Aesthetic dermatology · London
Chemical peels in London, the honest way.
Superficial glycolic, lactic, mandelic and salicylic. Medium Jessner and TCA. Consultant-led, Fitzpatrick-aware, and matched to your skin, your downtime and your realistic expectations.
Why patients choose us
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A named aesthetic doctor, not a rota
You see a consultant dermatologist or an experienced aesthetic doctor, on a proper skin plan, not a generic peel booked by an assistant.
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The right depth for your skin
Superficial, medium or referred laser. We match the peel to your Fitzpatrick type, your pigmentation risk and your realistic downtime.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private chemical peel costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our vetted London clinics. Send a photo and we come back with two or three matched options.
| Treatment | Indicative range | Typical duration | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superficial peel (glycolic, lactic, mandelic, salicylic) | £120 to £280 | 30 min | No downtime |
| Superficial series of 4 to 6 monthly peels | £480 to £1,400 | 30 min each | No downtime |
| Medium peel (Jessner, TCA 10 to 20 percent) | £280 to £550 | 45 min | 5 to 7 days flake |
| Medium peel course (3 to 4 sessions) | £850 to £1,600 | 45 min each | 5 to 7 days flake |
| Branded system (ZO, Obagi Blue Peel Radiance, VI Peel) | £250 to £600 | 45 min | Varies by system |
| Laser referral (Fraxel or Tixel) for deep photoageing | From £900 | 60 min | 5 to 10 days |
The journey
From enquiry to your review, step by step.
Priming your skin properly is half the result. We do not skip it.
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01
Before
You send us a photo and a short brief
A confidential form and two well-lit photos. Your skin concern, previous treatments, retinoid use and sun exposure history.
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02
Before
We come back with a plan
Within one working day: superficial, medium or a laser referral, with indicative pricing and the priming skincare you will need.
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03
Before
Priming, 4 to 6 weeks
A retinoid nightly and, for pigmentation, hydroquinone or a modern alternative. Daily SPF 50 and strict sun avoidance.
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04
On the day
Arrival and skin assessment
A short consult on the day, patch test check, and a run-through of the sensation you will feel during the peel.
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05
On the day
The peel itself
Skin is degreased, the peel is applied in layers for 3 to 5 minutes, neutralised where required, then cool compresses and a mineral SPF.
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06
On the day
Home the same day
Superficial peels have no downtime. Medium peels flake for 5 to 7 days. Written aftercare and a WhatsApp line for questions.
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07
After
Review and next step
A review at 4 to 6 weeks. Superficial peels run as a series of 4 to 6. Medium peels sit at 1 to 2 per year.
When it helps
When a chemical peel is the right step - and when it is not.
The skin concerns we treat most, plus the situations that should go straight to laser or to a longer conversation.
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Dull, tired-looking skin
A superficial glycolic or lactic peel every 4 to 6 weeks lifts congestion and gives a fresher surface without downtime.
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Mild active acne and post-acne marks
Salicylic (BHA) peels sit deep in the follicle and calm active breakouts; mandelic suits sensitive and darker skin.
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Melasma and stubborn pigmentation
A carefully primed medium peel, or a Jessner plus TCA layered protocol, on skin pre-treated with hydroquinone and a retinoid.
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Fine lines and early photoageing
Medium-depth TCA at 25 to 35 percent softens fine lines around the eyes and mouth, particularly on lighter skin types.
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Keratosis pilaris and rough texture
A course of lactic or glycolic peels, at 30 to 50 percent, smooths the arms and thighs when paired with a home retinoid.
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Enlarged pores and oily skin
Salicylic BHA peels reduce oil and pore visibility over a series of 4 to 6 sessions, alongside a niacinamide serum.
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Deep wrinkles and severe photoageing
Historically phenol Baker-Gordon deep peels; now largely replaced by Fraxel or Tixel laser resurfacing because of cardiotoxicity.
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Red flag: active infection or isotretinoin
Cold sores, eczema flares, recent isotretinoin or unhealed skin mean the peel is postponed, not pushed through.
Peel options
A family of peels - and laser sits beside them.
The peels we run most, the branded systems we use, and where fractional laser is now the honest answer.
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Superficial AHA (glycolic, lactic, mandelic)
Water-soluble acids at 20 to 70 percent that exfoliate the stratum corneum. No downtime, cumulative results over a monthly series.
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Superficial BHA (salicylic)
Lipid-soluble, penetrates sebum, ideal for acne, oily skin and clogged pores. Well tolerated on darker Fitzpatrick types.
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Jessner solution
A blend of resorcinol, salicylic and lactic acid. Sits between superficial and medium depth, often layered under TCA for pigmentation.
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TCA 10 to 20 percent (superficial to medium)
Trichloroacetic acid at low strength for even pigmentation and light textural work with minimal social downtime.
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TCA 25 to 35 percent (medium)
Reaches the papillary dermis. Frosts the skin, flakes over 5 to 7 days and gives measurable improvement in fine lines and pigmentation.
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Branded systems (ZO, Obagi, SkinCeuticals, PCA, Perfect Peel, VI Peel)
Pre-blended peel protocols with matched home priming and aftercare. Consistent, repeatable, and easy to run in a series.
