To what depth within the epidermis does a full frost TCA treatment reach?

A full frost TCA (trichloroacetic acid) treatment is a type of chemical peel that significantly affects the skin's layers. The correct depth that this treatment reaches is the papillary dermis and upper reticular dermis.

When TCA is applied to the skin, it creates a controlled injury, allowing for the exfoliation and removal of the outer layers of the epidermis as well as influencing the deeper layers of the dermis. Specifically, the frost that develops during the treatment indicates a complete response at the level of the papillary dermis, which contributes to the stimulation of collagen and elastin production and ultimately results in skin rejuvenation.

The other layers mentioned, such as the stratum corneum, deep dermis, and subcutaneous tissue, are either too superficial or too deep for a full frost TCA treatment. The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis and does not reflect the depth of treatment indicated by a full frost. The deep dermis and subcutaneous tissue are layers that are generally not reached during standard TCA treatments since those depths would involve different types of procedures. Thus, the correct choice reflects the intended depth impact of a full frost TCA treatment effectively stimulating