Get urgent help if…
New or changing mole — call NHS 111
A new mole, or a mole, freckle or patch that is changing in size, shape or colour, needs checking.
Persistent growth — call NHS 111
A growth or patch of skin that is getting bigger, or that hurts, itches, bleeds, crusts or scabs for more than 4 weeks, needs checking.
Our online service is not for emergencies.
Signs of skin ageing
Photoageing and sun damage
Sun damage shows as roughness, a sallow tone, deeper wrinkles, blotchy pigmentation and broken blood vessels. Rough, scaly patches on sun-exposed skin can be actinic keratoses, so your doctor checks for these in your photos.
Fine lines and wrinkles
Fine lines come mainly from sun damage and tobacco smoke. Deeper lines are dynamic (appearing with movement, like frown lines) or static (present at rest); dynamic lines become static over time.
Rough or dull texture
Ageing skin sheds old surface cells more slowly, giving a dull, uneven texture. It also tends to be dry, and moisturisers help it look and feel better.
Sun spots
Freckles, sun spots and blotchy brown patches are part of photoageing. See our hyperpigmentation and sun spots page for dark marks.
Habits that help
- Sunscreen every day if you'll be outdoors, even briefly.
- Shade between 11am and 3pm, covering up, and no sunbeds.
- Stop smoking, and avoid second-hand smoke.
- Wash twice a day with a non-soap cleanser and lukewarm water, then apply a moisturiser.
Anti-ageing treatments
Treatment combines daily sunscreen with a cream applied at night. Prescription creams are only issued after a consultation, if a doctor decides they're suitable. A doctor will advise what is suitable for you after assessing you.
Treatment options
Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or more)
Protection from UV is essential at any age, and retinoids make skin more sensitive to the sun. Choose SPF 30 or more with at least 4-star UVA protection, apply enough and reapply often outdoors.
Tretinoin cream
A prescription retinoid (vitamin A) cream. In trials it improved fine and coarse wrinkles, roughness and uneven pigmentation; with long-term use it can also reduce freckling and sun spots. Strengths used are 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%. Apply thinly at night, with moisturiser and sunscreen by day. Side effects: redness, dryness, peeling or stinging, usually at the start.
Adapalene
A retinoid usually used for acne, and less irritating than tretinoin. In a 24-week trial, adapalene 0.3% gel gave similar results to tretinoin 0.05% cream for photoaged skin. Comes as 0.1% or 0.3%; apply thinly at night. Side effects: stinging, dryness and sun sensitivity.
Compounded creams (tretinoin with niacinamide, azelaic acid or hydroquinone)
A cream mixed to the strength and combination your doctor chooses, usually applied at night. Hydroquinone is used on dark patches only, in courses of up to 3 months. Side effects depend on the ingredients: dryness, redness, peeling and sun sensitivity.
Azelaic acid
Reduces pigmentation and calms inflammation, so it can help uneven skin tone and brown marks. Comes as a 15% gel or 20% cream, and is a pregnancy-suitable option. Side effects: burning, redness or irritation at first.
Retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide and AHAs (over the counter)
Apart from topical retinoids, the evidence for many anti-ageing ingredients is limited. Retinol is a weaker form of vitamin A; vitamin C and niacinamide may help with fine lines and blotchiness; AHAs (glycolic and lactic acid) help shed old surface cells.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Retinoids (tretinoin and adapalene, including in compounded creams) shouldn't be used in pregnancy, and the safety of hydroquinone in pregnancy and breastfeeding hasn't been established. If you're pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, tell us, and your doctor will choose a pregnancy-suitable option such as azelaic acid.
Botulinum toxin, fillers, peels, laser and microneedling (in-clinic)
For information only. ChatDoc does not provide in-clinic procedures. Botulinum toxin relaxes the muscles behind dynamic lines such as frown lines; fillers soften lines and folds; peels, laser and microneedling can improve texture and pigmentation. All carry risks — choose a practitioner with the right training, experience and insurance.
What an online skin ageing consultation involves
- 1
Tell us about your skin
Answer questions about your skin, sun exposure, products and treatments tried, your health, medicines and allergies, and whether you're pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding.
- 2
Upload photos
Photos are required: your whole face from the front and each side, plus close-ups of any areas of concern, in good light.
- 3
Doctor reviews your case
A doctor checks your photos for signs of sun damage and for any spot that needs checking first. Every prescription decision is made by a doctor.
- 4
Get your personalised plan
Discuss your plan in live doctor chat, with a prescription if clinically appropriate.
Complete care. One simple price.
£24.99
Includes clinician review, live doctor chat & prescription
One payment. No subscription. Any prescription depends on clinical suitability.
Start skin ageing consultationFollow-up and long-term care
- We'll ask how your skin is getting on, with new photos, and adjust the strength or frequency if needed.
- Repeat treatment is doctor-reviewed, never automatic; hydroquinone is used in courses of up to 3 months.
- Keep using sunscreen every day. Retinoid results build with continued use.
- With your consent, we'll share a summary of your consultation and any prescription with your NHS GP.
Frequently asked questions
Does tretinoin work for wrinkles?
In clinical trials, tretinoin cream at strengths of 0.02% or more improved fine and coarse wrinkles, roughness and uneven pigmentation caused by sun damage, compared with a placebo cream. Improvement builds slowly, usually over 6 months or more, and results vary from person to person.
Can I get tretinoin cream in the UK?
Tretinoin is a prescription medicine, so it's only available after a consultation. With us, you answer questions and upload photos, and a doctor decides whether tretinoin or another option, such as adapalene or a compounded cream, is suitable for you.
What is a prescription anti-ageing cream?
It's a cream a doctor prescribes for sun-damaged skin, usually a retinoid such as tretinoin or adapalene. It can also be a compounded cream, mixed to the strength and combination your doctor chooses, for example tretinoin with niacinamide, azelaic acid or hydroquinone.
Can I use anti-ageing treatment if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
Yes, but tell us first. Retinoids such as tretinoin and adapalene shouldn't be used in pregnancy, so your doctor will choose a pregnancy-suitable option such as azelaic acid, alongside daily sunscreen.
What's the difference between retinol and tretinoin?
Both come from vitamin A. Retinol is found in over-the-counter skincare and is weaker. Tretinoin is a stronger prescription retinoid that has been studied in clinical trials for sun-damaged skin.
Do I need sunscreen if I use an anti-ageing cream?
Yes. Sun exposure is the main cause of photoageing, and retinoids make skin more sensitive to the sun. Use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or more and at least 4-star UVA protection every day, apply enough and reapply often.
How long does anti-ageing skincare take to work?
Prescription retinoids take months. In trials, improvements were measured at 24 weeks, and longer-term use gives the effects time to build. Your doctor will review your skin and adjust your plan along the way.
Can creams treat frown lines and crow's feet?
Creams mainly help fine lines, texture and uneven tone. Lines caused by muscle movement, such as frown lines and crow's feet, respond mainly to in-clinic treatments, and chemical peels have no effect on them.
Will my GP be told about my consultation?
With your consent, we'll share a summary of your consultation and any prescription with your NHS GP, which helps keep your medical record complete and safe.
Related conditions
General medical information, not a substitute for individual medical advice. Results vary from person to person.