Microneedling and Skin Needling for Skin Rejuvenation and Skin Resurfacing
Microneedling treatments can rejuvenate the skin similar to laser resurfacing without the same downtime or high cost, especially if your main concerns are with uneven skin texture and scarring, wrinkles and fine lines, skin laxity and large pores, uneven skin tone and pigmentation, and dark eye circles and eye bags. Deeper lines, hypertropic and atrophic scars, and age spots will respond more quickly to skin needling which can specifically target those deeply depressed areas by activating the skin’s regenerative response of collagen synthesis where it’s needed most.
How does this work?
Both Microneedling and Skin Needling are both minimally invasive nonsurgical treatments that induces the skin to regenerate healthy new tissue. Microneedling works by creating a series of controlled micro-injuries via sterile, single-use, surgical grade disposable needle tips that stimulates the skin’s own natural collagen production. Collagen is the substance that makes the skin smooth, elastic, and youthful but the skin normally loses collagen due to injury or age. These micro-injuries signals the brain to send collagen to the site of injury for skin tissue repair, helping the skin heal within hours after the procedure. This results in strengthening, smoothing and rejuvenating the skin within a few days to over the next few weeks time and effectively improves fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, enlarged pores, rough skin texture, sun damage, skin laxity, stretch marks, and even crow’s feet and deep lines in the peri-oral and naso-labial regions.
What kinds of devices are used?
Microneedling devices come in many forms, including manual dermarollers, fixed-needle rollers, and electric-powered “dermapens” or “micropens” (where needles are distributed on a vibrating tip). Ours is a fully adjustable device that uses sterile, single-use cartridges that provide a needle length ranging from 0.1 – 2.0mm over various speeds to ensure a balance of comfort and efficacy. It also has the added benefits of LED light therapy covering a variety of different wavelengths to speed up the healing process. The benefits from these lights include promoting cell regeneration, stimulating collagen production, healing scar tissue, reducing redness and uneven pigmentation, promoting lymphatic drainage, as well as being anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.
How long do these procedure take?
The procedure area will require the application of a topical anesthetic (typically containing 4% lidocaine) which can also be applied up to 45 minutes beforehand. Microneedling the entire face should not take more than 15 minutes whereas Skin Needling can take more than twice as long depending on the specific areas that require attention. However the entire length of the procedure also includes the full skin-prepping and post-treatment protocols to soothe and calm the skin.
How is Skin Needling different from Microneedling?
Skin Needling’s ability to focus on each particularly noticeable line or scar such as deep wrinkles, hypertropic scars and atrophic scars as well as pigmentation abnormalities using devices that can hold targeted needle configurations is what sets it apart from regular microneedling. Like professional in-office microneedling treatments, Skin Needling is performed using the most technologically researched devices that comes with sterile, single-use needles. Alternating both microneedling and skin needling treatments at regular intervals work well to offer enhanced results, especially in conjunction with a proper home care regimen.
Who benefits from Microneedling and Skin Needling?
Certain skin problems require procedures that offer visible and lasting results. Microneedling and Skin Needling are both safe and effective ways to stimulate the skin’s own natural collagen production to help substantially address issues such as scars, lines and wrinkles, sun damage, large pores, uneven pigmentation. The treatments require little to no downtime, and yet the results can be immediate and gradually ongoing. They are an effective alternative to more invasive, painful and much more costly skin resurfacing procedures.
How long does it take to see results?
It’s very likely that you will see and feel immediately visible results. It is also important to give the body enough time and proper daily care to repair the skin as a result of the treatment. As long as you remain in good health, long term results will begin to show and take hold in a gradual manner, such as a few weeks following the procedure as well as after the succeeding sessions. (A typical recommendation is a series of four treatments performed 4-6 weeks apart.) Thereafter a yearly or semi-annual touch-up or booster treatment will help maintain the results.
Who is candidate for Microneedling and Skin Needling?
The ideal candidates for these procedures are those in good health and without any history of allergies to common medications. While these treatments are generally considered safe and effective for all skin types, they are always contraindicated for skin that is sunburned, has open lesions, has a propensity to keloid, or have recently had radiation therapy. You should skip this procedure if you are pregnant. It is also not recommended for people with skin diseases including eczema and psoriasis.
Every facial treatment begins with an assessment of your areas of concern, answering any questions about how to best care for your skin with the least amount of maintenance, and discussing a treatment plan that works best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to skin after Microneedling?
Microneedling creates microscopic punctures or micro-channels in the skin which signals its wound-healing response which then creates structural benefits in the skin and an improvement in cosmetic appearance. Initially for the first 24-48 hours, the skin may feel warm and tight and look a bit flushed. Once the skin normalizes the benefits of the injury becomes apparent over the next few weeks and months.
Can Microneedling make your skin worse?
Any kind of skin needling is contraindicated for skin that is irritated, infected (including fungal skin infections), has active rosacea, psoriasis, severe solar keratosis, skin cancer, raised moles and/or warts, and/or any open wounds or sores. While it may also not be desirable to microneedle skin that has active acne and eczema, these conditions can also be improved with microneedling due to normalization of keratinocyte function and reduction of hyperkeratinization. Any skin condition can experience an adverse effect with microneedling if products with known problematic ingredients such as certain preservatives, acids, fragrance, dyes, surfactants, emollients, humectants, and UV filters are applied afterwards.
