This article provides general information about skin resurfacing treatments and does not replace an individual consultation with an appropriately qualified practitioner. Treatment suitability, risks, expected results and aftercare vary between individuals.
Skin resurfacing is not one treatment. It is a broad term covering different ways of addressing skin texture and selected concerns through controlled exfoliation or renewal. Depending on what you would like to improve, that could mean professional exfoliation, a chemical peel or fractional laser treatment with iPixel Erbium.
Which approach, if any, may be suitable depends on the concern being assessed, your skin, medical history and individual consultation.
At Beauty Advance, your consultation allows us to assess your skin, discuss relevant medical information and understand what you would like to improve before treatment options are considered.
If you are not sure whether exfoliation, a peel or laser resurfacing is the right place to start, you can book your consultation directly through Fresha. A £25–£50 consultation deposit applies, depending on the consultation booked, and is redeemable against treatment in clinic if you decide to go ahead.
Skin resurfacing means more than one thing
The word “resurfacing” can make it sound as though every treatment is essentially doing the same job at a different strength. That is not quite how it works.
Different treatments affect the skin in different ways. Surface exfoliation focuses primarily on removing dead cells and build-up. Chemical peels create controlled exfoliation using selected solutions and can vary substantially in depth. Fractional laser treatment creates multiple small treatment zones within the skin.
It is therefore more useful to compare how these treatments work than to arrange them into a simple weakest-to-strongest scale.
| Resurfacing approach | How it works | Why people may explore it | Recovery |
| Surface exfoliation | Removes surface build-up and dead skin cells | Dullness, rough-feeling skin and surface congestion | Often little downtime, depending on the method |
| Chemical peel | Uses a selected solution to create controlled exfoliation | Uneven texture or tone, congestion and selected pigmentation concerns | Varies according to the peel and treatment depth |
| iPixel Erbium fractional laser | Creates multiple small fractional treatment areas within the skin | More established texture, fine lines, visible pores and selected scarring concerns | Varies with treatment settings, area treated and individual response |
This is a broad comparison rather than a treatment recommendation. Suitability still needs to be assessed individually.
Where does exfoliation fit?
Exfoliation works primarily at the surface.
Surface exfoliation is commonly used when rough-feeling skin, dullness or surface build-up is the main concern.
There are different ways to exfoliate, including physical and chemical methods. The important distinction is that straightforward surface exfoliation is different from fractional laser resurfacing, which creates controlled treatment zones within the skin.
It may form part of a discussion when surface texture or build-up is the concern, but it will not necessarily be appropriate for every type of unevenness, pigmentation or scarring.
If your skin is irritated or has changed recently, mention this during consultation along with any active skincare products you use.
Chemical peels can work at different depths
Chemical peels are another form of skin resurfacing, but they do not sit at one fixed point between exfoliation and laser treatment.
The type of solution, its concentration and the way the peel is performed all influence how deeply it affects the skin and how much recovery may be involved.
NHS Birmingham and Solihull guidance on skin procedures describes chemical peels as solutions applied to remove dead skin cells and encourage new cell growth while discussing them separately from laser resurfacing procedures.
At Beauty Advance, our professional chemical peel treatments include options using salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, retinol and TCA, as well as the Perfection Peel.
Beauty Advance states that chemical peel treatment begins with a consultation and skin scan analysis so the skin can be assessed before a peel is selected.
The peel discussed during consultation will depend on your skin assessment, the concern being addressed, and the type and depth of peel being considered. Sensitivity, pigmentation, previous reactions and your current skin condition may also be relevant.
Visible peeling varies between peel types. Some treatments may lead to mild flaking, while others can produce little or no visible peeling.
When to consider laser skin resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing uses controlled laser energy rather than a topical exfoliating solution.
There are several types of resurfacing lasers, and they do not all work in the same way. One important distinction is between treating an entire area of skin and using a fractional approach.
Fractional treatment divides the laser energy into many smaller treatment areas, leaving spaces between them.
The laser service at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust explains fractional erbium laser treatment as using a series of small, spaced beams to create treatment channels within the skin.
What is iPixel Erbium laser resurfacing?
At Beauty Advance, the fractional resurfacing technology discussed here is iPixel Erbium.
iPixel Erbium uses fractional delivery, meaning the skin is treated through multiple small treatment areas rather than one uninterrupted treated surface.
