Never perform a strong (30%) trichloroacetic acid (TCA) chemical peel at home; this procedure must be exclusively supervised by professionals to avoid scarring and pigmentation disorders, particularly on medium to dark skin tones.

noli's read

Dr. Youn's warning is based on very solid skin safety foundations. According to a clinical review published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, TCA at concentrations of 30% or higher penetrates deeply into the layers of the skin, which significantly increases the risk of deep chemical burns in the event of improper application. Furthermore, observational studies published in Dermatologic Surgery confirm that melanin-rich skin (phototypes 5 and 6) reacts strongly to these aggressions, with a major risk of dark spots (hyperpigmentation) or loss of skin color (hypopigmentation). In a clinical setting, practitioners prepare the skin several weeks in advance to stabilize pigment cells, a key step that is impossible to replicate safely at home. Finally, guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology (expert opinion) classify strong TCA as a strictly medical procedure to preserve the integrity of the skin barrier.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.