Skin Ageing Treatment
Smooth fine lines, fade sun spots and firm your skin with a prescription cream or gel designed by your own doctor.
Most anti‑ageing creams use one formula for every face. We don’t. After a consultation with a doctor, we design a topical cream or gel using prescription‑strength ingredients chosen for your skin. Your treatment targets the signs of ageing that bother you most, whether that’s fine lines and wrinkles, sun spots, uneven texture or loss of firmness, alongside any other skin concerns you have. The same doctor looks after you throughout and adjusts each course based on how your skin responds. And because everything happens online, your treatment is designed and delivered without you leaving home.
Step 1
Choose a form or video consultation with your doctor.
Step 2
Treatment plan with a cream or gel designed for you.
Step 3
Follow‑up to refine your treatment plan and reduce side effects.
Understanding Skin Ageing
Skin ageing is the gradual change in the skin’s structure and appearance over time, driven by two overlapping processes. Intrinsic ageing is set largely by your genetics. It slowly reduces collagen, elasticity and skin thickness, which shows as fine lines and wrinkles. Extrinsic ageing is driven by the environment and your lifestyle, above all sun exposure, along with smoking, diet and stress. This is the photoageing that causes deeper wrinkles, rough texture, sun spots and uneven pigmentation and loss of firmness.
Hormones matter too. The fall in oestrogen around menopause thins the skin, speeds collagen loss and often leaves skin drier and more sensitive than before. So most visible ageing is a blend of all three: your genetics, your sun history and your hormones. That blend is different for everyone, which is why a treatment designed for your skin works better than a generic anti‑wrinkle product.
Why a Treatment Built for Your Skin Works Better
Skin ageing doesn’t look the same on any two faces. Someone with sun spots and rough texture from years of UV exposure needs a very different formula from someone with early fine lines and reactive, sensitive skin. A product that delivers results for one can irritate or underperform for the other. Off‑the‑shelf anti‑wrinkle creams use a fixed formula at a fixed strength, and they can’t change when your skin does.
That’s why we build every prescription‑strength treatment around 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, and can target several concerns in a single formula, from wrinkles and sun spots to texture and tone. They also choose the base itself. A light hydrating cream suits most people, whilst a richer, more emollient base is available for dry or sensitive skin. We can also use a gel base if you have especially oily skin.
Skin Ageing Treatments at City Skin Clinic
After an online consultation, your doctor designs a topical cream or gel around your signs of ageing, your medical history and your goals, then refines it at the end of each course. There are two protocols, depending on what your skin needs:
- AGN: A single once‑a‑day cream or gel. It’s our standard protocol for mild to moderate skin ageing, and for maintenance and prevention. Depending on the ingredients your doctor selects, AGN can target fine lines, sun spots, uneven texture and overall skin quality.
- AGN+: A two‑product protocol, one for morning and one for evening, for more advanced photoageing or for several concerns at once, such as deeper lines combined with significant sun damage. It gives more intensive coverage and is typically used for a defined period of up to 6 months before stepping down to AGN for maintenance.
Your doctor will recommend the right pathway at your consultation and can move you between protocols at the end of each course as your skin improves.
Anti-Ageing Treatment Fees
VIRTUAL CONSULTATION£30
Your doctor designs your treatment and looks after you throughout. Consultation fee credited in full against your first treatment.
AGN£90
A once‑a‑day cream or gel (30g) for mild to moderate skin ageing, sun spots and uneven texture. Delivery and your doctor's ongoing aftercare included. Usually lasts 3 months on the face.
AGN+£150
A two‑product protocol, morning and evening (30g each), for more advanced photoageing or multiple concerns. Typically used for up to 6 months before stepping down to AGN. Delivery and your doctor's ongoing aftercare included. Usually lasts 3 months on the face.
Treatment Time
Duration of effect
Back to Work
There is no subscription and no auto‑renewal. Each course is a single order you place yourself.
Treating Skin Ageing on the Face, Neck, Décolletage and Hands
Skin ageing is most visible on the face, but it rarely stops there. We also treat the neck, décolletage and hands, where years of sun exposure show as crepey texture, lines and sun spots. The skin in these areas is thinner and more easily irritated than the face, so your doctor will choose ingredients and strengths suited to each area rather than assuming what works on your face will also suit your chest.
Sun damage on the neck and chest can also cause poikiloderma of Civatte, a mottled mix of redness and brown pigmentation on the sides of the neck and the upper chest that typically spares the shaded skin under the chin. Topical treatment can help the pigmented element. The redness and visible vessels usually need in‑person light or laser treatment, which we don’t offer.
