Utah Master Esthetician Practice Exam

In which type of chemical peels does the protein in the skin coagulate and turn white?

1. Glycolic acid peels

2. Phenol peels

3. Jessner and TCA peels

4. Lactic acid peels

The correct answer is: Jessner and TCA peels

The correct answer relates to Jessner and TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peels, primarily because these chemical peels have a specific action on the skin that causes protein coagulation, resulting in a characteristic whitening effect. When Jessner's solution, which contains a mixture of organic acids, or TCA, is applied, they penetrate the upper layers of the skin and induce a significant chemical reaction. This further leads to the denaturation of proteins, causing the skin to appear white or frosted during the procedure. This whitening indicates the depth of the peel and the extent of the skin's response to the acids. It is an expected result that indicates the peel is effectively working on the skin layers, promoting exfoliation and rejuvenation. In contrast, while glycolic acid and lactic acid peels are used to exfoliate and improve skin texture, they do not typically produce this whitening effect since they are usually lighter peels and do not penetrate as deeply as Jessner or TCA peels. Phenol peels also have a strong effect but create a different reaction in the skin compared to Jessner and TCA. Thus, the specific coagulation of proteins that leads to a white appearance is distinctive to Jessner and