Micro needling is a very simple, safe, effective, and minimally invasive therapeutic technique. It was initially introduced for skin rejuvenation, however, now it is being used for a very wide range of indications including acne scar, acne, post-traumatic/burn scar, alopecia, skin rejuvenation, hyperhidrosis, stretch marks, and many more. Moreover, during the last few years, many new innovations have been made to the initial instrument, which was used for micro needling. This technique can be combined with other surgical techniques to provide better results. In particular, it is a very safe technique for dark skin types, where risk of post inflammatory pigmentation is very high with other techniques that damage the epidermis.
Automated micro-needling also known as collagen induction therapy is a treatment in aesthetic medicine that can help treat the appearance of fine lines, acne scars and the skin’s overall appearance. During this procedure, the micro needling device is used to create controlled micro-injuries to the skin in order to produce collagen and elastin. Automated micro-needling also creates superficial micro-channels which can be used with topical gels, creams and serums to help improve the appearance of the skin.
What exactly Micro-needling is?
Micro needling is a relatively new minimally invasive procedure involving superficial and controlled puncturing of the skin by rolling with miniature fine needles. Over a short period of time, it has gained mass popularity and acceptance as it is a simple, cheap, safe, and effective technique requiring minimal training. It has been used as a collagen induction therapy for facial scars and skin rejuvenation for long time. Here we will highlight the constantly evolving research and developments in micro needling techniques, instruments, and its applications in dermatology.
To give a little more context, micro-needling is a procedure that uses a number of tiny needles to puncture the first layer of your skin (sounds much scarier than it is). Micro-needling has two main benefits: it stimulates epidermal growth factors to boost collagen and elastin that plump and firm the skin and increases absorption of active ingredients by greater than 90%, making this procedure one of the most powerful and effective ways to stop early signs of ageing while preventing new fine lines and wrinkles occurring. Although available in clinics nationwide, micro-needling can be achieved at-home with the use of a derma roller as an added step in your skincare regime. With the right corrective serums, the micro-needling technique brightens your skin, ensuring you’re left with nothing but a dewy, youthful glow that you simply can’t get from other products or at-home treatments.
Benefits Which Can be Gained From Micro-needling
Even though it doesn’t hurt, you are probably still wondering what would compel someone to literally roll needles across their face. Well, because the benefits and results that micro-needling can provide are worth it. From reducing the visible appearance of aging to evening skin tone, micro-needling may just be the skin care tool to get you the radiant skin you have been working for. Here are some of the skincare conditions that you may benefit from the micro-needling technique:
Anti-Aging – Many of the visible signs of aging including fine lines, wrinkles, and thinning of the skin are the result of the decreasing presence of some of the skin’s fundamental building blocks. This loss occurs naturally as we age but micro-needling can help slow down the process and can help reduce the appearance of aging. In addition to this, micro-needling helps to increase the absorption of any anti-aging skincare product you apply after the treatment, such as anti-aging cream and wrinkle cream.
Scars & Stretch Marks – Using similar mechanisms to those described above, micro-needling can also help to reduce the appearance of scars. This is especially true of acne scars which tend to be sunken inwards rather than raised. However, micro-needling is not recommended for those who have keloid scars, dome-shaped raised scars, as the process could cause the skin condition to worsen. In much the same way, micro-needling can help breakdown stretchmark tissue, the skin markings which appear as the result of rapid growth and fade their appearance over time with multiple treatments.
Skin Tone & Pores – One of the most critical benefits of micro-needling is that it can aid in improving the overall tone and texture of your skin while reducing the visible appearance of your pores. Any sort of discoloration such as age spots can begin to fade with multiple treatments, specifically when used in conjunction with age spot treatments. Those experiencing redness as a symptom of rosacea may also notice a difference as well.
Procedure and Effects of Micro-needling
Micro needling is a simple office-based procedure lasting 10 to 60 minutes depending on the area to be treated. The client will receive a free consultation prior to any micro-needling sessions to explain the expected outcomes, delayed response, and need for multiple sittings etc. The skin should preferably be prepared preoperatively for at least a month with vitamin A and C formulations twice a day to maximize dermal collagen formation. Vitamin A influences 400–1000 genes that control proliferation and differentiation of all major cells in epidermis and dermis, and Vitamin C is essential for production of normal collagen.
Though some derma-rollers are available for at home treatments, it is recommended that you visit a professional who is trained in the practice to perform the procedure. Using an at-home micro-needling tool can pose a number of different risks, the worst of which is further damaging the skin by creating lesions that may then become infected. In addition, these at-home devices are typically hard to keep clean and maintain as the needles become dull after just a few uses making the tool ineffective and increasing the skin’s risk of injury or infection.
Micro needling leads to reorganization of old collagen fibres and laying down of new collagen, elastin, and capillaries leading to the effect of skin tightening. A significant increase in level of collagen type I, III, and VII, newly synthesized collagen and trophoblastic from baseline was observed after 6 micro needling sessions at 2-week intervals. This percutaneous collagen induction leads to an overall youthful appearance of the skin by reducing fine lines and wrinkles, reducing pore size, more suppleness, and elasticity.
Conclusion
Micro needling is an effective modality of treatment, especially in patients with Fitzpatrick’s IV and V skin types because it overcomes the side effects of scarring and hyperpigmentation resulting from other procedures in which the epidermis is compromised. It certainly promises to be a valuable technique with its numerous applications and its ever-expanding modifications as well as feasibility of home use.
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