CLINICAL EVALUATION OF TRICHLOROACETIC ACID (TCA) PEEL IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ACNE VULGARIS AND MELASMA

Abstract

Background: The dermatological conditions that impact the patients quality of life and mental well-being include acne vulgaris and melasma. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and other chemical peels have been popular in dermatology as therapeutic agents in the treatment of skin texture and pigmentation disorders.

Objective: To clinically assess the effectiveness of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel in curing acne vulgaris and melasma, as well as compare the treatment results in these conditions.

Methodology: Clinical cross-sectional study was done in the patients presenting themselves with acne vulgaris and melasma. The participants were classified by their gender, diagnosis, the length of the disease and baseline severity. TCA peel was used in line with the usual dermatological guidelines. The SPSS was used to code and analyze the data. Measures of treatment response were evaluated in the terms of baseline severity versus post-treatment severity, statistical analysis was carried out in order to find out associations, effectiveness.

Results: The researchers proved that acne vulgaris and melasma were significantly reduced after the use of TCA peel. A greater and more stable decrease in pigmentation was however noted among the patients with melasma than in the changes experienced in acne lesions. Conversely, the responses of the patients of acne vulgaris were more diverse. TCA peel was found to be more effective in the management of melasma with the support of statistical analysis.

Conclusion: TCA peel is a good treatment modal used in the treatment of acne vulgaris, as well as melasma, although its clinical efficacy is better on the treatment of melasma. TCA peel is arguably a treatment of choice in pigmentation disorders (melasma), and is an ancillary treatment in the management of acne.