You may have heard on Instagram, TikTok, or even directly from your dermatologist that you need microneedling in your life. But the question remains: What actually is microneedling?
In this article, we’ll be going over what microneedling New Jersey is, what it’s good for treating, and how to go about doing it — as this is a treatment you can either do at home yourself or get done in-office with a plastic surgeon or dermatologist.
What Exactly Is Microneedling?
Microneedling is a skin care procedure that involves making tiny holes in your skin. This may sound crazy, but there are reasons for intentionally damaging your skin. In fact, creating small wounds on your skin actually tells your body that there is trauma there, and in response, your body will begin the skin’s healing process. This involves producing more elastin and collagen to help heal these areas.
In doing so, as you stimulate collagen production and elastin, it will help restore your skin’s smoothness and beauty, actually making you look younger and fresher. Sometimes, microneedling is called percutaneous collagen induction therapy.
What Is the Benefits of Microneedling?
Microneedling benefits are many as it is a highly effective, minimally invasive skincare treatment for a range of common skin texture concerns, including the following:
- Treat Scars, including post acne scarring and raised scars from surgery or injury
- Stretch marks
- Wrinkles and fine lines
- Melasma
- Uneven skin tone, especially for those with darker skin tones
- Hyperpigmentation and general dark spots
- Sun damage
- Hair loss
- Large pores
Most commonly, microneedling is used to regenerate the skin and make it look younger and smoother. In this way, it can effectively remove or diminish the appearance of sun spots, wrinkles, skin scars, big pores, and hyperpigmentation.
But microneedling is also a very useful treatment for helping your skincare products better absorb into your skin. The micro needles that puncture your skin will create small holes where your skincare products can be more effective.
This is especially true for those who have hair loss. If you are noticing hair thinning on the top of your head, for example, you can use a combination of microneedling and an over-the-counter hair rejuvenation treatment (minoxidil, for instance) to effectively regrow your hair faster than if you used the topical treatment alone.
What Tools Are Used for Microneedling?
Microneedling, as the name implies, involves numerous very tiny needles, each of which punctures the skin and makes a tiny hole. In order to administer this type of intentional wound, you need a special tool.
Several different types of microneedling tools are available. Let’s go over the two main types of microneedling tools.
Dermarollers vs Dermastamps
You may have heard of a dermaroller, which is primarily an at-home device used for microneedling. Dermarollers have a slim handle and a barrel-like shape on the use-end of the implement. This latter end looks like a mini steam roller and has numerous small needles on the rounded side.
Dermarollers can be purchased on Amazon, on skincare websites, and basically anywhere skin products are sold. To use a dermaroller, you simple put the barrel end onto your skin and roll the device across your skin’s surface. This is one way to perform microneedling.
The other option is a dermastamp. These tools are primarily used by dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and other medical providers who perform microneedling. Instead of a roller, a dermastamp is a stamp-like tool that has a circular flat end with needles on it. The person using this tool will punch the micro needles onto the skin in a methodical fashion: down and up, down and up, down and up, etc.
Microneedling: Needle Lengths
Note that a microneedling device will come in different needle lengths. Most microneedling tools start at .5 mm in needle depth. Some of these devices can go up to 8 mm, but this rare.
In office, most microneedling tools are between .5 mm and 2 mm in length. Typically, shorter needles are used on areas like the nose or near the eyes. Longer needles may be used on the cheeks.
In-Office vs At-Home Microneeding
Experts agree that in-office microneedling, performed by a qualified professional, is superior to at-home DIY treatment. This is largely because in-office treatments are going to be more sterile and safer.
The real risks of microneedling at home, on your own, are that:
A) You may cause an infection or damage your skin by using a device that is not as clean as you may think it is, or:
B) You may punch your microneedling tool too far into the skin, effectively wounding your skin long-term.
Naturally, a professional, who is well experienced and highly skilled at performing microneedling treatments will be able to gauge how deep to perform this treatment and will keep their tools and environment very clean and sterile for your safety.
If you want to try to treat acne scars or enlarged pores or stretch marks lightly at home, this could be a safe microneedling procedure to try, provided you keep your tools and skin very clean.
FAQ: Microneedling Treatment
What is RF microneedling?
RF microneedling stands for radio frequency microneedling. Often, radio frequency skin procedures are combined with microneedling to provide more effective treatments for winkles, scars, acne, and other common skin issues.
What is PRP microneedling?
PRP (platelet rich plasma) is often used to improve skin forms due to numerous common skin problems (scars, wrinkles, laxity, hyperpigmentation, etc.). PRP microneedling treatment simply combines the use of PRP with microneedling.
How is microneedling with PRP good?
Microneedling with PRP can help reduce acne scars, wrinkles, skin laxity, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and other common skin concerns.
How long before I’ll be able to see my microneedling results?
Your results before and after microneedling will typically show in skin texture and tone within a few days to a week after your procedure. However, full results may take several weeks as collagen production increases.
Can microneedling cause skin irritation?
Following microneedling, expect redness and minor skin irritation immediately after your cosmetic procedure. This will resolve relatively quickly. For severe effects like bleeding or bruising, reach out to your plastic surgeon promptly.
Book a Consultation Appointment Today
Dr. Smita and her team frequently use microneedling or skin needling as a minimally invasive procedure for treating post surgical scars and skin rejuvenation, reducing the appearance of aging skin, atrophic acne scars, treating acne, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and general collagen production for other cosmetic treatments. As the skin heals after surgery, you’ll have some slight redness and texture, followed by smoother, fresher-looking skin.
Call today to schedule your in-person consultation with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Smita Ramanadham and address your skin concern.