The treatment fee is the same wherever we treat, but if you’re treating several areas at once, your treatment won’t last as long, because you use more with each application.
Ingredients in Our Skin Ageing Treatments
Every formula is built for you and can be adjusted at the end of each 3‑month course. We choose ingredients to target what is actually driving your skin’s ageing, support renewal and protect against further sun damage. As much as possible, your doctor will also take your wishes and preferences into account. These are some of the active ingredients we may use in our anti‑ageing creams and gels:
- Tretinoin: The most evidenced prescription ingredient for skin ageing. It speeds up skin cell turnover and supports collagen production, which helps soften fine lines and wrinkles, smooth texture, refine the look of pores and fade sun spots in our anti‑ageing creams and gels. It needs careful monitoring, as it’s up to 20 times more powerful than retinol. Your doctor will start at a strength suited to your skin and adjust over time.
- Azelaic Acid: Has anti‑inflammatory and keratolytic (skin‑renewing) properties. It brightens skin, smooths texture and fades uneven pigmentation, with a lower irritation risk than many alternatives, which makes it useful for sensitive or redness‑prone skin.
- 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 without adding harshness.
- Tranexamic Acid: Reduces pigmentation by calming the signals that push melanin‑producing cells to overproduce. It can be effective for sun spots, age spots and other stubborn discolouration, particularly alongside other actives.
- Hydroquinone: A prescription depigmenting agent widely regarded as the benchmark for stubborn pigmentation. Your doctor may include it for limited periods, in courses with breaks, when sun damage or age‑related pigmentation is a dominant concern.
- Hydrocortisone: A mild corticosteroid that reduces inflammation and soothes irritated skin. We sometimes use it in the early stages to help skin adjust to actives like Tretinoin without excessive irritation.
All prescription ingredients are used in our anti‑ageing creams and gels only where your doctor judges them safe, appropriate and suitable for you.
| Ingredient | Reduces Wrinkles | Fades Age Spots | Improves Texture | Minimises Pore Appearance | Anti‑Inflammatory | Supports Skin Barrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tretinoin | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Azelaic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Niacinamide | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Tranexamic acid | ✓ | |||||
| Hydroquinone | ✓ | |||||
| Hydrocortisone | ✓ |
Skin Ageing Treatment for All Skin Tones
We treat skin ageing across all skin tones, and we design each treatment to take this into account. Skin doesn’t age the same way in every tone. In lighter tones, fine lines and wrinkles tend to appear earlier, driven largely by sun damage. In medium and deeper tones, the natural photoprotection of melanin delays wrinkles. So, the first signs are more often pigmentary in the form of sun spots, dark patches and uneven tone. That changes what your treatment needs to do, but not the caution it needs. A formula that’s too harsh can inflame your skin. In deeper tones inflammation itself can also leave dark marks that outlast the irritation.
Your doctor will design your formula with all this in mind. They will choose ingredients, strengths and frequencies to suit your skin, and can target lines and pigmentation in the same treatment. Even actives like Tretinoin and Hydroquinone can be used in deeper skin tones under this kind of supervision. They may also add calming ingredients like Hydrocortisone or Niacinamide. Your doctor will also review how your skin responds at the end of each course and adjust your formula based on what they see.
How Long Does Skin Ageing Treatment Take to Work?
Most patients notice early improvement in texture and radiance within 6 to 8 weeks, with more meaningful change to fine lines, sun spots and overall skin quality developing over 3 to 6 months. Collagen remodelling is slow, so results continue to build for up to a year with consistent use. Skin ageing treatment is not a quick fix. It works by gradually changing how your skin renews itself rather than masking the surface, and results vary from person to person depending on your starting point, your skin and how consistently you use your treatment.
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 at a strength and frequency suited to your skin rather than pushing maximum intensity from day one. Sun protection is essential throughout. UV exposure is the single biggest driver of premature skin ageing and can undo your results, particularly when using ingredients like Tretinoin or Hydroquinone.
Why We Focus on Custom Topical Skin Ageing Treatment
Topical treatment is the foundation of evidence‑based anti‑ageing skincare, and prescription retinoids like Tretinoin carry more clinical evidence than any other topical ingredient for lines, texture and pigmentation. A custom formula lets us combine several skin‑improving actives in one treatment, target them directly to the skin and adjust the balance at the end of each course. Our service is built around topical prescription treatment. If your concerns are mainly structural, such as significant volume loss or deep sagging, creams have honest limits. Your doctor will tell you so, and may suggest other options, including in‑person treatment, which we don’t offer.
Who Is Suitable for Online Skin Ageing Treatment?
