What it is
Medical-grade skincare uses ingredients at clinically meaningful concentrations, selected for your skin at a consultation. Where appropriate, that includes prescription-only preparations. It underpins almost every skin plan, and sometimes it is the whole plan.
The difference from high-street skincare is rarely the ingredient list. It is the concentration, a formulation that carries the ingredient far enough into the skin to have an effect, and a product that stays stable on your shelf. It is also a clinician choosing the strength and the order of use for your skin. Prescription-strength preparations go a step further. By law they can only be supplied after assessment by a prescriber, never chosen from a website.
What it may help with
- Pigmentation and uneven tone
- Acne-prone and congested skin
- Dullness, texture and early lines
- Redness-prone skin, with careful product selection
- Protecting results from in-clinic treatments
Who it may be suitable for
Anyone over 18 who wants skincare chosen for their skin, whether starting from scratch or reviewing a cluttered routine.
Skin tone matters as much as skin type once actives are involved. Richer skin tones often respond well, but they are more prone to post-inflammatory pigmentation if strengths are increased too quickly. That calls for a lower starting strength, a slower build and daily sun protection from the first week.
Who it may not be suitable for
Certain actives are unsuitable in pregnancy or breastfeeding, or alongside some medications, allergies and skin conditions. Your consultation screens for these.
What to expect
A skincare consultation reviews your current routine, including what to stop buying. You leave with a written regime, realistic timescales and a review point. Prescription items, where appropriate, are issued only after assessment by our prescriber.
Expect an adjustment period, not an instant improvement. With retinoids and acids, skin often feels tight and flakes lightly for a fortnight or so before it settles. This is normal, and it is the point at which most people give up on a regime that was working.
Consultation & safety
Strong skincare causes real problems when it is misused. We introduce actives gradually and explain the adjustment period. If your skin reacts unexpectedly, you can contact us.
Skincare consultations run at our Bedhampton clinic near Havant, which is open now and sees clients from Havant, Portsmouth, Waterlooville and Denmead. Our Winchester clinic at 9A Jewry Street opens on 8 December 2026, with skincare consultations there from that date. Until then everything runs from Bedhampton, and a regime started there carries on unchanged once Winchester opens.
Aftercare
Your regime comes with written usage instructions and an adjustment plan. Reviews at six to twelve weeks let us adjust strengths and the order of use as your skin adapts.
Actives are introduced one at a time, often two or three nights a week before building up. If something does not agree with you, we then know which product to look at. Daily sun protection is not optional alongside retinoids and acids. If your skin reacts, pausing an active for a few days is usually better than abandoning the regime altogether.
Possible side effects & risks
Actives such as retinoids and acids commonly cause temporary dryness, flaking or sensitivity during adjustment. Allergy is uncommon. Irritation that goes too far can leave a temporary mark, particularly in richer skin tones. This is the main reason strengths are stepped up slowly and reviewed.
Written guidance on managing the adjustment period is provided. If anything unexpected happens, contact us and we will review it. Results vary between individuals.
Frequently asked questions
Isn't good skincare available online anyway?
Some is, and we will tell you when a high-street product is enough. Medical-grade and prescription options are for when strength, formulation and supervision make a difference to the result.
How long before I see a difference?
Skin renews on a cycle of roughly four to six weeks, so meaningful change is usually judged at six to twelve weeks. Results vary between individuals.
Can I get a prescribed skincare plan at your Winchester clinic?
Our Winchester clinic at 9A Jewry Street opens on 8 December 2026, and skincare consultations run there from that date. Until then appointments are at our Bedhampton clinic near Havant, and a regime started there continues unchanged once Winchester opens.
Do I need an appointment before prescription-strength skincare?
Yes. Prescription-strength preparations can only be supplied after assessment by a prescriber, so they cannot be picked off a shelf or chosen from a website. The consultation covers your medical history, your current routine and what your skin is likely to tolerate.
