To what depth of the epidermis does a full frost TCA peel reach?

A full frost TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peel is designed to penetrate the skin at a deeper level than superficial peels, impacting the papillary dermis and potentially reaching the upper reticular dermis. This depth is significant because it allows for substantial improvement in skin texture, pigmentation, and overall skin rejuvenation.

The papillary dermis consists of the uppermost portion of the dermal layer, containing blood vessels, lymphatics, and sensory neurons. By reaching this level, the TCA peel can stimulate collagen production and elicit a healing response that leads to rejuvenation of the skin over time. This level of penetration is often necessary for treating more severe skin concerns such as deeper wrinkles, sun damage, or uneven texture.

Other options do not provide the correct depth of penetration for a full frost TCA peel. The stratum corneum refers to the outermost layer of the epidermis which is not where a full frost TCA peel functions; the granular layer, while deeper than the stratum corneum, still does not account for the dermal effects that the TCA peel aims to achieve; and the deep reticular dermis indicates a much deeper penetration beyond what is typical for a TCA