This service may be right for you if you:
- Have fine lines, wrinkles or early loss of firmness you’d like to address
- Have sun damage, sun spots or uneven skin tone
- Want to treat ageing on the face, neck, décolletage or hands
- Want prescription‑strength skincare that goes beyond the over‑the‑counter shelf
- Have several concerns at once, such as wrinkles combined with pigmentation or texture
- Want a structured plan with ongoing doctor follow‑up, not a one‑off product
Our skin ageing treatment is for adults aged 18 and over only. If your concerns are primarily structural rather than textural, your doctor will be honest that topical treatment alone has limitations and can point you towards more suitable options.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, let your doctor know at your consultation. Some anti-ageing actives, including Tretinoin and Hydroquinone, aren’t suitable at that time, so your doctor will design a formula around ingredients that are, and leave out anything that isn’t.
Why Choose City Skin Clinic
We don’t believe in one‑size‑fits‑all anti‑ageing. Every treatment is prescribed by a doctor, built around your skin and adjusted at the end of each course based on how you respond, so your treatment evolves as your skin does. That standard of care is what sets us apart from other anti‑ageing treatment services:
- Doctor‑led care from day one: Your treatment starts with either a detailed form consultation or an in‑depth video consultation with one of our doctors, whichever suits you. Your doctor reviews your concerns, assesses your skin and designs a plan that’s unique to you.
- Genuinely personalised: Your treatment is built around your signs of ageing, your skin’s sensitivity and the areas you want to treat, right down to the base of the cream. They adjust it at the end of each course based on how your skin responds.
- Ongoing follow‑up: After your consultation, you can email your prescribing doctor at any time for advice, a progress review and your next course.
- Delivered to your door: Your treatment arrives at your home with a clear plan, and aftercare is unlimited and included.
From your first consultation onwards, the same doctor designs your treatment, follows your progress and adjusts your formula as your skin changes.
| City Skin Clinic | Most Online Platforms | In-Person Clinics | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The same named doctor throughout | Yes | Rarely | Varies |
| Choice of consultation | Video or form consultation | Form only | In-person consultation |
| Several prescription actives in one formula | Yes, unique to your skin | Usually fixed or limited options | Varies |
| Adjusted at the end of each course | Yes | Rarely | Varies |
| Subscription required | No | Usually | No |
| Aftercare | Unlimited support from the same doctor | Care team model | Appointment-based follow-up |
Google Reviews
I would highly recommend City Skin Clinic. I have had a great experience with Dr Amel so far. She is extremely knowledgable and has explained my treatment plan in detail. I had a lot of questions initially and this was met with fast and in depth responses by Dr Amel. The ordering and delivery of the product is quick and easy and Dr Amel has remained in contact throughout my treatment to check progress. It has only been a couple of months but I have already seen an improvement in my hair and trust that I will continue to do so.
Fabulous company and fabulous service!
I have had the best experience ever, I was postpartum dealing with a lot of hyperpigmentation on my face. I felt really seen, heard and listened to you. I was provided with the upmost care and kindness. Including in-depth explanation on how to use what I was prescribed And I felt well equipped to carry out the treatment. The outcome of the treatment has been the best thing ever for me. I look amazing and my skin is magnificent. I’ve been complimented by almost everyone I know, including strangers. This is genuinely changed my life and I would recommend this to anyone. So thankful to Amel and her team 🥹❤️
Amazing service and are always helpful with any query that I have. I always recommend them to friends and family 👍🏾
Very helpful and professional. I totally trust their advice. They show real care. I highly recommend.
Fantastic service. Super responsive and great clinicians. I have been using them for about a year now, for tretinoin. My skin has cleared and the formula and treatment was tailored to my skin. Really loved the outcome!
Can not recommend this place anymore. All the staff are super lovely, doctors lovely, has great chat and I'm so pleased with my results!
Such a professional experience, with amazing results that I couldn't have even imagined.
I’ve been going to see Amel for about a year now and am very happy with the results. The service she provides is very personalised and has made a real difference to how my skin looks and feels. I would definitely recommend City Skin Clinic even if you have tried other, similar services.
Dr Amel is fantastic - she was very transparent in her call with me in terms of what she thought would be best for me, and has over the course of the year since always been very prompt and generous in her responses to my email queries. Highly recommended!
City Skin Clinic allows me to get tretinoin delivered when I am running out rather than a subscription basis. Not only that but I cannot praise their customer service enough. They have been so helpful in all skincare advice not just the tretinoin. The response times are incredible and I feel like a valued customer with a personalised advisor. I have used other companies before and have been recommended others, but I’m not even tempted to move away from City Skin Clinic. They really are amazing.
