Skin Ageing Treatment
Personalised Anti-ageing Creams or Gels to Smooth, Brighten & Tighten Skin.
Most anti-ageing creams use a generic formula that doesn’t account for your specific skin concerns, how your skin responds to active ingredients or what matters most to you. We take a personalised approach. After a form or video consultation with one of our doctors, they will design a custom anti-wrinkle cream using prescription-strength active ingredients where appropriate. The treatment targets your specific ageing concerns whether that’s fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, pores, uneven texture, hyperpigmentation or loss of radiance. Your dedicated doctor will take care of you throughout your journey and adjust each course of treatment based on how your skin responds. Best of all, you can access your anti-ageing treatment from the comfort of your home via our online skin clinic, wherever you are in the UK.
Step 1
Choose a form or video consultation with your doctor.
Step 2
Personalised treatment plan with custom topical cream or gel.
Step 3
Follow-up to refine protocol and reduce side effects.
Understanding Skin Ageing
Skin ageing is a natural process driven by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic ageing is largely determined by genetics and results in a gradual loss of collagen, elasticity and skin thickness over time, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. Extrinsic ageing is driven by environmental and lifestyle factors including sun exposure (photoageing), smoking, poor diet and stress. These accelerate the ageing process and can cause deeper wrinkles, uneven texture, pigmentation and loss of skin firmness.
Most visible signs of ageing are a combination of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, which is why a personalised approach that accounts for your skin type, lifestyle and specific concerns is more effective than a generic anti-wrinkle product.
Why Personalised Anti-Ageing Treatment Works Better
Skin ageing affects everyone differently. Someone with mainly sun damage and hyperpigmentation needs a different formula from someone with fine lines and sensitive skin. A product that delivers great results for one person can irritate or underperform for another. Off-the-shelf anti-wrinkle creams use a fixed formula that can’t adapt to your skin’s specific needs or how it changes over time.
That’s why we tailor every prescription-strength anti-ageing treatment to you and review it at the end of each course. Your doctor can increase, reduce or swap ingredients based on what is actually happening with your skin rather than continuing you on a fixed formula. We can also target multiple concerns in a single treatment including wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, texture and tone.
Personalised Prescription Anti-Wrinkle Cream
We provide personalised topical anti-ageing treatment following an online consultation with a doctor. Your anti-wrinkle cream formula is built around your skin concerns, medical history and treatment goals then refined at the end of each course. Your doctor will also take into account any wishes or preferences you have as much as possible when designing your treatment. We offer two custom protocol pathways depending on what your skin needs and your preferences:
- AGN: A once a day anti-wrinkle cream to treat mild to moderate signs of ageing or for maintenance and prevention. AGN can target fine lines, wrinkles, uneven texture, mild hyperpigmentation and overall skin radiance depending on the ingredients selected.
- AGN+: A two-product protocol (morning and evening) for more advanced signs of ageing or if you have multiple concerns such as severe texture problems combined with significant hyperpigmentation. AGN+ provides more intensive coverage and is typically used for a defined period of up to 6 months before stepping down to AGN for ongoing maintenance.
Your doctor will recommend the right pathway at consultation and can move you between protocols at the end of each course based on how your skin responds.
Anti-Ageing Treatment Fees
VIRTUAL CONSULTATION£30
Our expert doctor will design a personalised treatment for you and provide ongoing support. The cost of the consultation will be deducted from your first treatment.
AGN£90
Standard treatment (30g) for mild to moderate skin ageing. Used nightly. Usually lasts 3 months when used for face and neck as directed.
AGN+£150
This is an advanced treatment for more severe photodamage and skin ageing. It comes as two products (day and night treatment). AGN+ is typically used for no more than 6 months consecutively. Each bottle contains 30g of treatment. Usually lasts 3 months when used for face and neck as directed.
Treatment Time
Duration of effect
Back to Work
Ingredients Used in Our Anti-Ageing Treatments
Every formula is customised and can be adjusted at the end of each course of treatment. We choose ingredients to target the specific drivers behind your skin ageing, support skin renewal and improve overall skin quality. As much as possible we will also take your wishes and preferences into account. These are some of the active ingredients we may use in our prescription anti-wrinkle cream formulas where appropriate:
- Tretinoin: The most well-evidenced prescription ingredient for skin ageing. It works by increasing skin cell turnover to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, smooth texture, fade hyperpigmentation and improve overall skin tone. Tretinoin is up to 20x more powerful than retinol so it is prescription only and requires careful monitoring. Your doctor will start at a strength suited to your skin and increase over time if needed.
- Azelaic Acid: Has anti-inflammatory and keratolytic properties. It helps brighten skin, smooth texture and fade uneven pigmentation. Particularly useful for patients who also have rosacea or sensitivity alongside ageing concerns.
- Niacinamide: Reduces inflammation, helps minimise the appearance of pores, evens out skin tone and strengthens the skin barrier. It works well alongside tretinoin to support tolerability and reduce irritation.
- Arbutin: A natural skin-brightening agent that reduces melanin production. It helps fade sun spots, age spots and uneven pigmentation across all skin tones with a gentler profile than some stronger depigmenting alternatives.
- Hydroquinone: The most effective topical depigmenting ingredient available. We may use it for limited periods in suitable patients when sun damage or age-related pigmentation is a significant concern. Your doctor will determine whether hydroquinone is appropriate for you and monitor its use carefully.
- Hydrocortisone: A corticosteroid that reduces inflammation and soothes irritated skin. We sometimes use it in the early stages to help skin adjust to active ingredients like tretinoin without excessive irritation.
