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 help you better understand how this procedure can benefit you.
Microneedling is a skin resurfacing procedure that creates minuscule punctures in the top layer of the skin using tiny or microneedles. These small injuries to your skin result in your body working to heal and rejuvenate the skin.
Your skin will be rejuvenated from the inside out as a result. Consequently, the skin’s overall structure remains intact while the tissue is effectively remodeled.
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, it’s appropriate to discuss the various benefits a little more in detail. 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 and 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 pores on our skin that release oil and sweat. Essentially, pores are tiny holes in our skin that help us 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 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 the 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 scarring by encouraging new cell production and by breaking down old scar tissue. By filling out and creating volume in the skin, collagen can also improve the appearance of scars, making them look less defined and smoother.
Stimulate Blood Flow
Microneedling causes micro-injuries. 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 affected areas. 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 microneedling, you will also experience increased product absorption. Skin care products can not be absorbed properly through clogged pores. Since microneedling opens those clogged pores and creates many tiny holes in the skin, products will absorb better. 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. In derma rollers, you roll tiny microneedles across your face using a handheld device.
While this method does create micro-injuries like a microneedling pen, it does not have the ability to have the same depth and control as a pen. This means that results are nowhere near as effective. In addition, this older method creates more skin injuries and trauma, which results in more downtime.
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.
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 with 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 a 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, then 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-aging. Either way, the team at Green Relief Health is here to guide you through the microneedling process to give you optimal results.
You’ve probably seen those viral before-and-after photos of people looking years younger after some kind of skin treatment. Microneedling is often the secret star behind those striking transformations. But what exactly does it do?
In a nutshell, microneedling uses teeny tiny needles to pierce the outermost skin layer. I know it sounds freaky, but stay with me! The mini injuries kick skin’s healing abilities into high gear.
The treated areas get flooded with collagen and elastin – the proteins that keep skin bouncy and fine line-free in our youth. Blood flow surges, too, carrying nutrients to revive tired and clogged complexions.
Many people turn to microneedling to tackle:
- Acne scars
- Crow’s feet
- Faded glow
- Enlarged pores
- Sunspots
- Loose or sagging skin
Over the course of a few treatments, the old, damaged skin cells get replaced by fresh, new ones. Complexions emerge smoother, glowier, and years younger.
The Powerhouse Proteins – Collagen & Elastin
We can blame collagen and elastin loss for many skin aging woes – wrinkles, sagging, thinning skin, you name it.
As we cruise through our 20s and beyond, the skin makes fewer vital proteins each year. Collagen especially starts to break down rapidly from factors like sun exposure.
This is where microneedling swoops in to save the day! The micro-injuries created during treatment kick collagen production back into high gear. Elastin levels also multiply. Skin regains density, elasticity, and that coveted youthful bounce. Those fine lines smooth out, pores shrink up, and complexions look firmer and revive.
What Exactly is Microneedling
Microneedling has become the hot new anti-aging treatment, and for good reason! It can smooth wrinkles, fade scars, shrink pores, and give skin an overall glow-up. But how does it work?
Well, picture a tool with an array of teeny-tiny needles on the tip, kinda like miniature versions of those old-school record player needles (for my fellow millennials out there!).
A professionally trained specialist gently moves the microneedling device across the skin, creating thousands of microscopic punctures in the very outer layer. It only goes deep enough to trigger the healing process without damaging the deeper layers.
I know it sounds scary to have someone purposefully piercing your face over and over! But these itty-bitty injuries kick the skin’s repair mode into high gear.
Fresh collagen starts flooding the tiny wounds almost immediately, and skin gets thicker and plumper while older cells slough off.
After several treatments, those annoying wrinkles start fading, roughness disappears, and your glow strengthens. It’s like tricking your complexion into major rejuvenation!
Some people try rolling those at-home derma rollers over their faces for DIY microneedling. But experts don’t really recommend it. The depth isn’t as controlled, so you risk going too deep and damaging your skin. Plus, they really just don’t work! So, leave it to a trained, licensed provider instead.