I'm very pleased with the service and product I have received from City Clinic. The process for prescription is easy enough to follow and I'm very satisfied with my skin improvement.
Excellent results, I would highly recommend - Amel is really lovely and welcoming, she spends time making you feel comfortable and is honest about treatments and results.
Amel is a superstar. You can trust her entirely and know that she will not let you walk away disappointed. Highly recommend City Clinic.
I appreciate the prompt responses and the treatment I am receiving is going well.
I used the online consultation form and received a very quick response with detailed advice about a treatment plan. My two prescription products arrived a couple of days later in the post and I've already had great results in reducing pigmentation on my face after only 4 weeks of use. I'm really pleased with the results and the service and advice I've received from City Skin Clinic has been excellent.
City Skin Clinic helped me find a Treatment plan that really helped my skin problem of pigmentation /malasma.
Amel is amazing she always takes time to understand your concern and will always give you the best treatment and advice and the results have been amazing. Thank you!
I’ve been receiving treatment at City Skin Clinic with Dr Amel and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. From the start, Dr Amel was professional, knowledgeable and genuinely attentive to my skin concerns — she took the time to listen and tailor a plan that suited my needs. Many aspects of the process were clear and reassuring, and I felt well supported throughout. What stood out most was the ongoing support: Dr Amel has continued to check in, answer my questions promptly, and adapt my plan as needed, which has made a real difference in my progress. Overall, a thorough, caring and highly recommended clinic experience.
I cannot recommend Dr Amel highly enough. She is genuinely the best skincare specialist I’ve ever worked with. From the very first consultation she took the time to understand my concerns in detail, explain the science behind everything, and create a personalised plan that actually delivered results rather than promises.
My skin has transformed under her care. Years of stubborn hyperpigmentation, uneven tone and texture that I thought I’d never get on top of have improved more than I thought was possible. Every step of the process has been guided, monitored and adjusted so thoughtfully. She never rushes, she always explains the why behind each change, and she makes you feel like you’re in the hands of someone who genuinely cares about your outcome.
What stands out most is how responsive and reassuring she is. Anytime I had a question or worry, she replied with real clarity and expertise. She pays close attention to detail, picks up on things I wouldn’t even notice, and makes you feel completely supported throughout the whole treatment plan.
If you want a clinician who is knowledgeable, meticulous, honest, and truly invested in achieving the best results for you, Dr Amel is exactly that. My confidence in my skin has never been better, and I’m so grateful to her for the care, patience and expertise she’s given me.
I got in touch having been frustrated with breakouts and early ageing signs. I have been so impressed by the level of communication, empathy and support I have received. It feels so much more caring/personal than booking with other well known brands in this space (who often more of a subscription based model) I would really recommend this company - and Dr Amel - to anyone wanting professional advice and support with their skin concerns
In desperation I trawled the internet looking for alternatives and found this wonderful company. From the very first video consultation, I was listened to and given a plan which worked! I cannot praise Amel enough. She has given such good advice; she responds almost immediately and is so very sensible. I feel cared forand know I am in the most professional and capable hands. My skin has improved significantly and is now brighter, more even toned and hydrated. I am impressed to the extent that I paid for my darling daughter to have a consultation as well. In her words- "Amel is just lovely. She is THE best!" What more can I say??? I won't be going anywhere else as I have complete faith in the company and highly recommend them.
I had a fantastic experience with CitySkinClinic. The online consultation was incredibly convenient and cost just £30 - excellent value for such a professional and personalised service. I was pleased and surprised that the cost of the consultation came off the price of the treatment Dr Amel was extremely easy to talk to, answering all my concerns with great care and professionalism. She was very prudent and thoughtful in her recommendations which made me feel confident and well looked after
Since using the cream my skin has noticeably improved in texture and firmness making me look healthier and less tired. My sun damage spots have also disappeared
I highly recommend CitySkinCity to anyone looking for expert skincare advice with a truly personal touch
I'm not even halfway through my treatment for hyperpigmentation and I've achieved amazing results thanks to City Skin Clinic. The service has been effortless, professional, reliable and most of all very personalised unlike some of the other online clinics where you just fill in a form and wait for treatment in the post. I would definitely recommend to anyone who wants even looking skin!
Really great online service provided. Very friendly and approachable Doctors who are extremely quick to respond, and offer advice on not only services and products they offer, but also non prescription skincare products. Would highly recommend!
Frequently asked questions
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.
Purified water, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, isohexadecane, isododecane, 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, 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, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride.
Authored by:
Aesthetic Doctor & Medical Director BSC (HONS) MBBS MRCS PHD
Founder City Skin Clinic
Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Associate Member of British Association of Body Sculpting GMC Registered - 7049611