My teenage years were riddled with acne, so naturally, my face was also filled with acne scars—as if acne itself wasn’t bad enough. I tried everything I could get my hands on to prevent and remove acne scars, and they do help, but not entirely. It’s just unfortunate that my body is naturally predisposed to acne. I’ve been trying to deal with acne scars for so long, and that wish finally came true when I encountered microneedling.
While researching ways to deal with acne scars, microneedling was one of the top treatments available, not to mention that people are singing praises on how good the treatment is. According to some studies, 80% of patients who undergo microneedling were satisfied with their results. Sounds fantastic! This study was all I needed to hear, so I went ahead and booked an appointment.
Are you considering microneedling treatment right now? If you are, you can help yourself by reading this article first to know all the facts about microneedling before you can try one out yourself.
What Is Microneedling?
Microneedling is a skin-puncturing procedure utilizing a device with extremely fine, sharp needle tips. As soon as the body detects the tiny pricks, it goes to work healing the cuts, giving the skin a new lease on life. Since the pricks are only surface-level, there is minimal discomfort. By boosting collagen production, your provider can rejuvenate your overall skin texture.
A medical device known as an “epidermal roller” is used to treat the skin. The epidermal roller is covered in rows of tiny needles. The top layer of skin is pricked by rolling the epidermal roller over it. These pricks allow the body’s natural healing process to promote new cell growth and reduce the signs of aging.
Microneedling has traditionally been used only to enhance the skin’s appearance. Despite this, recent microneedling techniques, incorporated with new technologies, have taken things to a new level! Microneedling can be used for more than just skin rejuvenation, such as reducing the signs of aging, correcting acne, and even reducing scars!
Completely Hassle-Free Procedure
One of the common reasons why some people are hesitant about cosmetic treatment is that they are quite a hassle to do, and recovery time will take a while. If that’s your concern, then microneedling is your best shot!
The microneedling procedure only includes some tiny needles pricking your skin to create micro-injuries, no more, and no less. Different needle depths are used to develop these micro-injuries. The occurrence of localized injury responses aids skin regeneration.
Other surgical procedures that aim to rejuvenate your skin require an incision to achieve results. Microneedling, on the other hand, only uses a tool with tiny needles to perform the procedure. The risks and complications associated with surgical procedures far outweigh the threat posed by these needles.
No downtime is required after microneedling because it is non-invasive. Aside from cost and risk, it can achieve the same results as surgical procedures in certain aspects.
How Does It Work?
So, the needles in a microneedling device pierce the skin, and it somehow rejuvenates it? No particular formula on the needles tips or something the like? I had these questions myself when I had my first microneedling appointment.
It’s a simple procedure that involves pricking the skin with several tiny needles, but why does it claim to be able to rejuvenate the skin and fix other skin conditions? Isn’t it counterproductive for a product to prick the dermis to restore and improve skin conditions? Exactly what’s going on?
So my microneedling provider told me why it works the way it does:
Why Pricking Your Skin Is Necessary
Damage to the skin will undoubtedly result from the needle’s pricking. However, since the needles are so small, they don’t cause any harm to the skin. The damage is still there, but it’s called “micro-injuries,” and you can still feel it.
As a result, how come we’re causing so much skin damage? Needed collagen is produced by fibroblasts, which are cells in the body’s healing process. For fibroblast activity to occur, wounds must be present on the skin.
Microneedling only mimics wounds, hence micro-injuries. Otherwise, making too many wounds and the fibroblast activity will be preoccupied with fixing the wound itself instead of enhancing your skin’s texture.
What Is Fibroblast Activity
Fibroblast activity is a crucial indicator of the wound-healing process. Fibroblast cells create the elastin and collagen proteins that give skin tissues their strength and elasticity. You can gauge fibroblast activity by observing how quickly collagen builds up in wounds.
Depending on the wound being treated, fibroblast activity may rise or fall. For instance, it increases when an injury is going through hyperplasia or fibrosis but falls when it is going through hypoplasia or atrophy. Microneedling achieves the ideal balance to promote the production of collagen and elastin.
Benefits Of Microneedling
Microneedling, compared to other cosmetic treatments, has modest results. However, they still give you a significant difference in your looks. Your skin will look plump, and your skin texture will look better than ever! No skin care product can come close to the effects of microneedling.
Aside from improved overall skin texture, you can expect the following benefits too:
- reduces acne scars and other scars as well
- reduces the proliferation of wrinkles and fine lines
- improve your skin’s elasticity
- smooths your skin’s texture
- reduces hyperpigmentation and dark spots
Microneedling is good enough on its own, but you can combine it with other treatments to further boosts its effects! If you are interested in incorporating it with other treatments, ask your provider and see what they offer.
Likewise, microneedling also improves the effects of skin care products since your skin is now open thanks to the needles.
Risks?
The risks of microneedling are the same as those of any other cosmetic procedure. Minor skin irritation is the most common adverse reaction after the process. What’s more, you may notice a slight redness for a couple of days. That’s about it.
Final Verdict
From my personal experience, microneedling is not just all talk and no show. It does as what is expected and doesn’t disappoint! My skin feels more rejuvenated than ever, and all those pesky acne scars are gone for good!
If you are considering microneedling, consider getting an appointment with Glo Esthetics. Their clinic also offers other services that may help you address other cosmetic concerns you may have.