Benefits of Microneedling
Now that we know a little more about the procedure and some of the ways it can help, it’s appropriate to discuss the various benefits a little more in detail. So, let’s look a little more in-depth at the various benefits that can occur from a microneedling procedure.
1. 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 and 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.
2. Minimize Pore Size
All of us have pores on our skin that release oil and sweat. Essentially, pores are tiny holes in our skin that help us 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 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.
3. Reduce the 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 scarring by encouraging new cell production and by breaking down old scar tissue. By filling out and creating volume in the skin, collagen can also improve the appearance of scars, making them look less defined and smoother.
4. Stimulate Blood Flow
Microneedling causes micro-injuries. 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 affected areas. 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.
5. Increased Product Absorption
In addition to all the other health benefits you receive from microneedling, you will also experience increased product absorption. Skin care products can not be absorbed properly through clogged pores. Since microneedling opens those clogged pores and creates many tiny holes in the skin, products will absorb better. This is just an added benefit to the microneedling process.
6. Healthier Skin
Microneedling kickstarts the skin regeneration process. The tiny injuries bring increased blood flow and nutrients to the treated skin. Over the next weeks and months, the boosted circulation removes waste, restores health, and retextures skin. I’d compare it to exercise for the complexion – you cause minor muscle damage, strengthening their repair. The same goes for skin.
7. Fading Discoloration
Those tiny puncture wounds also activate the skin’s self-repair instincts. As skin fixes itself, new cells come to the surface while older, irregular pigment fades away. So, microneedling can lighten brown spots, acne marks, melasma, and sun damage.
8. Acne Healing
While microneedling focuses on anti-aging, it also holds promise for stubborn acne. The wound healing factors and increased blood flow helps to calm, clear, and heal active breakouts while fading leftover acne scars. However, some providers prefer not to microneedle inflamed pimples.
9. Deep Exfoliation
Microneedling essentially performs a deep, physical exfoliation. Those tiny needles sweep away dead surface cells, dirt, and debris lodged within pores. It reaches deeper than any scrub or chemical peel. Patients see cleaner, tighter pores after each treatment.
10. Slowing Aging
One main benefit is slowing visible aging. Microneedling boosts collagen, elastin, and cell turnover and plumps skin over time. This can mean fewer fine lines, less noticeable wrinkles, firmer skin, smaller pores, faded spots, and a radiant complexion.
11. Softening Wrinkles
Remember, wrinkles result from declining collagen. Microneedling restores that supple collagen matrix under the skin. More collagen means better support, thickness, and resiliency to smooth out folds, creases, and wrinkles. Consider it an internal filler!
12. Elasticity Boost
Saggy skin also stems from lost elasticity as we age. The collagen and elastin stimulated by microneedling recreate a bouncy, flexible texture. Skin regains density and a lifted appearance. Gravity doesn’t drag it down as easily.
13. Potential Hair Growth
Early evidence shows promise for microneedling Alopecia and balding. It turns out that the inflammation created around follicles may wake up dormant follicles. The micro-injuries could also allow better absorption of hair-regrowing products. More research is underway.
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.
In derma rollers, you roll tiny microneedles across your face using a handheld device. While this method does create micro-injuries like a microneedling pen, it does not have the ability to have the same depth and control as a pen.
It means that results are nowhere near as effective. In addition, this older method creates more skin injuries and trauma, which results in more downtime.
If you want microneedling done properly and effectively, I recommend consulting with Dr. Lauren Nawrocki. She is an expert provider and a go-to resource for microneedling procedures and can guide you on the best treatment plan for your individual skin goals.
Does Microneedling Hurt?
While it is possible for microneedling, you shouldn’t have this fear 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.
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 with 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 a 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 about 60 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 you are a good candidate for microneedling, the next step is to schedule an appointment with a qualified practice like Green Relief Health.
We strongly advise a treatment plan of between 3 and 6 sessions for optimal results. It depends on each individual and whether you are microneedling for acne scars or anti-aging. Either way, the team at Green Relief Health is here to guide you through the microneedling process to give you optimal results.
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27755171/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29224032/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190962215021970
