Case study: £8,250 settlement for woman left with skin damage after chemical peel

Our personal injury lawyers helped a client make a beauty treatment claim after she was left with skin damage following a chemical peel at a cosmetic clinic.

Background: permanent scarring after unregulated chemical peel

Our client approached our Personal Injury team after suffering serious damage to her skin following a chemical peel at a cosmetic clinic. The beautician had not warned her of the risks or possible side effects, and her face had not been properly prepared (washed) before the treatment.

The chemical peel was meant to stay on for 12 hours but began to peel off after only five. Our client contacted the clinic to raise her concerns and was told not to worry. She followed their advice and washed the peel off after the full 12 hours. She noticed her skin was red and irritated.

Over the following weeks, our client’s condition worsened. Her skin began to peel and scab, and despite sending photos to the clinic, she was repeatedly reassured that this was normal and told to continue with the aftercare routine. The clinic even suggested a further peel.

Our client sought a second opinion from a skin specialist, who confirmed she had developed hyperpigmentation. Her symptoms continued to worsen, with burns, scabbing, and white patches spreading to her neck.

Clinic denies liability

When we approached the clinic, they denied liability entirely. They disputed that our client had undergone a chemical peel at all. They claimed she had instead been given a Dermamelan Mesoestetic face mask that could not have caused her symptoms, and suggested her injuries were caused by a hair product she had used afterwards.

This meant our solicitors needed to build a strong evidence-focused case to counter the clinic’s account and clearly establish what treatment our client had actually received and how it had caused her injuries.

Pursuing the personal injury claim

Our client strongly denied the clinic’s response, explaining that she did undergo a chemical peel and that she had used the hair product before without any issues.

We pursued the clinic and their insurers, gathering medical records to support our client’s account while we awaited their response.

Expert opinion from a dermatologist

Our solicitors instructed an independent dermatologist to examine our client, review her records, and confirm the cause and extent of her injuries.

The dermatologist confirmed that our client had hyperpigmentation on the face and mild acne and confirmed that the injuries were sustained because of a chemical peel. Their report stated that most of the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation would have settled within a few months.

With a limitation date approaching, we issued court proceedings to protect our client’s position while investigations continued. With a medical opinion linking her injuries to the chemical peel, our lawyers built a full personal injury claim for her financial losses, including the ongoing cost of skin lightening treatments and products. We pursued a fair settlement through negotiation.

Securing a settlement

The beauty clinic made a Part 36 Offer of £5,500, which we felt did not reflect the impact of our client’s injuries. We rejected this initial offer and, following a counteroffer, secured a settlement of £8,250. This compensation covered our client’s injury and financial losses.

Claiming compensation for beauty salon negligence

If you have suffered as a result of a beauty treatment that has gone wrong, you may be able to claim compensation. Our expert personal injury lawyers combine years of experience with input from independent experts to build well-evidenced claims to secure a fair outcome for our clients.

If you’ve been injured by a cosmetic treatment, get in touch for a confidential discussion. Call our Personal Injury team on 0117 325 2929 or fill out our enquiry form.