Our fractional laser resurfacing treatment is offered for concerns including uneven texture, visible pores, fine lines and selected acne-related scarring, subject to individual assessment.
Two people may both describe their skin as “textured”, yet the underlying concern, current skin condition and appropriate treatment approach can be quite different.
Suitability, treatment settings and expected recovery therefore need to form part of the assessment rather than being decided from a treatment name alone.
Where does Fraxel fit?
If you have been searching for fractional laser resurfacing, you may already know the name
Fraxel.
Fraxel® is a well-known brand associated with fractional laser resurfacing, while iPixel Erbium is a different fractional laser technology. At Beauty Advance, the resurfacing treatment discussed in this article is iPixel Erbium.
If Fraxel was the term that brought you here, the useful comparison is between different resurfacing technologies rather than assuming every fractional laser works in the same way.
During consultation, we can discuss the concern you want to address and whether one of the resurfacing options available at Beauty Advance may be suitable.
What concerns might lead someone to consider skin resurfacing?
People research skin resurfacing for many different reasons. Depending on the treatment and individual assessment, these may include:
- rough or uneven texture
- dull-looking skin
- fine lines
- enlarged-looking pores
- uneven pigmentation or tone
- sun-related skin changes
- congestion
- selected types of acne scarring or post-acne texture
Having one of these concerns does not automatically point towards a particular treatment.
Pigmentation is a good example. Different forms of pigmentation can look similar without necessarily having the same cause or requiring the same approach. Acne scarring can also vary substantially in type and depth.
An assessment can help distinguish between concerns that may look alike before deciding what, if anything, should be treated.
How should you compare exfoliation, peels and laser?
Rather than asking which treatment is the strongest, start with the concern you would like assessed.
Some predominantly surface-level concerns may lead to a discussion about lighter resurfacing options, while more established textural concerns may prompt consideration of other approaches.
Your current skin condition also matters. Recent irritation, changes in the skin and recent sun exposure are among the factors worth discussing during assessment because they may affect treatment suitability or timing.
Then there is downtime.
Some people prefer options with little visible recovery because of work or social commitments. Others may be comfortable planning around a more noticeable recovery period if a different resurfacing approach is considered appropriate.
Downtime and upcoming plans are worth discussing during consultation because they may affect treatment timing.
What can recovery look like?
Recovery varies considerably because skin resurfacing covers very different treatments.
After lighter surface exfoliation, there may be little visible downtime beyond temporary sensitivity, depending on the method used.
Chemical peels can cause redness, tightness, sensitivity or flaking. The extent depends on the type and depth of peel and how your skin responds.
Fractional laser resurfacing can involve redness, warmth, swelling, sensitivity and flaking while the treated skin settles. The extent of recovery varies according to the treatment settings, area treated and individual response.
Expected skin reactions and potential complications vary according to the treatment and individual factors. Your practitioner should explain the risks relevant to the procedure being considered, along with expected recovery and aftercare.
The NHS recommends discussing risks, expected recovery and aftercare with your practitioner before deciding whether to proceed.
At Beauty Advance, questions about individual risks, expected results and aftercare can be covered during consultation rather than relying on a general online description to predict how your skin will respond.
What should you discuss before resurfacing treatment?
Your practitioner needs an accurate picture of your skin and relevant medical history before treatment is planned.
Be ready to discuss previous cosmetic treatments, medications, allergies, unusual skin reactions, recent sun exposure and the skincare products you currently use, particularly active skincare products.
It is also important to mention active irritation, infection or another recent change in your skin condition.
Beauty Advance’s consultation process allows us to assess your individual needs and determine whether patch testing is required before treatment.
Once treatment has been carried out, follow the treatment-specific aftercare provided by your practitioner, including guidance on when to resume active skincare products.
Still deciding where to start?
You do not need to choose between exfoliation, a chemical peel or iPixel Erbium before coming in.
Skin resurfacing covers treatments that work in different ways, so the useful starting point is the concern you want to address rather than the treatment name you have seen online.
If you would like to understand the options in more detail, you can read about our skin consultations and personalised treatment planning. We can assess your skin, discuss what you would like to improve and explain which options may be suitable, along with the relevant recovery, risks and aftercare, before you decide whether treatment is right for you.