Are you curious about what microneedling is? This amazing treatment can give your skin a new lease on life by promoting new skin cells, reducing scars and large pores, stimulating blood flow, and increasing collagen and elastin production. Microneedling can even help improve product absorption for skincare products that you are using. So, let’s look at what microneedling is to better help you understand how this procedure can benefit you.
What is Microneedling?
Microneedling is a skin resurfacing procedure that creates tiny punctures in the top layer of your skin using tiny or microneedles. These small injuries to your skin result in your body working to heal and rejuvenate the skin. This rejuvenates your skin from the inside out. The result is effective remodeling of tissue while keeping the overall structure of the skin intact.
At its core, collagen is what makes us look younger. The increased collagen production that occurs from microneedling is how the skin resurfacing occurs. More collagen in our skin will make our pores less noticeable and will reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Unfortunately, we all start to have less collagen production beginning in our 20s. Many think that taking a supplement will help boost collagen. However, this really doesn’t help your skin produce more collagen, so you won’t get the results you are looking for with a supplement alone. Therefore, a microneedling procedure is necessary.
Benefits of Microneedling
Now that we know a little more about the procedure and some of the ways it can help its appropriate to discuss a little more in detail the various benefits. So, let’s look a little more in depth at the various benefits that can occur from a microneedling procedure.
Stimulate Collagen and Elastin
As a form of collagen induction therapy (CIT), microneedling increases collagen as well as elastin in the skin, which adds volume, elasticity and smooths out fine lines and wrinkles. Our bodies can never have enough collagen and elastin, particularly as we age. While there are many benefits to micro needling, this is the primary benefit that enhances all other aspects of the procedure.
Minimize Pore Size
All of us have pours on our skin that release oil and sweat. Essentially, pores are tiny holes in our skin that help it to breathe. Pores can vary greatly in size from tiny holes that are barely noticeable to large openings that you can’t stop staring at. Large pores are caused by several factors, but the most common reason is that they are clogged with oils, dirt, or dead skin cells. And unfortunately, the larger they get the easier it is for even more material to collect in them. Micro needling can help with this problem in two ways. One it can get in those hard-to-reach pores and help to unclog them releasing that dirt and oil that is causing the problem in the first place. Secondly, it can stimulate new collagen and elastin production which will tighten the skin and reduce pore sizes.
Reduce Appearance of Scars
Micro needling can be a very effective treatment for scars like those from acne or even stretch marks. It helps to reduce scaring by encouraging new cell production and by breaking down old scar tissue. The increase in collagen can also help to improve the appearance of scars as it fills out and creates volume in the skin, making them appear less defined with a smoother texture.
Stimulate Blood Flow
Microneedling causes micro injuries. This means that to deal with these micro wounds your body’s immune system will increase blood flow in the area to deliver more nutrients and oxygen to the areas that are affected. This helps with the healing process but has the added benefit of delivering more blood flow and oxygen to the skin. This increased blood flow results in skin that has a healthier and more natural glow.
Increased Product Absorption
In addition to all the other health benefits you receive from micro needling, you will also experience increased product absorption. Skin care products can not be absorbed properly through clogged pores. However, since micro needling opens those clogged pores and creates many tiny holes in the skin products will absorb better than before. This is just an added benefit to the microneedling process.
Can’t You Microneedle At Home?
Many people confuse a derma roller that you would use at home with microneedling. Although the concept of a derma roller is somewhat like microneedling, it is not the same. A derma roller is a small handheld device with many tiny microneedles that you would roll across your face. While this method does create micro injuries like a microneedling pen it does not have the ability to have the same depth and control of a pen. This means that results are no where near as effective. In addition, this older method creates more skin injuries and trauma which results in more down time.
Does Microneedling Hurt?
While it is possible for microneedling to be a little uncomfortable at a place like Green Relief Health you will get an experienced team that utilizes numbing creams to minimize any discomfort you may have. If any discomfort is experienced, it is extremely light and should be tolerated well by every patient. And any discomfort you receive from the microneedling session will be greatly outweighed by the huge benefits your skin will have after.
What To Expect During Microneedling Treatment?
It is perfectly normal to feel a little scared about a microneedling procedure, however, there is nothing to worry about. The needles are extremely small in a microneedling procedure, so you won’t be overwhelmed when you see the machine. Typically, your procedure will begin by a thorough assessment of your face and skin. After your assessment the team will begin prepping your face by cleaning it. It is best to show up to an microneedling appointment without any makeup on.
After a thorough cleansing the team will apply a topical numbing cream to the face. You will then sit for a little while as the numbing cream takes effect. After you are fully numbed the procedure will begin. Treatment time will vary depending on what skin concern you wish to treat, although you can expect most treatments to take between 60-90 minutes.
You should expect some slight redness after your procedure, which is completely normal. For the first 24 hours after the procedure, you should avoid makeup. In addition, it is important to have a good sunscreen regimen after microneedling.
Next Steps For Microneedling
If you feel that you are a good candidate for microneedling than the next step is to schedule an appointment with a qualified practice like Green Relief Health. For optimal results, we strongly advise a treatment plan of between 3 and 6 sessions. It depends on each individual and whether you are doing microneedling for acne scars or anti-ageing. Either way, the team at Green Relief Health is here guide you through the microneedling process to give you optimal results.
