Like peels, light-based treatments and microdermabrasion, skin needling offers controlled resurfacing of facial skin.
Skin needling uses tiny punctures to stimulate the skin’s own healing response and is used to treat wrinkles, scars, stretch marks and improve skin texture. It also facilitates the delivery of products containing active ingredients to cells in the dermal layer of the skin.
It is usually performed using a roller embedded with very fine needles that make multiple pinpoint puncture wounds in the dermis. This dermal damage stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin. New collagen production is the object of all skin resurfacing and rejuvenation treatments.
Because it creates dermal damage while leaving the epidermis intact, the healing period is rapid and there is no risk of permanent structural damage, sun sensitivity, skin colour loss or hyperpigmentation.
Skin needling can also treat sensitive areas other treatments cannot, such as the neck, the backs of hands and under the eyes, and can be safely performed on all skin types and colours.
Local anaesthetic cream is applied before the procedure and most patients are able to tolerate the discomfort involved. After treatment the skin is red and swollen for one to two days, with a light grazing over the treated area appearing on day two. Most patients are able to return to work and normal activities within 48 hours of treatment.
Multiple treatments are usually necessary to achieve significant improvement in the appearance and depth of lines and scars. Treatment effects are cumulative and can be seen six to eight weeks after the initial treatment. In comparison to the prolonged recovery time required by laser resurfacing and chemical peels, the short recovery period makes skin needling an excellent alternative method of improving lines and scars.
Modified skin needling rollers that do not require anaesthetic cream or recovery time are also available for home use to extend the effects of a professional treatment.
