Sticking needles into your face doesn’t sound like an ideal treatment, but microneedling has become a popular rejuvenation procedure. It helps reduce scars, tighten skin, and improve its texture and color.
It is a professional procedure performed in a doctor’s office. The sensation feels prickly or scratchy, depending on how deep the needles penetrate your skin. Click https://houseofaesthetix.com/ to learn more.
A microneedling treatment involves a dermatologist using a pen-like tool that has tiny needles to create rows of pinpricks on the skin. The doctor may apply a topical anesthetic on the face to numb it during the procedure, which usually lasts about 30 minutes.
After the pricks have been made, the body will begin to produce new collagen and other cells to repair the skin damage. This stimulates your body’s natural wound-healing process and reduces wrinkles and scars while boosting the skin’s overall tone, texture and brightness.
The treatment is also effective for reducing pore size, helping you achieve clearer skin. It also helps with hyperpigmentation, which can be caused by pimples, inflammation or sun damage and can make your skin look blotchy or uneven. The treatment works by stimulating cellular turnover and removing the excess melanin pigment to give your skin a brighter, more even complexion.
In addition, the treatment can help with acne scars and deep wrinkles that don’t respond to topical treatments. Acne scars are especially hard to fade with creams or chemical peels, but microneedling helps break down the scar tissue and encourages new skin growth to heal it.
As the skin heals, it also becomes thicker and stronger, which makes it more able to withstand the needles without tearing or bleeding. It also looks more plump and youthful, so your blemishes won’t be as noticeable.
For the best results, your dermatologist may recommend combining your microneedling session with a mild chemical peel. This will allow the peel’s ingredients to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and work their magic. The peel is particularly effective on leathery skin and can fade scarring and stretch marks.
You can also add PRP (platelet-rich plasma) to your microneedling treatment, which is particularly useful for fading acne scars and improving the appearance of dark spots. During this additional treatment, your dermatologist will draw a sample of your blood and place it in a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood. This is then applied to the areas treated with microneedling, giving it an added boost of healing and rejuvenation.
What to expect
You’ll first want to consult with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon who is familiar with microneedling. They’ll examine your skin, review your health history and discuss what you hope to achieve from the treatment. This is a very common procedure that can address a variety of issues including fine lines and wrinkles, scarring, sun damage and uneven skin tone.
A topical numbing cream will be applied to your face before we begin the treatment. This is necessary because microneedling creates tiny holes in the skin which can be quite painful if not numb. You’ll need to let the numbing cream set in for 20 minutes, but it should only cause minor discomfort that is usually around a 3 on a scale of pain.
Once the numbing cream has taken effect we will use a device that looks very similar to a pen to insert needles into your skin. These needles are packed together and create a pattern that is called “micro-channels.” The body interprets these micro-channels as small injuries on the surface of your skin and responds to them by sending in healing cells.
These growth factors stimulate collagen and elastin which helps to plump your skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and heal scar tissue. This is one of the reasons that microneedling makes you look younger! It also helps with healing from photodamage (sun damage) and reduces hyperpigmentation.
The next day your skin will feel a little sensitive and red, but the good news is that this is a normal response to a microneedling session. It should only take about 24 hours for your skin to recover and then you’ll be able to resume using all of your regular skincare products. It’s important to stay out of the sun and avoid tanning beds for a few days after your session as this can cause uneven skin tone.
Some people choose to pair microneedling with another treatment known as platelet-rich plasma, or PRP. This is a serum that contains concentrated amounts of your own blood. This is a great way to boost the effects of microneedling and help your skin heal faster and look even more radiant and smoother.
Safety
Microneedling is an FDA-cleared cosmetic procedure, but it is important to remember that it’s not for everyone. People with active infections, open wounds, psoriasis, eczema or recent radiation therapy should not get it done. It’s also not recommended for pregnant women or people with a history of skin disorders such as melanoma.
When performed correctly by a professional, microneedling is considered safe. The needles are very short, so they don’t reach the nerves and blood vessels that lie underneath the surface of the skin. However, if the procedure is done poorly, it can lead to infection. It’s important to find a dermatologist with experience performing cosmetic treatments and who is certified by a medical board.
One of the most common concerns people have about microneedling is whether it will enlarge pores. The truth is that the procedure can actually make your pores appear smaller by stimulating collagen production. The process can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, which is why it’s a popular anti-aging treatment.
Before you start your own derma rolling at home, it’s important to disinfect the device. Using a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution will kill any germs and bacteria on the roller before you use it. Once the roller is ready to go, follow the instructions that come with it for using the machine safely and effectively.
If you’re looking for a home derma roller, look for one that has a safety rating of at least Class IIb from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). A MHRA-approved needle cartridge should be used for each session to avoid contamination. Additionally, the derma roller should have a maximum depth of 0.25 mm.
Once you’ve rolled your face, you can apply serums with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or niacinamide vitamin B3. It’s best to avoid serums that contain exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid because these can cause sensitivity and may cause redness and irritation during the healing process. It’s also a good idea to wear sunscreen to protect your skin after a microneedling treatment.
Cost
The cost of microneedling varies, depending on the type of treatment and area being worked on. It also depends on whether ancillary treatments or skin care products are used. While these can amplify results and extend their duration, they can also add to the overall cost of treatment. It is important to ask your dermatologist or esthetician about the specific pricing of your procedure.
In addition to the microneedling tool itself, a serum can be used to amplify the effect of the treatment. For example, hyaluronic acid or other nourishing serums can be added to a microneedling session to help boost collagen production and improve hydration. This can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles or large pores.
Some people see immediate results after a single microneedling session. However, it is important to understand that these are temporary and will fade as the body naturally replaces them with new cells. This is why many people benefit from multiple sessions over the course of several months.
Another way to amplify the results of a microneedling treatment is by using PRP (platelet-rich plasma). This can further encourage collagen growth and stimulate the skin tissue to tighten and firm. This combination is often referred to as the “vampire facial.” This can be performed in conjunction with a microneedling session and can be done at the same time or scheduled a few weeks apart for optimal results.
The micro-channels created by the needles in your skin also allow for nutrient-rich serums to penetrate the skin more deeply than they otherwise would, which can further enhance your skin’s appearance and help you achieve your cosmetic goals. Your dermatologist or esthetician may also recommend a particular serum to use based on your skin’s needs.
When you come in for your microneedling appointment, it is important to arrive without makeup or other topical skincare products on your face. This will ensure that the skin is ready for treatment. Once the process begins, you should feel minimal discomfort as the needles are pressed into the skin. Some patients describe this feeling like a mix between a razor blade and a vacuum cleaner. It is normal to experience some redness after the treatment, which will usually subside within a few days.