Hundreds of tiny pin pricks going into your skin might sound a bit insane, but it could just be the best thing that’s ever happened to your face!
Dermatologists have used this procedure for decades to treat facial scars, fine lines and wrinkles. Microneedling is a procedure using a small pen with a needle tip. The needle tip is essential as well as therapeutic, since the pen causes a “micro injury” that prompts the skin to stimulate collagen production, filling in fine lines, blurring and softening scars and plumping the skin. Microneedling also works great for acne or chickenpox scarring as well as discoloration (brown spots) and an all around rejuvenation of the skin.
Some Doctors even claim that the procedure is the most powerful way to stop aging in its tracks and prevent new fine lines and wrinkles from forming. This virtually painless and incredibly effective procedure stimulates the body’s natural wound healing processes, resulting in cell turnover and increased collagen and elastin production, therefore reversing as well as preventing signs of aging.
Microneedling works the same way lasers do, only you’re injuring the skin mechanically instead of using heat. With its ability to trigger the generation of new skin cells, just a few sessions of microneedling will noticeably reduce fines lines, crow’s feet, and deep wrinkles. This is the reason microneedling is effective- because it’s able to utilize the body’s own natural healing mechanisms so the results are very natural. There is also minimal down time if any.
In case your wonderinghow microneedling compares to fractional laser treatments when it comes to resolving acne scars and fine lines, a head to head comparison published in the journal Dematologic Surgery in 2016, found both treatments to be comparable and effective, but gave credit to microneedling for being better tolerated, with fewer side effects and less downtime. On top of microneedling’s ability to smooth and correct damaged skin, it also has the added bonus of tightening loose skin, which make it great for older men and women. (Remember: The older you are, the less collagen you’re naturally producing.)
A 2015 study in the International Journal of Dermatology confirms that microneedling is a new way to achieve “skin rejuvenation, tightening, and scar remodeling,” and that it offers a “simple and effective treatment for photo aged skin”. In addition, did you know that only 4-8 percent of that expensive serum your using on your face actually penetrates your skin?
Another additional appeal to microneedling is that it improves your skins ability to absorb product tremendously. Studies confirm that the treatment can actually help topical medications to penetrate the skin more efficiently, allowing you to reap the full benfits or any product. This makes total sense considering the fact that microneedlingcreates thousands of invisible holes in your skin that are ready to absorb products in a way clogged pores can’t. The tiny punctures actually act like little channels, allowing topical products to penetrate better and work more efficiently.
Finally, this treatment isn’t exclusive to the face. It is very beneficial for other parts of the body as well especially the décolleté, stretch marks of the abdomen and hips, and the hands. As few as four –six sessions can make a world of difference!