Chemical Peels For Acne And Anti Aging: TCA

Percentage simply tells us how much of the entire product is actually active vs. inert (inactive). A product that is 50% TCA has been watered down (diluted) with about half of the contents being inert and half being the active acid.

pH, on the other hand, is a method of measuring the acidity or alkalinity of substances. When the skin’s proteins react with an acid of low pH, the acidic environment destroys the existing tissues, and the body’s repair system works to replace the destroyed tissue with new structures. The lower the pH, the stronger the visible peeling action.

Example:
When I dilute my 50% TCA chemical peel with distilled water, I am lowering the percentage, not the pH since water is neutral. If I mix a separate container of my 50% TCA with ammonium hydroxide (ammonia), lye, calcium carbonate, or another highly alkaline base, it will increase the pH and drastically reduce its acidity or ability to cause visible peeling, although the percentage of TCA may be the same as the one I mixed with water. These two solutions will cause completely different reactions in my skin!

Should I buy a high or low Percentage?
I personally like to buy higher percentage products because I feel like it’s a better bargain because I can dilute or buffer the product to meet different goals without having to buy several different products.

So, both percentage and pH are important, but it depends on my goals:

When buying a chemical peel, pH is very important, but so is percentage (%), but really, it depends on my goals. One rule I use above all: if a product does not state the pH level, and no one can tell me what it is, I wouldn’t buy it since I won’t know if it’s going to meet my needs.

Which pH do I buy?

If I want a medium or deep peel, which causes obvious peeling of the skin and induces collagen production more quickly, I shop for chemical peel agents with a pH level between .05 – 1.0.

If I want a lighter peel to deal with hyperpigmentation, acne, spots, or moisture retention, which will not necessarily cause detectible peeling, I shop for a higher pH level product, something I can use more often, with a pH level above 1.5 or 2.

How can I measure my Chemical Peel if pH is not Listed?

When I dilute my 50% TCA with distilled water, I am lowering the percentage, not the pH since water is neutral. If I mix my 50% TCA with ammonium hydroxide (ammonia), lye, calcium carbonate, or another highly alkaline base, it will increase the pH and drastically reduce its acidity or ability to cause visible peeling, although the percentage of TCA may be the same as the one I mixed with water.