Case series demonstrates safety of trichloroacetic acid peel

(HealthDay)—Universal trichloroacetic acid peel is safe for light and dark skin, according to research published online Jan. 12 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

Nabil Fanous, M.D., and Shadi Zari, M.D., from McGill University in Montreal, clarified a practical approach to universal trichloroacetic acid peel using data from a case series of 923 peels in 803 female and 120 male patients in an academic setting. Patients were followed for a period ranging from six months to 13 years.

The researchers found that the incidence of complications was low. Complications included persistent hyperpigmentation (54 patient, 5.9 percent), mild telangiectasia (three patients, 0.2 percent), acute herpes virus infection (two patients, 0.2 percent), bacterial Staphylococcus infection (two patients, 0.2 percent), and hypopigmentation (one patient, 0.1 percent).

"When properly applied, trichloroacetic acid peels are efficient and safe for light and dark skin," the authors write. "The technique can be an easily implementable addition to a physician's cosmetic practice."