You may have heard of skin needling as a professional skin treatment that celebrities have been undergoing for younger and more beautiful skin.
This is no surprise as skin needling may sound intimidating at first, but if the likes of beauty mavens Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow have incorporated this treatment into their skincare regimen, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Yes, some needles are inevitably involved, and this might turn some people off, but you’d be surprised to know that it’s a very minimally invasive procedure for how effective it can be at treating a myriad of differing common skin concerns. Also known as microneedling, the process involves your practitioner using a hand-held skin needling device or dermal needling pen with tiny and extremely sharp precision needles to puncture the skin. When these needles penetrate the skin, they then trigger a healing response within the body.
The procedure requires very little to no downtime and is considered safe for most individual skin types and can also treat a myriad of different skin concerns – hence the reason for its popularity. Read on to get the low-down on all things microneedling.
What is microneedling?
Microneedling sounds scarier than it actually is. It’s a rather simple cosmetic procedure where your treatment provider will use a microneedling pen with very tiny sterilized needles prick the topmost layer of your skin. This signals to your skin that it’s been injured and would need to regenerate with new tissue that has more collagen. This is why this procedure is also called Collagen Induction Therapy or CIT for short. It’s very effective for multiple different skin concerns, such as acne, scarring, uneven texture, pigmentation, and age concerns such wrinkles and fine lines.
Whilst most commonly used to treat skin conditions on the face and neck, a professional skin needling machine such as the German-engineered XCellaris Pro Twist can be also be used to target other areas of concern such as the hands, neck, décolletage, and other parts of the body. This allows it to work on other skin concerns, such as stretch marks, loose skin and skin texture.
How does microneedling work?
This micro needling machine features needles that are non-traumatic and come in a unique cone shape that are strategically placed to optimise the puncture process. Working at 150 strokes per second, it glides over the skin without any scratching or tearing. This makes sure that the micro-wounds it creates can be sealed within minutes of the treatment.
The optimised needles reduce the possibility of unwanted side effects, such as bruising and swelling. Other micro-needling devices that only operate at 100-120 strokes per second have a higher chance of scratching the skin or creating micro-tears as it moves across the face.
These tiny pricks from the needles create micro-wounds that trigger the body’s natural response to create new tissue with more collagen. The regenerated skin is now smooth, firm, and has an even tone. The collagen also keeps the skin elastic, thereby reducing those fine lines and wrinkles.
What skin conditions can microneedling treat?
With consistent and multiple treatments, it can help treat:
- Dull skin;
- Fine lines and wrinkles;
- Pigmentation and discolouration caused by sun damage
- Acne scars and pitted skin
- Facial and body scars;
- Stretch marks;
- Lax or sagging skin;
- Skin texture.
- Dry, dehydrated skin
What should I expect after the treatment?
Having several tiny needles prick your skin may sound painful, but the feedback from people who have undergone the treatment can attest that the discomfort was minimal. Your treatment provider will use a numbing agent prior to treatment to reduce any discomfort you might feel during the procedure. Afterwards, your skin might feel warm and tight, it may even look red, like a mild sunburn. There’s also a possibility of minor pinprick bleeding however this will subside quite quickly.
Your practitioner will provide detailed aftercare instructions But in general, think of treating it similar to a mild sunburn. Keep your skin hydrated and use gentle products. Don’t use any active skincare containing acids or retinol and try not to expose your skin for prolonged periods of time to the sun for the next two weeks. We highly recommend using SPF 30 and above to keep your skin well-protected and healing properly.
Microneedling results
What is the difference between professional microneedling and dermarolling?
Whilst microneedling is a professional- grade treatment only performed at clinics using skin needling pens, dermarolling can be done at home and is the process of using a hand-held stamp or dermaroller. Professional microneedling utilise a pen or device and are able to penetrate the skin at a much deeper level whereas dermalrollers are designed to be safe for at-home use and usually only target the top layer of skin, with needle lengths usually varying from 0.25mm to .5mm.
Whilst professional treatments have the ability to regenerate collagen and help significantly treat various skin conditions, dermarollers have been developed for safe at-home use and are effective in increasing skin hydration, decreasing fine lines and improving overall skin tone and texture. Dermarolling can also help prepare your skin for whatever skincare you are using afterwards and increase the efficacy by allowing skincare products to penetrate deeper than if applied alone. It is recommended to incorporate a dermaroller into your routine several nights per week to see the best results.
Where can I get it?
To learn more about skin needling technology or derma rolling, contact beauty salon suppliers, The Global Beauty Group team on 1300 006 607 or at their website www.theglobalbeautygroup.com.au
