Variations and Comparisons in Medium-depth Chemical Peeling

Two effective methods in chemical peeling, solid carbon dioxide plus trichloroacetic acid and Jessner's solution plus trichloroacetic acid, were compared clinically with photographs and histologically with serial biopsies. Carbon dioxide produced a deeper wound than Jessner's solution, and CO2 + TCA was slightly deeper than Jessner's + TCA but was probably not significantly deeper from a clinical standpoint except in correcting scarring. Triple consecutive applications of TCA can substantially increase wound depth with both combination peels.