First, numbing cream is smoothed over the face. Then, the person performing the microneedling moves a pen-shaped device with needles over the face.
The controlled trauma and thousands of tiny pokes cause your body to start a healing process. New collagen fills fine lines and wrinkles, shrinks pores, reduces dark spots, and improves rough skin. Contact MICRONEEDLING SAN DIEGO now!
If you have acne scars, microneedling might be just what the doctor ordered. The treatment involves puncturing the skin with small needles, encouraging your body to regenerate collagen. It can also plump fine lines and wrinkles, smooth out rough texture, and even out brown spots and large pores.
During the procedure, your dermatologist will numb your face to prevent or lessen pain and discomfort. They will then use a penlike tool called a derma roller to insert tiny, stainless steel needles into your skin. The needles vary in length from 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters. They are spaced closely enough to cause “microinjuries” in your skin, but not so close that they cause bleeding or skin damage. The tool will then move evenly over your skin to create a uniform result. Some providers will apply a growth serum or other cream afterward.
The process is very quick and relatively painless, with little to no downtime. Some redness and irritation may occur, but this is a natural response to the minor injuries the needles cause in your skin. You should avoid using any products that might irritate the tiny wounds, including harsh cleansers, for the first 24 hours.
After a few days, the redness will fade and your skin will look smoother and more youthful. This is because the tiny holes created by the needles stimulate your skin to produce more collagen and elastin, which will make your complexion look smoother and healthier.
Another major benefit of microneedling is that it can significantly improve the appearance of acne scars, particularly pock marks. Studies have shown that after four treatments over a month, people with severe acne scars saw improvement in their skin tone and texture.
In addition to improving the appearance of acne scars, microneedling is also effective in minimizing stretch marks and other discolorations and in stimulating hair growth in those with alopecia. But a consultation with your dermatologist is key to determine whether it’s the right treatment for you. A dermatologist will be able to tell you how many sessions of the procedure are needed to achieve your desired results. Typically, those who want to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles will need just two treatments, while those with deeper scarring or burns might require more, as well as more frequent visits, depending on their needs.
Pock Marks
Many people who have pock marks from acne scars find that microneedling works very well to fade the appearance of these marks and smooth out the skin. When the needles puncture the skin, your body responds as if there is a real injury and starts producing collagen to repair the damaged area. This process is what leads to the smoothing of your scars and the overall smoother look of your complexion.
When you get a professional treatment, the practitioner will usually apply a numbing cream to your face so that you don’t feel the tiny needle pricks. Then, the technician will move a pen-shaped or rolling device with tiny needles over your face. The needles will make small cuts in the skin, which causes a bit of bleeding, and then your body will start the healing process. This stimulates the production of collagen, which helps reduce wrinkles and tightens skin.
During this process, your skin may experience some bruising or swelling for a few days, but it usually goes away without any further treatment. In some cases, you can get a more extreme reaction to the procedure, which is why it’s best to have this done by a professional who has experience and knows how to avoid causing an infection. It’s also important to avoid using self-needling devices unless you are absolutely certain that they are clean and sterilized to avoid an infection.
If you want to see a more dramatic improvement, consider getting microneedling in conjunction with PRP (platelet-rich plasma). In addition to the healing properties of your blood, this treatment also helps boost collagen and elastin levels. It’s also great for fading hyperpigmentation, especially in women with darker skin tones. Your dermatologist will draw a small amount of your blood into a test tube and then run it through a centrifuge to separate the platelets. Then, they will apply the platelet-rich blood to the skin that has been microneedled, and this combination is especially effective for fading dark spots and improving skin tone.
Rough Skin
Probably the best known microneedling benefit is that it helps your skin look a lot younger. It does this by stimulating your body to create more collagen and elastin, which in turn reduces wrinkles and fine lines and tightens your skin. During the procedure, small needles poke into your skin to trigger a rejuvenation response. You can do this in-office or at home with a device called a dermaroller. Typically, the needles on these devices are shorter than those in an office treatment, so they don’t create as many tiny wounds to your skin.
The pricks that you get from the procedure might make your skin a little red, but they will heal quickly. If your skin is particularly sensitive, your dermatologist might use a topical anesthetic or numbing cream first. Depending on the area being treated, it might take 20-30 minutes for it to work. During the actual microneedling, it might feel like you are having an electric toothbrush rubbed over your face. It might hurt a little, but it should only be a 2 or 3 on a pain scale.
In addition to reducing the appearance of scars, microneedling also improves rough skin. That’s because it helps your body remove any dead skin cells that might be clogging your pores, which can cause bumps and roughness. It can also help clear up acne and prevent future breakouts by reducing oil production on the skin, which is what causes black heads and pimples.
If you’re not ready to shell out $100-plus for an in-office treatment, there are a crop of products aimed at allowing you to perform your own microneedling at home. These are called dermarollers and they come in various prices. However, the needles on these DIY tools are much shorter than those on medical-grade equipment (0.5 to 2.5 mm) so they don’t create as many tiny holes to your skin, which limits their ability to stimulate collagen production.
The most important thing to remember about the procedure is that it may not work if you have bleeding or clotting disorders or are on blood thinners. Your dermatologist should ask about your medical history before you decide to do it.
Fine Lines & Wrinkles
Fine lines and wrinkles become more noticeable as we age, but microneedling can help reduce their appearance. The procedure uses a pen-shaped tool with tiny needles to make many small pricks in your skin. These pricks don’t cause much bleeding, but they do stimulate the skin to heal the wounds and produce collagen. The new collagen-rich tissue tightens the skin, smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.
Microneedling is also an effective way to even skin tone and texture. During the treatment, your dermatologist will apply a numbing cream to prevent pain from the needles. They will then move the device over your face, creating tiny injuries that aren’t noticeable to the naked eye. They may finish the session by applying a growth serum or calming treatment to soothe your skin.
After the procedure, your skin might be red or flaky for a few days while it heals. It may also bleed or bruise slightly, depending on how deep the needles penetrate. Your dermatologist will provide you with care instructions to help your skin heal quickly. In the long term, your skin will look more even and brighter.
Your dermatologist will advise you to avoid skincare products that can make your skin more sensitive, such as strong exfoliants and retinoids. You should also tell your doctor if you have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners.
A study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery tested the effectiveness of microneedling for acne scars. The study found that the procedure helped improve all of the scars in the test subjects. The results showed that patients with darker skin types (Fitzpatrick skin type IV and V) saw greater improvements than those with lighter skin.
The microneedling process can be done in-office or at home. In-office devices have sharper needles than those used in at-home kits, but both treatments are safe when used by a trained professional. If you choose to do your own microneedling at home, it is important to use a clean and sterilized needle, and to be careful not to over-prick yourself.