Overview
What are skin peels?
Skins peels are skin resurfacing procedures that remove damaged skin and encourage natural skin regeneration. They’re an effective treatment for hyperpigmentation conditions such as freckles and melasma, as well as mild-to-moderate acne scarring. At Riverbanks Wellness, we offer two kinds of skin peel: chemical peels and laser peels – both of which are minimally invasive non-surgical treatments that result in a smoother, brighter and more even complexion for all skin types.
keyboard_arrow_right View price listProcedure Overview
| access_time Duration | 20 minutes |
| local_pharmacy Anaesthesia | None for chemical peels. Topical for laser peels |
| king_bed Downtime | 2-3 days (laser) |
| check_circle Final Result | 2 weeks (laser) 1 week (chemical) |
| person Suitable for | Skin rejuvenation, hyperpigmentation, skin laxity and acne conditions |
Reviews
Patient Testimonials
Benefits
All treatment plans are bespoke
Skin peels do wonders for people’s self-esteem and confidence. Our practitioners will discuss the merits of both laser and chemical peel treatments in the context of your overall health and wellbeing. We’ll advise on whether to have a laser or chemical peel, a mixture of both, or a different treatment entirely. Any area of the body can be treated safely and effectively with skin peels and they work for both light and dark skin types (which is a real plus as many procedures can’t be used for darker skin types). To support the continuing improvement of your skin, we’ll provide you with maintenance products you can apply at home.
Technique
Laser Peels
Riverbanks was the first clinic in the UK to offer the unique BYONIK laser peel treatment. First, we apply a hyaluronic acid gel to your face to hydrate and elasticise your skin. Then we use a gentle, non-thermal laser to penetrate the skin and release energy and antioxidants at the cellular level. This triggers a wound-healing response and the generation of fresh new skin. What makes the process even more effective is that the laser is triggered by your own pulse, releasing the energy at the exact moment your pores swell naturally, with your heartbeat, allowing the antioxidants to penetrate even deeper.
Technique
Chemical Peels
A chemical peel involves applying a non-toxic chemical mask of varying strengths (superficial, medium or deep) to the affected area. This encourages natural exfoliation and removes damaged skin cells. Once the mask is applied in the clinic, you can go home. The morning after your treatment, wash the mask off and pop back to the clinic. Your doctor will reassess your skin, advise you on what to expect over the coming days, and provide you with instructions for the maintenance phase.
Treatment areas
Skin peels can be used to treat:
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Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is a common and usually harmless condition caused by overproduction of the brown pigment, melanin.
keyboard_arrow_down Find out moreHyperpigmentation is a common and usually harmless condition caused by overproduction of the brown pigment, melanin.
An excess of melanin forms deposits in the skin, causing patches to become darker in colour than the rest of the skin around them.
Laser and chemical skin peels reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation by removing the epidermis and enabling new skin to grow with a more even tone. It is effective for both light and dark skin types.
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Liver Spots
Liver spots or age spots are small blemishes on the skin that are located in areas most often exposed to the sun, particularly the arms, shoulders, hands, face, forehead and scalp if bald.
keyboard_arrow_down Find out moreLiver spots or age spots are small blemishes on the skin that are located in areas most often exposed to the sun, particularly the arms, shoulders, hands, face, forehead and scalp if bald.
Liver spots range in colour from light brown to red to black and are very common in adults over 50. However, younger people can get them if they spend a lot of time in the sun. Their name derives from the fact that they were once incorrectly believed to have been caused by liver problems.
Although liver spots are usually harmless and don’t require treatment, they are a sign of ageing that many people want to put the brakes on. Skin peels can help do that.
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Melasma
Melasma is a darkening of the skin that is more commonly seen in women, especially those with darker skin tones.
keyboard_arrow_down Find out moreMelasma is a darkening of the skin that is more commonly seen in women, especially those with darker skin tones.
It is believed to be triggered by exposure to the sun, hormone changes, skin irritation and genetic predisposition. It’s particularly common in pregnant women (when it gets referred to as the ‘mask of pregnancy’) and women taking oral contraceptives or undergoing hormone therapies.
Melasma typically presents as symmetric blotches on the face, usually the cheeks, forehead, chin, upper lip and the bridge of the nose. It can be difficult to treat, and a treatment that works for one doesn’t always work for another. Laser peels have sometimes shown to be more effective than chemical peels in cases of melasma.
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Rosacea
Rosacea is a skin condition that mainly affects the face and is more common in women and people with lighter skin, although symptoms can be worse in men.
keyboard_arrow_down Find out moreRosacea is a skin condition that mainly affects the face and is more common in women and people with lighter skin, although symptoms can be worse in men.
It causes redness on the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead as well as pimples, dry skin, swelling and tiny broken blood vessels.
