in dermatology, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, a member of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, and the New Jersey Dermatologic Society. Dr. Lieb is a Staff Dermatologist at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.
You will be asked to arrive at your TCA Cross acne scar treatment appointment with a face free of makeup, lotions, and other products. At the start of your session, your provider will examine your skin and discuss your medical history, then clean the treatment area and begin applying small quantities of trichloroacetic acid into each scar. You may experience a slight stinging sensation, but most patients find the experience to be quite tolerable. The exact amount of time required for a single TCA Cross acne scar treatment appointment depends on the number of scars being treated, but your session should generally take less than half an hour.
After the trichloroacetic acid has been applied, the skin turns white (a reaction known as frosting) as a result of the denaturation of the skin’s proteins. This typically lasts for about half an hour. After the frosting phase is over, the treated skin will turn red, which may persist for a few weeks. A few days after your TCA Cross acne scar treatment, small scabs will develop. These typically last a few days and will fall off about a week later.
During the healing phase, your skin will likely be sensitive. Your provider will recommend an aftercare routine that includes moisturizing the scabs that result from the treatment. It’s always essential to protect your skin from direct sun exposure, but especially while your skin is vulnerable and healing following TCA Cross acne scar treatment. Avoiding tanning for two weeks prior to your treatment and several months afterward is also recommended.
Most patients require multiple treatments to achieve the best possible results from their TCA Cross acne scar treatment. The average patient requires three to four treatments scheduled six to eight weeks apart. After your TCA cross acne scar treatment, your skin may begin producing new collagen as early as four weeks. This process will continue for months after your treatment.
Skin & Laser Center of NJ in Ramsey provides a wide range of medical, surgical, and cosmetic services for patients in and around New Jersey. Patients can get diagnosis and treatment for acne, skin cancer (with Mohs surgery), chronic conditions (like psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema), moles, melasma, vitiligo, athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, scabies, contact dermatitis, and more. Cosmetic options include wrinkle-relaxing BOTOX® and Dysport®, dermal fillers like Juvederm® and Restylane®, Kybella® for reducing a double chin, chemical peels, Hydrafacial MD, microneedling, laser hair removal, laser acne treatments, laser scar treatments, laser tattoo removal, CoolSculpting®, laser vein treatments, sclerotherapy, and more.
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