Skin needling, sometimes referred to as microneedling, is a facial procedure done with the use of a tool that creates a controlled injury to the skin.
By puncturing the skin, the body’s natural instinct to heal itself kicks in, and when it comes to the face, that means your body is going to produce new collagen and elastin to heal itself, according to Plastic Surgery Practice.
But the facial injury is nothing to be afraid of. Relatively painless, the microneedling wand is much like a tattoo gun.
Tiny needles varying in size and length create small abrasions to the dermis, the layer of skin under the epidermis, or the outermost layer of our skin.
This is where the length of the microneedles will depend on the desired results. For treating deep scars the microneedles will have to penetrate deeper into the dermis, triggering collagen growth to help fade and eliminate them.
Once the dermis has been injured, neocollagenesis and neovascularisation occur, which is the reproduction of collagen and elastin, according to the International Journal of Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine.
This is when the magic happens. By forcing the skin to reproduce collagen and elastin, the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and and even acne scars begin to fade away.
With regular treatments, microneedling is quickly becoming the go-to method for anti-aging skincare because it has virtually no downtime associated with the procedure, and the results are pretty remarkable.
And skincare products like serums work to their full advantage when used after a microneedling treatment.
Because the face essentially has millions of small pin-prick sized abrasions, serums and anti-aging creams are better absorbed.
Many women have also used the technique to combat stretch marks, or help prevent new ones from forming.
An antiseptic numbing cream is applied topically to the area to eliminate any discomfort and is safe enough to have done in sensitive areas like around the mouth and eyes.
Microneedling can be done by any licensed esthetician. Talk to your skincare expert to see if microneedling is right for you.
Tried microneedling already? Let us know what you think.
