Skin Needling – The In’s and Out’s

 

Ok so…skin needling. To some it might sound downright terrifying – skin being poked with tiny needles…ahmm come again? Ok so all jokes aside there has been a lot of buzz circulating around skin needling or micro needling – especially since Covid hit and we all had to look after our skin from home there has also been a huge rise in Derma rolling devices. So, what exactly is dermarolling and is it different from skin needling? We had a chat to our beauty salon supplier friends over at The Global Beauty Group to break down the differences and get the low down on all things skin needle related!

Ok so what is Skin Needling and how does it work?

Skin needling or microneedling is also sometimes referred to as Collagen Induction Therapy, or CIT for short. As we age, our body’s collagen production starts to slow down, in fact in our 20’s is when we start to produce less collagen and by the time we reach our 30’s and 40’s our bodies are producing less and less collagen on its own. Skin needling is a minimally invasive professional treatment that involves the use of a skin needling device or pen to create tiny micro channels within the skin – in other words a controlled injury to the skin. When these tiny needles puncture the skin, they trigger the skin’s healing response within the body. As the skin goes into healing mode, it then leads the skin to trigger new collagen production within the body.

It is during the body’s regeneration process that the skin’s collagen production levels are boosted and the formation of this new collagen results in smoother, firmer, younger-looking skin. Micro needling treatments are clinically proven to encourage skin rejuvenation, volumise and plump the complexion, whilst also strengthening the skin barrier, boosting circulation and increasing skin elasticity. As the new collagen is produced and dispersed, wrinkles appear less deep, fine lines are reduced, pitted and textured skin fills in, acne scars fade and stretch marks become smoother.

What can skin needling treat?

Skin needling is an extremely versatile treatment as not only is it suitable for most skin types – treatments with micro needling pens can also has the ability to treat a whole host of common skin conditions on both on the face and body. Skin needling is clinically proven to improve overall skin quality as well as treating some of the most common signs and symptoms of ageing including:

- Smooths and refines skin texture and tone

- Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

- Treats scars of the face and body (ie. acne scars)

- Helps to resurface and fade stretch marks

- Targets hyperpigmentation and helps to fade sun damage or uneven skin tone

- Allows for greater absorption of skincare products by up to 90%

- Increases cellular turn-over, boosting skin hydration levels and overall elasticity

Does it hurt or damage the skin?

In short, professional microneedling treatments with skin needling pens or machines do not hurt as the skin will be numbed with a topical anesthetic prior to the treatment starting and most people tolerate the treatment quite comfortably. Microneedling treatments are also considered one of the safest skin procedures as it causes minimal damage to the skin and unlike other skin rejuvenation procedures, skin needling results in minimal downtime – great news for us! Afterwards the skin may appear red for a few hours and feel like it has a mild sunburn, however this should subside within 24-48 hours. Fresher, brighter and more younger-looking skin will start to appear with 4-6 weeks post treatment!

How many treatments will I need?

It really depends on which skin concern you are trying to target and an individual’s skin condition. Almost all professional micro needling devices can be tailored by your practitioner, depending on the condition that needs to be treated. If treating acne scarring, someone might need 3-4 treatments to help smooth the appearance of deep pitted scars. In the case of wrinkles associated with ageing skin, 1-2 treatments might be sufficient, however a “refresher” or top-up treatment is recommended every 6-12 months. Essentially, the more treatments you do, the more your skin will benefit and the better it will look!

What is Dermarolling?

Essentially they both do similar things, however micro-needling is a professional-grade treatment and Dermarolling is the at-home version. Dermarolling involves using a hand-held tool to roll needles over the skin. Whilst you won’t effect collagen production within the skin, using a Dermaroller is a great way to help even out skin tone, boost the absorption levels of your skincare as well as helping to boost skin hydration levels – in otherwords, definitely a tool you want in your skincare cabinet! The other major difference between the two is the needle depth – obviously as microneedling is a professional treatment the tool used will penetrate the skin at much deeper levels (anywhere from 0.25mm to 2.5mm) when compared to an at home roller. Most at-home rollers will have a needle length of 0.25-0.5mm so they can be safely used and not cause any damage to the surface of your skin.

To learn more about microneedling or dermarolling, or to find a treatment provider in your local area, contact wholesale beauty salon suppliers The Global Beauty Group or (03) 8555 2246