Is Microneedling harmful?
When performed properly, microneedling treatments are considered very safe, cost-effective, and well tolerated by most skin types, including darker skin. Side effects, if any, are seldom and temporary such as redness, burning/stinging, dryness, flaking, track marks, and breakouts. Exceedingly rare adverse reactions involve swelling, rash, bruising, cold sores, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and cellulitis. Proper skin history screening and post procedure home care is vital to minimizing any undesirable effects of microneedling. Complications that can occur when this procedure is not performed under the right conditions can include secondary bacterial infection, allergic reactions, scarring, granulomas, and skin discoloration.
Is Microneedling good for your skin?
Microneedling is a highly effective treatment for stimulating collagen and elastin production while allowing other skin-improving ingredients to more effectively penetrate the skin where they can affect cells at deeper levels. A variety of common skin conditions such as aging, uneven pigmentation, and scars, and acne can all be greatly improved with microneedling treatments.
Does micro needling really work?
A 10 year study of 480 patients regularly treated with microneedling published in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery showed a 60-80% improvement, a significant increase in collagen and elastin, and a 40% thickening of the stratum spinous in the epidermis.
In a study on the effects of microneedling published in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, nearly 100 percent of acne-scarred participants reported a marked improvement in the visibility of their scars. Research in the journal Dermatologic Surgery in 2016 found both microneedling and fractional laser treatments treatments to be comparable and effective in reducing scars but gave credit to microneedling for being better tolerated, with fewer side effects and less downtime. A study in the International Journal of Dermatology found that microneedling provides “skin rejuvenation, tightening, and scar remodeling” and that it offers a “simple and effective treatment for photo-aged skin” with minimal side effects and downtime. A study in Brazilian Annals of Dermatology showed microneedling to show promise for blotchy, brownish facial pigmentation.
A study in the European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences found that the treatment can help topical medications penetrate skin more efficiently, as product penetration is normally minimal. The American Academy of Dermatology also states that people can expect a “reduction in the appearance of large pores, fine lines and wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks” with microneedling.
Sources
Plastic Reconstruction Surgery: “Percutaneous collagen induction therapy: an alternative treatment for scars, wrinkles, and skin laxity.”
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery: “Microneedling Therapy in Atrophic Facial Scars: An Objective Assessment.”
Brazilian Annals of Dermatology: “Microneedling in Facial Recalcitrant Melasma: Report of a Series of 22 Cases.”
Dermatologic Surgery: “Comparison of Nonablative Fractional Erbium Laser 1,340 nm and Microneedling for the Treatment of Acne Scars: A Randomized Clinical Trial.”
International Journal of Dermatology: “Multiple Microneedling Sessions for Minimally Invasive Facial Rejuvenation: An Objective Assessment.”
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences: “Skin Penetration Enhancement By a Microneedle Device In Vitro: Dependency On Needle Size and Applied Formulation.”
How long do Microneedling results last?
The results of microneedling is incremental and cumulative. Within several days to several weeks you may notice a smoother, brighter, and more radiant appearance, but the full effects of your treatment typically does not appear until several months later. Part of the process of collagen formation includes developing cross-links between peptide chains or between collagen molecules. Those cross-links are what gives the collagen its strength, and this process can last anywhere from 20 days to up to 2 years after the tissue injury from microneedling.
What is the down time for the skin heal after microneedling?
Recovery after a procedure depends on the intensity of the treatment, including the length of the needles used. The skin is expected to look pink or red in appearance immediately afterwards and may last for the next 24 to 48 hours, feeling much like a sunburn.
Is Microneedling better than Botox?
Microneedling and Botox injections can be seen as complementary procedures as they use different mechanisms to target the same lines and wrinkles. Botox works to smooth the skin by temporarily paralyzing the muscles that cause the lines and wrinkles created from frequent squinting or furrowing of the brows, whereas microneedling treats the actual skin itself by improving its health and integrity from below the surface. Microneedling further complements Botox treatments by creating healthier skin that can better withstand the risk of bruising, discoloration, and injury as well as decrease healing time from both procedures, whereas Botox can prolong the results of microneedling by inhibiting the cause of certain lines and wrinkles. While these procedures are complementary, they nevertheless should be done at least 2 weeks apart from each other.
Can I use Vitamin C serum after Microneedling?
A topical Vitamin C in a stable form, along with other active ingredients such as peptides, growth factors, and hyaluronic acid, can greatly maximize benefits to the skin when applied after any skin needling procedure. Vitamin C plays a specific role in increasing collagen formation so it is an ideal anti-aging ingredient.
How often should I do microneedling?
In general, skin can be safely treated every 21-28 days. However, depending on the specific condition there is an ideal timing or frequency with which the skin should be treated. In general, for anti-aging microneedling can be performed every 28 days, while some types of scars respond best to treatments either on a more frequent schedule and other types of scars will do better on a more spaced out schedule. A minimum of 3 to 6 treatments are recommended depending on the severity of the condition or degree of improvement desired. Response will also be highly individual and there is no way to predict who will respond best or how long it will take.