Microneedling

Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure for your skin that is safe for all skin tones. Your healthcare provider uses thin needles to make tiny holes in the top layer of your skin. When properly performed, the damage helps stimulate your skin’s healing process, so it produces more collagen and elastin. These proteins keep your skin firm, smooth and supple.

Most people get microneedling on their face, but you can also get it on your legs, back, neck or other areas where you notice damaged or aging skin, stretchmarks or scars. You’ll probably need multiple treatments to achieve your desired results.

Microneedling is used it to diminish:

• Acne scars

• Dark spots

• Large pores

• Melasma

• Sagging skin

• Scars due to surgery or an injury

• Stretch marks

• Uneven skin texture and tone

• Wrinkles and fine lines

Microneedling vs. microdermabrasion:  What’s the difference?

Microneedling and microdermabrasion are both procedures to improve the look and texture of your skin. But microdermabrasion doesn’t use needles. Instead, a healthcare provider uses a device with a rough edge, like sandpaper, to exfoliate the uppermost layer of your skin. Microneedling goes deeper into your skin than microdermabrasion, so it might work better for problems beneath the surface, such as acne scars.

Are the results the same whether you use an at-home microneedling device or see a health care provider?

Products sold for at-home microneedling and microneedling performed in a non-medical setting aren’t meant to puncture the skin. These gentler products lead to less noticeable results than those you get from a health care provider.

At-home microneedling can also be risky. Here’s why:

You may overuse microneedling

Overusing microneedling can irritate your skin, which can make the skin concern more noticeable and your skin uncomfortable.

Sometimes an at-home microneedling product pierces the skin

This could lead to an infection or scarring.

At-home microneedling can accidentally spread warts, herpes, and other viruses across the skin.

Pressing too hard can damage your skin

This damage can cause scarring or changes to your skin’s color or texture.

Five Reasons to See a Health Care Provider for Microneedling

• See more significant and long-lasting results
• Receive treatment tailored to your needs
• Have the right number of treatments
• Prevent infection and irritation to your skin (possible with at-home kits)
• Avoid making the condition worse (possible with at-home kits)

What happens during microneedling?

Your healthcare provider cleans your skin and applies a numbing cream or ointment, such as mixture including lidocaine. They do this about 30 minutes to 45 minutes before your procedure, so the ointment has time to work.

Next, your aesthetician uses the SkinStylus--the ONLY microneedling device with FDA clearance for use on both the face and abdomen, in a certain pattern on your face.  She will add a specialized solution such as Vitamin C along with the microneedling to penetrate the epidermis for a deep treatment.

The SkinStylus has needles that pulse up and down to puncture your skin. They can change the length of the needles on the electric device. Longer needles go deeper into your skin, which might be necessary if you have deep scars or pockmarks from acne. Needle lengths can range from 0.5 millimeters to 2 millimeters, depending on the location.

A microneedling procedure can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours, depending on the size of the area that needs treatment.

When do patients see results from microneedling?

Results appear gradually as your body produces collagen and elastin. You may see improvement within a few weeks. It usually takes several months before you see full results.

Some people need to have a series of treatments to see optimal results.

How long do the results from microneedling last?

As your body loses collagen, the results will fade. People lose collagen at different rates. To decrease the amount of collagen that your body loses:

• Protect your skin from the sun

• Don’t smoke

To maintain your results, your aesthetician may also recommend that you return for a maintenance microneedling session once or twice a year.

Is there any downtime after microneedling?

Downtime is minimal.

You may have some discomfort after receiving treatment. Immediately after microneedling, you may see some redness (lighter skin tones) or darker shades (darker skin tones) on your treated skin. Your treated skin may feel like it’s sunburned, causing minor discomfort, burning, or swelling.

These reactions usually disappear in a few days to a week.

To soothe your skin in the meantime, your aesthetician may recommend applying a post-treatment aftercare cream.

While you may have some discomfort, you can leave your health care provider's office and return to work or school immediately after microneedling.

However, it’s important to wait 24 hours before you apply makeup.

Who should avoid microneedling?

This treatment is safe for most people and people of all skin tones. However, no one treatment is right for everyone.

You should not have microneedling if you:

• Heal slowly or poorly

• Have (or had) a raised scar called a keloid

• Have a weakened immune system due to a medical condition or medication

• Are being treated for skin cancer in the area that you want microneedling

• Are receiving radiation treatments

There are also certain times when microneedling should not be performed. Your aesthetician will wait to treat you if you have:

• A tan or have been in the sun recently

• A skin infection

• Pimples that feel painful, contain pus, or go deep into your skin

• Taken (or are taking) isotretinoin, a medication that treats severe acne

Before your aesthetician will treat you with microneedling, you must wait until your tan, sunburn, infection, or pimples have cleared.

If you are taking isotretinoin, at least one month must have passed since you took your last pill.

Ready to rejuvenate your skin with microneedling?

Call us at (818) 551-0464 or email us now to schedule a complimentary assessment with our aesthetician.