Further to my post earlier in the month about getting older and looking for products and treatments to slow down the aging process my next step after Retinol products is to try a glycolic face peel.
I decided to go for my glycolic face peel with Sk:n clinics as I have only ever had positive experiences with the company and have used them for laser hair removal and botox previously, so I felt that they were the best people to go to. I go to the London Wall branch of Sk:n clinics which is right near Holborn tube station and a short walk from my office.
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| After a previous Sk:n appointment |
First of all you book a consultation, as they do not do a new treatment on you without talking to you and assessing what your requirements and needs are and that the treatment is safe for you to have and will likely give results. I like that they do not just book people in for treatments without having their history, looking at their skin and having a chat with you to see your expectations and that they have great aftercare support Other companies do this and I just find it very money orientated and not so much client focused. I have always felt that I have been treated well at Sk:n.
You fill in a health form prior to your consultation if it is your first time or if you have been there before they go through everything in your file with you and check that nothing has changed, and then they get you to sign off a form, to confirm that what information you have provided is definitely correct and from you.
First you start with having a visual assessment, then they look at your skin through a scanner/Visia machine, which shows them any sun damage, pigmentation, areas of dry skin or dehydration, blemishes and similar issues. You will then be advised, after your assessment, how many peels you are recommended and what break in between them, for example 4 peels with a week’s break in between each treatment to let your skin renew. As a glycolic peel is much gentler than other harsher peels you can have a series of these treatments with one or two weeks break in between as there is not downtime like with a harsh peel where your face might be very red.
At your consultation you are also told more about the peel, they explain that Glycolic acid is the smallest naturally occuring Alpha Hydroxy Acid which means it can penetrate into the skin more effectively, it helps to lift the top layer of dead skin cells away to remove the fresher skin underneath, it helps to smooth the skin so fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes look much better. They advise that the treatment takes roughly 15 minutes and shouldn’t hurt, just mildly tingle. You need to wear SPF after having a peel as your skin will be more sensitive to the sun than usual. A SPF50 with a good UVA/UVB cover is a good bet.
After the peel you can easily go on to work or out, as it is not really noticeable. During the next few days you will notice a slight peeling of the skin but you can apply makeup to cover any redness if there is any. If there is redness it will quickly fade. A month after your final peel you should really see the overall results, with each peel your skin will get progressively clearer and more vibrant looking.
I am looking forward to my peel and will post more next month once I have had one and update you on my treatment journey, you can check out more about the clinic and how the consultation process works here Sk:n Clinics Treatment Journey