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Deep phenol Baker-Gordon
Historically the gold standard for severe photoageing. Cardiotoxic, requires cardiac monitoring, and now rarely used in UK practice.
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Fraxel or Tixel resurfacing (referral)
Fractional laser or thermo-mechanical resurfacing has replaced deep phenol for deep wrinkles. We refer directly when a peel is not enough.
Our London network
A small panel of London clinics, we picked them.
Cadogan Clinic, EF MEDISPA, Skinesis, Young LDN, PHI Clinic, Face Bible and Waterhouse Young sit within our vetted circle for chemical peels and skin rejuvenation.
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GMC-registered consultant dermatologists or experienced aesthetic doctors, not therapists working alone
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JCCP or Save Face registered clinics with full complications cover
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Fitzpatrick-aware protocols with priming for pigmentation and PIH risk on skin types IV to VI
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Direct referral pathways to Fraxel and Tixel laser resurfacing when a peel is not the right call
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Peels are safe in the right hands, on the right skin, with the right priming and SPF discipline.
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Priming for 4 to 6 weeks
A nightly retinoid, and hydroquinone if you have pigmentation, primes the skin, evens melanocyte activity and reduces post-peel PIH.
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Fitzpatrick IV to VI needs care
Darker skin types carry a real risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Superficial acids and mandelic are safer starting points than TCA.
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Strict SPF 50 and sun avoidance
Daily mineral SPF 50, a hat and shade for at least four weeks after. A single unprotected exposure can undo a full course.
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Superficial peels have no downtime
A slight tightness and pinkness for a few hours. You can go back to work the same day; make-up the next morning.
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Medium peels flake for 5 to 7 days
Frosting on the day, then bronzing, then a controlled flake. Do not pick. A bland emollient and mineral SPF are your only jobs.
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Cold sore prophylaxis
If you have a history of cold sores, we prescribe aciclovir for medium peels around the mouth. HSV reactivation is the commonest infective complication.
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No peels on isotretinoin
Peels are postponed for at least 6 months after finishing isotretinoin because the skin heals poorly and scars more easily.
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Results are cumulative
A superficial series of 4 to 6, or a medium course of 3 to 4, plus a serious home skincare routine, is the honest recipe for change.
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When to call the clinic
Blistering, spreading redness beyond the treatment area, fever, or crusting that will not heal after 10 days. Rare, but flagged the same day.
Ready to book
Send us a photo and a short brief. We come back within a working day.
Superficial, medium or a referral to Fraxel or Tixel. Honest, consultant-led, and matched to your skin type and downtime. No obligation.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about chemical peels.
Quick answers on depth, downtime, Fitzpatrick type, cost and melasma.
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What is a chemical peel and how does it work?
A chemical peel is a controlled application of an acid, or a blend of acids, to the skin. It removes a precise depth of surface cells, triggers a wound-healing response and drives new collagen and even pigmentation. Superficial peels target the epidermis, medium peels the papillary dermis, and deep peels the reticular dermis.
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Which peel is right for my skin?
For dull skin, mild acne or mild pigmentation, a superficial glycolic, lactic, mandelic or salicylic peel in a series of 4 to 6 is usually the right start. For melasma, more stubborn pigmentation or fine lines, a medium Jessner plus TCA protocol at 10 to 20 percent works well. For deep wrinkles and severe photoageing, we refer to Fraxel or Tixel laser resurfacing rather than a deep phenol peel.
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How much does a private chemical peel cost in London?
A superficial peel is £120 to £280 per session, a medium peel is £280 to £550, and a medium course of 3 to 4 sessions runs £850 to £1,600. Branded systems such as ZO Skin Health, Obagi Blue Peel Radiance, SkinCeuticals, PCA Skin, Perfect Peel and the VI Peel sit around £250 to £600 per session.
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How much downtime should I plan for?
Superficial peels have no real downtime, only mild pinkness and a tight feeling. Medium peels frost on the day and flake for 5 to 7 days, so plan a week without important events. Deep phenol peels are rarely done today and require weeks of recovery, which is why laser resurfacing has largely replaced them.
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Are chemical peels safe on darker skin?
Yes, with the right choice. Superficial mandelic and lactic peels, and low-strength salicylic, are generally safe on Fitzpatrick IV to VI. Higher-strength TCA and Jessner plus TCA protocols carry a real risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and need careful priming with a retinoid and often hydroquinone for 4 to 6 weeks beforehand.
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Which peel do you recommend for melasma?
Melasma is stubborn and easily flared. We usually start with strict SPF 50, a retinoid and hydroquinone or a modern tyrosinase inhibitor for 4 to 6 weeks, then a superficial mandelic or a low-strength Jessner. Medium TCA is used carefully, and we refer to Fraxel Thulium or Tixel where a peel plateaus. Melasma is managed, not cured.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Fraxel laser resurfacing
Fractional laser for deeper wrinkles and photoageing.
Learn more -
Tixel skin resurfacing
Thermo-mechanical resurfacing with shorter downtime.
Learn more -
RF microneedling (Sylfirm, Secret)
Radiofrequency microneedling for texture and laxity.
Learn more -
HydraFacial
Gentle cleansing, exfoliation and hydration.
Learn more -
IPL photofacial
Intense pulsed light for sun damage and redness.
Learn more -
Melasma treatment
A staged plan combining priming, peels and laser.
Learn more