Peels can range from light freshening "Beauty Flashes" that enhance the colour, texture, and smoothness of your complexion, to intermediate and deeper chemical peels designed to remove deeper problems including stubborn pigmentation, acne scarring, and deeper sun and age damage.

Please note that as well as the face all peels can be carried out on any part of the body including the neck, chest, back, shoulders, arms and legs. Some of the common problems here are dry scaly wrinkling on the arms and legs, sunspots on the backs of hands and forearms, acne on the back and shoulders, and sun damaged leathery skin across the chest.

Various types of peeling agents are used to cater to all types of problems and skin types including very dark skins. Some of these agents include highgrade glycolic ("fruit acid" or "AHA"), TCA (Trichloracetic Acid), Jessner's peels,and complex medical grade peels.

All peels are non-toxic and have additional beneficial effects on the skin including improved blood circulation and lymph drainage, increased production of new and stronger collagen and elastin fibres to tighten and firm the skin, and an increase in new and healthier cell production to replace the older and damaged skin cells being removed, making the skin brighter and clearer.

The result is an obvious improvement in your appearance which will give a healthier and revitalized look.

The programmes are also very effective in treating active acne as well as reducing chronic acne scarring. It forms an integral part of any acne treatment programme to bring about rapid control in most cases and to minimize long term complications such as scarring.

At this clinic all peels are carried out by the doctor who is best able to monitor your requirements and supervise your treatment progress.

A medical consultation is first carried out to detect any skin or medical conditions that may influence the safe use of the programme, and you will discuss with the doctor any specific concerns or needs you may have so that your programme is tailored to consider these and other factors such as your age, skin type and degree of damage.

We start with a one or two week home treatment course of daily applications of products to prepare your skin before the application of the peeling agents for a more even and predictable effect.

For deeper problems such as advanced sun damage, scarring, and pigmentation problems a stronger and deeper peeling process will be required. We call these "chemical peels" which are different to the glycolic peels mentioned above.

Here, the process used is the application of a range of stronger products including TCA (Trichloracetic Acid), a mixture called a Jessner's solution, or a complex of medical peeling agents, directly to the skin which causes the skin to react resulting in significant peeling and shedding of deeper layers. The depth of the peel will depend upon the strength of the solution and number of layers applied as well as the method of its application (rubbing or massaging it onto the skin will make it penetrate deeper than simply brushing it on).

With application of a TCA Peel, the deepest of the peels, there is immediate frosting and a burning sensation which is eased by the use of a hand held fan. Over the next 15 minutes this eases and the skin feels 'tight.'

Over the next day or two the skin becomes crinkly and darker and on the third day it starts to lift. Peeling is complete by the end of the sixth day and reveals a clear, fresh, pink skin beneath, the pigmentation and other defects having lifted off.

After these deeper chemical peels, special creams are applied regularly to the face throughout the peeling period to keep it comfortable, encourage smoother peeling and protect the emerging clear skin beneath. If your work requires contact with other people you may prefer to take 5 days off work until peeling is complete (many patients prefer to carry out the peel just before the weekend to reduce their time off work). Usually, only a single treatment is required but occasionally a repeat treatment may be necessary to remove stubborn or deeper problems.

Jessner Peels and complex medical peels may be adjusted to produce less deep peeling, and do not require time off work.