All prescription ingredients are used only where we deem them safe, appropriate and suitable for you as an individual patient.
| Reduces wrinkles | Fades pigmentation | Improves texture | Anti-inflammatory | Supports tolerability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tretinoin | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Azelaic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Niacinamide | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Arbutin | ✓ | ||||
| Hydroquinone | ✓ | ||||
| Hydrocortisone | ✓ | ✓ |
How Long Does Anti-Ageing Treatment Take to Work?
Anti-ageing treatment is not a quick fix. It works by gradually changing how your skin renews itself at a cellular level rather than simply masking surface symptoms. Results vary between patients. Some patients begin to notice improvements in texture and radiance within 6 to 8 weeks with more meaningful changes to fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation typically developing over 3 to 6 months or longer. However, rate of progress varies from person to person depending on the severity of ageing, your skin type and consistency of use.
In the first few weeks, retinoid-based treatments can cause an adjustment phase which may include mild dryness, peeling or temporary sensitivity. This is a recognised part of the process and one of the reasons we start with a strength and frequency suited to your skin rather than pushing maximum intensity from day one. Anti-ageing skincare is most effective as a long-term commitment. Your doctor will work with you to find a sustainable plan that continues to improve and maintain your skin over time. Sun protection is essential throughout treatment as UV exposure is the single biggest driver of premature skin ageing and can undermine your results.
Why We Focus on Custom Topical Anti-Ageing Treatment
Topical treatment is the foundation of evidence-based anti-ageing skincare. Custom topical treatments allow us to combine multiple skin-improving ingredients in a single formula, target them directly to the skin and adjust at the end of each course according to your skin’s response. Prescription-strength retinoids like tretinoin have more clinical evidence behind them than any other topical anti-ageing ingredient.
Our service is designed around topical prescription treatment. If your concerns require procedures such as injectables, laser or skin tightening, your doctor can advise on these options and recommend suitable providers where possible.
Who is Suitable for Online Anti-Ageing Treatment?
This service may be right for you if you:
- Have fine lines, wrinkles or loss of skin firmness that you’d like to address
- Have sun damage, age spots or uneven skin tone
- Want prescription-strength anti-ageing skincare that goes beyond what’s available over the counter
- Want a structured treatment plan with ongoing doctor follow-up and not a one-off product
- Have multiple ageing concerns such as wrinkles combined with hyperpigmentation or texture issues
- Prefer treatment delivered to your home, wherever you are in the UK
If your concerns are primarily structural (significant volume loss, deep sagging) rather than textural, your doctor will advise that topical treatment alone has limitations and can recommend complementary options.
Why Choose City Skin Clinic
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all generic solutions. Every treatment is prescribed by a doctor, tailored to your skin and adjusted at the end of each course based on how you respond. That means your treatment protocol evolves with you rather than staying the same. Here are some of the top reasons patients choose us for prescription anti-ageing treatments in the UK:
- Doctor-led care from day one: Your journey starts with either a detailed form consultation or an in-depth video consultation with one of our doctors. The choice is entirely yours based on your availability and preferences. Your doctor will review your concerns, evaluate your skin and design a treatment plan that is unique to you.
- Genuinely personalised: Treatment is designed around your specific ageing concerns, skin sensitivity and any additional issues. It can be adjusted at the end of each cycle based on how your skin responds.
- Ongoing follow-up: Your journey does not end after your consultation. You can directly contact your prescribing doctor at any point for further advice, progress review and refills.
- Delivered to your door: Treatment shipped to your home with a clear treatment plan and unlimited aftercare. Available UK-wide.
From the initial consultation to follow-up, your doctor is with you every step of the way.
| City Skin Clinic | Most Online Platforms | In-Person Clinics | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation | Doctor video or form consultation | Online form (clinician may vary) | In-person appointment |
| Treatment | Personalised prescription anti-wrinkle cream or gel | Fixed formula or with limited adjustment | Generic/branded products or procedures |
| Aftercare | Direct access to your doctor | Clinician team (may vary) | Requires rebooking |
| Anti-ageing focus | Tailored to your specific ageing concerns and skin type | Less specific targeting | Often single-product or procedure approach |
| Convenience | Delivered UK-wide | Delivered UK-wide | Collection or in-person |
Frequently asked questions
Prolonged sun exposure without proper protection leads to what’s known as photoaging. This can present as freckles, age spots, spider veins, rough and leathery skin, fine lines and wrinkles, and in more severe cases, skin cancer. Sun damaged skin can be addressed through a combination of professional treatments and high-quality skincare products.
Remember, the key to slowing down skin ageing is prevention. Regular use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and integrating potent anti-ageing ingredients into your skincare routine can go a long way in preserving your skin’s youthfulness and vitality.
We have different options in terms of the cream and use the one we feel is best for the patient's skin and the active ingredients we're using. Below are the ingredients for the main bases we use.
Light hydrating base: Purified water, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, isohexadecane, isododeccane, stearyl behenate, cetyl alcohol, polyacrylate-13, polysorbate 60, PEG-75 stearate, polyisobutene, c13-c15 alkane, polyurethane-39, tocopheryl acetate, ascorbic acid, sodium bisulfite, benzoic acid (0.1%), sorbic acid (0.1%), polysorbate 20.
Emolliating (sensitive/dry skin) base: Aqua, Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Glyceryl Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Propanediol, Undecane, Tridecane, HEA/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polysorbate 80, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Propanediol, Rutin & Hydroxycinnamic Acid {from Cleome gynandra leaf extract}, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bisabolol, Edetate Disodium Dihydrate, Simethicone, Hyaluronic Acid Sodium Salt, Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Flower Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Herb Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Rosemarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride.