Prescription Skincare

Available to all my existing clients who I have seen face to face.

Retinol is Vitamin A. Once it is absorbed into the skin it is converted into the active form, retinoic acid.

Along with smoking cessation, SPF and Botulinum toxin, retinols are one of the only few ingredients clinically proven to have anti-aging benefits. They work.

They do this by increasing epidermal (skin) turnover. The skin usually takes about 28 days from the formation of a cell until that cell naturally sheds off. The process slows down as we age. Retinol speeds this cell renewal up and turns skin cells over more quickly, reducing the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles and dark spots. They also inhibit collagenase, which is an enzyme that breaks down collagen.

Tretinion is a prescription strength retinol; like comparing a paracetamol to morphine. If your skin is over 35 years old - get on the tret and stay on it for life. You will thank me for this when you hit your 50s & 60's, it's never too late to start to see and feel benefits.

You can get tretinion in a few ways - there are online prescribing services, like 'Dermatica' and 'Skin & Me' who are worth investigating and ensure a high quality and regulared product from an MHRA approved pharmacy.

Otherwise I can prescribe treninion from the Obagi range and have this delivered to you.

I charge £89 per tube for this. This is only available to my existing clients who I see face to face.

How to use tretinion: Go slow and low.

Tretinoin is available in different strengths. I will assess your skin and start you at an appropriate concentration. Use tretinoin at night, as UV light degrades the active ingredients. Apply a small pea sized amount to cleansed, dry skin, then follow with a thick moisturiser or night cream, paying particular attention to the folds around the nose. Extend to neck and back of hands if you can.

Do not use vitamin C serum at the same time as tretinoin — when combined they will not absorb well and counteract each other, reducing efficacy. If you are using vitamin C, apply this in the morning instead.

Start with a very light application (pea sized or smaller, a little goes a long way) a couple of times a week. If you skin tolerates this (is dewy, smoothe and lovely the following the morning) step it up to alternate nights, continue to increase this until your skin tolerates nightly application.

If your skin is irritated (red, sore, flakey, peely or dry) pull back and stop for 7-10 days for your barrier to settle. Use plenty of moisturiser, reduce other actives that can irritate skin further. La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5+ is an excellent product to use in this scenerio applied liberally to restore your skin barrier.

Then start again - even more slowly. This is a lifelong product; there is no rush.

You want to be aiming, eventually, for the highest concentration, every night and your skin glowing in response. It can take a year or more to build to this.

So many people are scared of tretinion because of irritation. This is only caused using this treatment impatiently and rushing to daily applications. Many people declare that their skin 'couldn't handle' tretinion when this is not the case, don't ruin this effective treatment for yourself. Have patience and remember to go slow and low.