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Has anyone had sun damage on their shoulders removed? What did you use?
I had a bad sunburn on my shoulders several years ago, which left me with splotchy frecked skin. I was thinking of using a stonger TCA from the makupartistchoice website. A while ago I tried their 15 or 18% TCA and it doesn't affect my shoulders like the skin on my face. I think I would need something stronger like the 30%.
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The skin on your face is rich in blood supply and pilosebaceous units and heals quickly from insult. The same is not true for any other part of your body, such as your neck or shoulders. You will not be able to use very high strength acids like TCA at appreciable concentrations on your shoulders without significant risk of scarring. Unless it's highly buffered, in which case it will not be worth the money.
I suggest 20% salicylic acid (it's not in the same depth of penetration category as TCA), which you can use every six weeks or so. You can buy some for a couple of dollars at thepersonalformulator.com along with some 91% isopropyl alcohol from the drug store and have a lifetime's worth of peels for a few bucks. Apply to affected areas about once every six weeks or so, and immediately after application slather with petroleum jelly.
You could also use your rx retinoids there.
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Thanks kosmeds. I have some salicylic acid and will try that.
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kosmeds - can you please provide some details on how you apply this salicylic acid peel with the alcohol? I'd be interested in trying that as well. Thanks...
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For 20% use
20 g (2.8 tsp) salicylic acid powder
in 100 cc (20 tsp) 91% isopropyl alcohol.
Use retinoids on the area a couple of weeks before to prep but stop using at -4 days from the peel.
Wash the area, wipe down with alcohol.
Apply the solution with a cotton pad. It will hurt and frost. Leave it on 5 minutes, then wash off. Apply petrolatum or aquaphor or neosporin, changing/washing with a bland cleanser 2x day and reslathering with ointment. It will turn brown over the next few days, then start peeling off. It should take about 5 more days for the peeling to stop.
Keep applying ointment until it's fully healed. Repeat every six weeks or so until you're satisified with improvement.
If you get intimidated, stop and see a professional.
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I have gotten a scar from TCA on my face and arm which did eventually turn back to normal looking skin. Removing a sunspot with TCA has only worked for me long term when there is scarring. I've also had a dark spot peel off, but then come back because it didn't peel deep enough.
Thanks for the instructions. Did you try this on yourself?
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Yes, I went through several years of self-peeling. Lactic and salicylic are the safest, safer than glycolic even due to the larger molecule size. I've also Jessner's (resorcinol, salicylic, lactic) and TCA but those are best left to professionals. If they are buffered (pH adjusted up), they won't do much, and if they are unbuffered you can hurt yourself. Professionals can give you an even application, prophylactic antibiotics, painkillers, etc. and you can't do those things at home, nor can you get an ideal application when your face is in an upright position.
There is a limit to what a peel can do for dented scars, though, so I ultimately quit peeling. I just do taz and tretinoin now.
I've never peeled my shoulders, hands, or arms, though. Just face and neck.
Don't expect miracles with one peel, though, it might take a year of every six weeks peeling for resolution. Sometimes the damaged melanocytes are very deep.
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