Have cuts, broken skin, or received a recent facial surgical procedure. Have a sunburn. Have active Herpes simplex 1 sores. Are pregnant or breastfeeding. Have taken Accutane in the last year. Have recently received chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Rinse the test patch of skin once it starts to burn.
If you did not purchase a prep solution, you can apply witch hazel or diluted rubbing alcohol to your skin using gauze.
You may want to wear safety goggles to prevent any TCA solution from dripping into your eyes. You will still have to apply petroleum jelly to your nose and mouth, however.
For example, start by applying the TCA solution to the right side of your face, then the left side, and do the forehead last. This will help prevent you from overlapping the solution. You can also apply TCA using a makeup brush, but a brush is more likely to cause dripping.
If your skin begins to frost (i. e. turn white) or sting uncomfortably, you should begin neutralizing immediately by washing the solution off with water. This is more likely to occur when using a stronger TCA of 15% or higher.
You can also make your own neutralizer by mixing 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 and a half cups (355 ml) of water.