Although it is not known what causes rosacea, triggers include alcohol, exercise, spicy foods and hot drinks. Chemical peels can help relieve rosacea symptoms but if you have dry or sensitive skin, they may not be suitable and we may recommend our BYONIK laser peel treatment instead. This is less invasive and can help clear up rosacea without having any abrasive effects on the skin.
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Lines & wrinkles
A chemical peel can effectively reduce fine lines and wrinkles and smoothen rough skin, but won’t do much good with deep wrinkles or sagging skin.
keyboard_arrow_down Find out moreA chemical peel can effectively reduce fine lines and wrinkles and smoothen rough skin, but won’t do much good with deep wrinkles or sagging skin.
In that case, a laser peel might be a better option, as these make your skin moister, tighter, plumper and more elastic.
Certain types of wrinkles are better candidates for a laser peel than others, e.g. lines around the eyes and vertical wrinkles that frame the mouth.
A BYONIK laser peel is an ideal treatment if you’re in your 20s and 30s and want to stave off lines and wrinkles for as long as possible.
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Uneven skin tone
There’s technically no such thing as a completely even skin tone. This isn’t a bad thing as different colours and shades add shape and dimension to a person’s complexion.
keyboard_arrow_down Find out moreThere’s technically no such thing as a completely even skin tone. This isn’t a bad thing as different colours and shades add shape and dimension to a person’s complexion.
Problems arise when an uneven skin tone starts presenting itself in ways that make you feel uncomfortable, self-conscious or simply old. This could be anything from mild dullness to texture issues to conspicuous red blotches or hyperpigmentation.
Skin peels can help relieve the symptoms of an uneven skin tone. Your choice of peel depends on the cause and severity of the discolouration. Light chemical peels are great for bringing brightness and radiance back to dull skin; deeper peels can erase more obvious blemishes; and laser peels can be more effective on sensitive skin.
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Pore size
Enlarged pores on the face are a natural sign of ageing that happens when skin becomes oilier, less supple, or when pores become clogged with a mixture of oil and dirt.
keyboard_arrow_down Find out moreEnlarged pores on the face are a natural sign of ageing that happens when skin becomes oilier, less supple, or when pores become clogged with a mixture of oil and dirt.
Although it’s not possible to completely get rid of large pores, you can reduce their appearance with a skin peel.
Both chemical and laser peels can reduce pore size by cleansing and unclogging them. The removal of damaged skin cells also bolsters the body’s production of fresh collagen, increasing elasticity around the pore and restoring healthy suppleness to the skin.
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Results
How will i feel?
Recovery time for laser peels is usually a few days. You may experience a little redness, swelling and darkening, but this will fade. Most patients notice an improvement in skin colour and quality in a few weeks. With a chemical peel, your skin will start to peel gently and become slightly red for the first couple of days after treatment. Peeling can last between five and ten days. Most patients start to notice that their complexion and skin tone have improved after that time. The post-treatment maintenance phase is straightforward with no downtime at all.
Riverbanks’ Expertise
You’re in good hands
It makes a difference who performs your skin peel treatment. Laser peels in particular can be ineffective or even dangerous in the hands of individuals without the proper training. As Riverbanks introduced the BYONIK laser peel to the UK, we have been performing the procedure longer than any other clinic in the country, meaning the team are highly experienced to perform this treatment whilst ensuring your overall wellbeing.
FAQS
Treatment Questions
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What is the treatment used for? add_circleSkin peels remove damaged skin and encourage growth of fresh new skin in its place. They can be used to treat any benign hyperpigmentation, including freckles, age spots, melasma and café au lait birthmarks. Any area of the body can be treated. Our most common treatment areas are the face, neck, chest, arms and hands.
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How long do the results last? add_circleThe results are permanent; pigmented skin that has been removed by chemical or laser treatments will not return. However, ageing, UV exposure and changes in hormone levels can stimulate new hyperpigmentation in the same or different areas of the body.
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Is the treatment painful? add_circleFor laser peels, we use a local anaesthetic to numb the treatment area, so you shouldn’t feel too much pain. Chemical peels don’t require any anaesthesia.
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When will I see results? add_circleYou should start to notice an improvement in your complexion and skin tone after a few weeks.
What now?
Your expert consultation
We're here to listen, understand and reassure. We always make sure our treatments are suitable for our patients and that our patients are suitable for our treatments. Before you book a treatment with us, we ask that you book a free, non-committal virtual consultation with our doctor or skin therapist so that we can discuss your condition and evaluate your medical history before inviting you for an in-clinic consultation.
You can book a virtual consultation on our booking page or by downloading our app. We look forward to virtually meeting you soon.
TESTIMONIALS
OUR PATIENTS LOVE OUR
RELAXING CLINIC
Patients love coming to Riverbanks for two reasons. The highly effective procedures we offer, many invented by Dr Ravi Jain. and the fact that they feel right at home the moment they walk through the door.