Standardizing chemical peel solution formulations to avoid mishaps. Great fluctuations in actual concentrations of trichloroacetic acid.

Author: Bridenstine JB, Dolezal JF

Author affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA 15213.

Publication date & source: 1994.12, J Dermatol Surg Oncol., 20(12):813-6.

BACKGROUND. Chemical peeling using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is a popular and long utilized procedure in dermatology and cosmetic surgery. OBJECTIVE. To determine the actual concentration of TCA in four disparate methods of preparation of solutions, expressed in the standard pharmaceutical method of weight to volume (wt/vol). METHODS. Method I was wt/vol, method II was weight to weight (wt/wt), method III was grams of TCA added to 100 cc water, and method IV was the usage of saturated TCA, and calling it 100%, then making appropriate dilutions. The amounts of TCA in each solution for methods II, III, and IV were converted, by calculation, to the wt/vol method. RESULTS. The relative concentrations of TCA, ranked by the wt/vol pharmaceutical standard, showed that from strongest to weakest: method IV > method II > method I > method III. CONCLUSIONS. Tremendous variations were found in the relative concentrations of TCA in these solutions. To avoid mishaps and complications, the wt/vol method should be used.

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